Procurement
We undertake regular reviews with suppliers to ensure compatibility with our principles and processes. To avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest and to maintain appropriate standards for business behaviour, our procurement efforts are guided by the policies outlined in our Worldwide Code of Employee and Business Conduct.

In the belief that we will see escalating savings in the next few years through electronic commerce and electronic marketplaces, Alcan was a founding member in Quadrem, an electronic marketplace for global metals, mining and minerals industries. During 2001, we initiated pilot sites with Quadrem in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. in order to understand the implications more fully from the point of view of Alcan as a buyer, and from our suppliers and our employees.