What are the strengths of Air Liquide’s model when it comes to responding to the challenges of a changing world?
B.P.: Our model is unique. It is built on a broad range of markets, applications and geographies and makes our Group particularly resilient. We are strategically located on five continents, yet we also have in-depth knowledge of local industrial networks. This solid foundation enables us to offer useful and customized solutions, drawing on best practices on a global scale, while developing strong relationships with our customers, underpinned by long-term contracts and strategic partnerships. Increasingly, we are joining coalitions and playing the role of facilitator within multi-stakeholder ecosystems. This role highlights our expertise and our abilities to innovate and develop trusted relationships as we work closely with our teams, customers, partners and shareholders. This trust is built on quality dialog. This unique and proven model has successfully navigated crises while creating value.
F.J.: To continue the progress made so far, maintain our agility and enhance our performance, we have launched an ambitious internal transformation program. Our fundamentals, namely safety, customer satisfaction and employee engagement, are deeply rooted in the Group’s culture.
Continuing to develop solutions that address the world’s challenges and create value is the strength and the hallmark of our business model.
To sustain this corporate culture, we recognize the need to simplify our organization to become even more proactive, competitive and attractive, ensuring that we are better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. This simplified structure will facilitate quicker decision-making and increased efficiency, while the creation of a new single Group Industrial Direction will develop operational synergies. This transformation plan will give us the means to continue to seize market opportunities created by the challenges of the world’s ecological, economic and societal transitions. There have never been so many and such large-scale opportunities. We must make the most of them!
To what extent do the Group’s activities, products and technological solutions contribute to creating a positive impact?
F.J.: Our innovation is strongly focused on technologies with a positive impact. More than 3,000 employees are dedicated to innovation, working tirelessly with the Group’s operational teams to optimize the use of molecules and improve the efficiency of industrial processes and our healthcare solutions. They are tasked with developing effective and useful solutions for society as a whole. In terms of decarbonization, this includes the supply of low-carbon gas, oxy-combustion, capture solutions for CO2 sequestration and renewable and low-carbon hydrogen production plants. These solutions are implemented in various sectors, including those that are the hardest to abate, such as the cement industry. Our efforts also extend to the transformation of healthcare systems: we provide hospitals with low-carbon molecules and we offer solutions that combine human interaction and digital technologies to better support patients treated at home. This technological expertise is also reflected in our support for the growth of the semiconductor industry. Today, it is a vital industry for many everyday activities, including communication, transportation and even healthcare, and our gas solutions and services make a difference, both in terms of performance and carbon footprint. Lastly, we leverage our long-standing expertise in industrial processes by providing increasingly advanced and innovative solutions to support our customers every day as they work to continuously improve their products.