Universal Registration Document 2024

This Enhanced ESG Program is intended to ensure supplier compliance, with a view to continuous improvement. In 2024, this program included 275 suppliers, either Groupe or strategic suppliers, but also major suppliers. Levels of maturity in terms of CSR vary depending on the businesses and the countries. The aim is to create a virtuous circle and monitor everyone’s progress. Among these suppliers, those representing 87% of the volume of purchases comply with the five criteria of the program. [G1-2-15 (a)]

Circular economy (see Section 4.2.9): the procurement policy of the Groupe and the agencies is proactive in terms of eco-responsible and eco-designed products, products from the circular economy, and products that are responsibly sourced or have recognized environmental certification. IT tools, which are essential to all employees regardless of their activity or role, are at the heart of a virtuous approach based on the concept of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” In the United States and Europe, the Groupe works with dedicated partners for the entire IT equipment base to ensure recycling or reformatting for the second-hand market, depending on the condition of each machine (screens, laptops, keyboards, mice and other accessories).

4.3.10.4 Supplier CSR assessment

Two components are closely monitored jointly by the Procurement Department and the Groupe CSR department: on the one hand, commitments and actions in favor of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and on the other hand, actions taken to reduce environmental impacts (see Section 4.6 on the Duty of Care). [S2-4-33 (b) & (c)]

The CSR assessment is structured as follows:

• CSR assessment by an external independent and internationally recognized third party (EcoVadis, Sedex, CDP or others): this is the preferred approach. Since 2015, the Groupe Procurement Department has introduced a systematic CSR assessment for all its strategic suppliers. Publicis Groupe works with the EcoVadis platform and invites its strategic partners to be assessed by an external third party. In 2015, these assessments represented 40% of the volume of expenditure from strategic suppliers. This figure reached 98% in 2022, almost the 100% target set for 2025. In 2024, the scope of this level of suppliers was extended to 355 suppliers meeting the same criteria, with an average score of 62/100 (stable with 2023);
• CSR self-assessment via P.A.S.S. (Publicis Groupe Platform for a self-Assessment for a Sustainable Supply chain). This Groupe proprietary platform was created for SMEs (small and medium-size companies), which are less familiar with CSR assessment processes by third parties. It allows the Groupe’s local buyers and agencies to ask their critical suppliers to carry out a free self-assessment that commits them. This self-assessment is then validated on the basis of documented compliance criteria by the Groupe CSR Department, thus acting as a trusted and neutral third-party expert. This transparent self-assessment based on around 50 key questions makes it possible to confirm whether the supplier meets the criteria and priorities set by the Groupe regarding human rights, ethics (anti-corruption, data protection and security) and environmental impacts. 232 suppliers were assessed in P.A.S.S., with an average score of 46/100 (stable with 2023); [G1 2-15 (b)]
• complementary sectoral CSR self-assessmentvia P.A.S.S.: the Groupe’s production and events activities can assess their suppliers on appropriate complementary aspects appropriate to the characteristics of certain sectors. Additional question modules in P.A.S.S. are enabled for these suppliers.