Materiality matrix and our evolving focuses

Orange engages in structured and continuous dialogue with internal and external stakeholders. This identifies in a materiality matrix the issues that matter most to our various audiences and determines our strategic decisions and commitments.

A standardised approach

Our approach to stakeholder dialogue is based on the principles of the AA1000 standard:

  • Inclusivity — identifying active local stakeholders
  • Materiality — identifying the most relevant issues for both Orange and its partners
  • Responsiveness — forming action plans for the short, medium and long term. 

We use the salient points from this dialogue to develop the materiality matrix (see below). By comparing the importance of these issues for stakeholders and their impact on our own performance, we are able to identify our key priorities more easily.

Chart representing Orange’s materiality matrix. The considerations are ranked into 4 main categories: ethics and the customer relationship, environment, society and employee experience. They are plotted in relation to the expectations of the Group’s stakeholders (vertical axis) and their impact on Orange’s performance (horizontal axis). This year, the level of maturity is also assessed. Ethics and the customer relationship Transparent products and services: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; supplier relationships: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; ethics and anticorruption: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; customer relationships and trust: major stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; network and service quality and reliability: major stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; privacy and data protection: major stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3. Environment Biodiversity: significant stakeholder expectations, significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 1/3; electromagnetic fields: very significant stakeholder expectations, significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; energy and climate change: major stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; circular economy and eco-design of products and services: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3. Society Safe and responsible use of digital technology (child protection and exposure to screens): major stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; social and economic footprint and local jobs: major stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; financial inclusion: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; access to essential needs: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; human rights and freedom of expression: major stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3; philanthropy: significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; digital inclusion: major stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 2/3. Employee experience Diversity and equal opportunities: very significant stakeholder expectations, very significant impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; labour relations: very significant stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; occupational health and safety: very significant stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; skills development: very significant stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3; quality of life at work: very significant stakeholder expectations, major impact on Orange performance, maturity 3/3.
Enlarge the image

Developments in 2018

Our 2018 materiality matrix incorporates the growing focus of stakeholders on environmental and regulatory issues as well as matters relating to emerging technologies (5G, Internet of Things, etc.). The matrix reflects these shifts in two ways:

A number of issues have been repositioned. For example, stakeholders’ concerns over climate change were accentuated as a result of increasingly frequent extreme climate events in 2018. At Orange too, climate change has been given greater importance with the Group’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality. Digital inclusion, which has become a pillar of our identity and sustainable performance, is now positioned as a high priority for the Group.

Certain titles have been reworded to better reflect the core issues. For example, “Safe and responsible use of digital technology (child protection and exposure to screens)” more accurately represents the priority Orange gives to protecting children. Last year’s title “Human rights and digital services” has become “Human rights and freedom of expression”, which better expresses the responsibility of digital services to protect democracy and prevent misinformation.

The maturity factor

This year, we added an additional angle to the materiality matrix: the Group’s maturity in each of the issues identified. The maturity assessment was predominantly based on the findings of three leading ratings agencies (ISS oekom, Vigeo and EcoVadis). We then incorporated our Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) climate change score and an assessment provided by our internal experts. Orange was deemed mature, performing well in the areas of employee experience and network quality and reliability. We continue to develop greater maturity in other priority areas such as digital inclusion and customer relationships and trust, to ensure we meet our objectives.

Facebook Twitter Linkedin

2018 financial results

Read more