Committed Suppliers

Supplier engagement and responsible sourcing are critical pillars of Ideals Sustainable Selection. That is why our selection only considers suppliers who have signed the Ideal Sustainable Supplier Charter. This charter states the commitments required by Ideal from its suppliers, service providers and subcontractors, in terms of ethics, respect for human rights, protection of employees' rights, respect for the environment and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. It is thus the cornerstone of lasting and trust-based commercial relationships between Ideal and its suppliers.

By engaging suppliers and partners in sustainability initiatives, Ideal can influence and promote sustainable practices across the entire value chain. We are only at the start of our journey, and we will progressively raise our standards in the selection of our suppliers with more demanding commitments. This integrated approach promotes long-term viability, fosters stakeholder trust, and contributes to a more resilient and responsible business ecosystem.

The Rexel Group aims to have 80% of its supplier base sign the charter by the end of 2023.

Products contributing to the energy transition

The Energy transition is necessary to fight climate change due to the significant role that energy production and consumption play in greenhouse gas emissions, the primary drivers of global warming. Buildings are responsible for roughly 40% of emissions globally, when considering building materials and operating emissions*.

Energy renovation of buildings is a major challenge in the energy transition. Ideal has opted for a pragmatic framework to move from commitment to action , translating into a selection of products and technologies that make buildings and activities more energy-efficient: LED lighting, renewable energies (solar and wind), heat pump solutions, smart building solutions for energy optimization (all the communication technologies that help to automatically adapt the amount of heating, lighting and/or energy consumption to occupancy levels at any given moment or to the strict minimum).

Here again, we will progressively adapt our selection to integrate the most efficient technologies available and remain in step with the regulations in force.

*The role of buildings in addressing climate change | World Economic Forum (weforum.org), Sarah Golden, Senior Analyst & Verge Energy Chair, Greenboz Group.

Best-in-class eco-labelled products

Consumers often rely on well-known and established eco-labels as a source of information when making sustainable purchasing decisions. A third-party eco-label is considered a trusted source if it provides an independent and credible assessment of a products environmental performance. These labels are objective and independent , based on transparent criteria and standards with a robust certification process.

There is a long list of eco-labels in the energy sector. Ideals Sustainable Selection considers only a selection of the most relevant ones, considering the organisation expertise behind it, the qualification level for the environmental performance, its geographical and product scope of application, together with its reputation and recognition within relevant industries and consumer circles.

Examples of labels (non exhaustive) :

Cradle to cradle

Label grade accepted :

Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum

Energy Label

Label grade accepted :

Grades A and B

SundaHus (Sweden)

Label grade accepted :

SundaHus A

Energy Star

Label grade accepted :

Energy Star for Canada, Energy star for USA

The DesignLights Consortium® (DLC)

Label grade accepted :

Premium

BVB (Sweden)

Label grade accepted :

BVB utrecommendedt label

The list of accepted eco-labels will be progressively extended upon the decision of an internal sustainability expert committee.