MERCK KGAA, DARMSTADT, GERMANY meaning a company that can continue to perform over extended periods of time.” In order to sustain most companies, the reliable procurement of raw materials is key- but Sebastien warns that circularity and resource scarcity are real threats.
“ Not all the materials that we have are synthetic. They have their basis somewhere – raw materials which come from our planet... if we do not take care of these, then ultimately, we’ re gonna end up in resource scarcity.”
Sustainability, in his view, is not just about ethics or image. It’ s what makes Merck viable for the long term.
Shifting business perception Sebastien sees procurement in a very different light to how it was once viewed. The old days of measuring success purely in savings are gone. Today, he believes procurement plays a broader role in managing risk, enabling innovation, supporting sustainability and aligning long-term business goals.
“ I always say value beyond savings, because that’ s ultimately what’ s expected,” Sebastien explains. It’ s not just about doing things cheaper, but smarter.
However, for all the progress made, he says there’ s still a perception problem
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