Telefónica UK, operating under the O2 brand, has a blueprint to remove carbon emissions from its entire business and network by 2025.
In parallel, will work with supply chain partners – including handset manufacturers – to reduce emissions by 30% in the next five years, working with the wider Telefónica Group and its green strategy.
According to the operator, this masterplan builds on the journey started in 2008, when O2 signed renewable energy deals across sites where it pays the bill.
Third-party action
O2 plans to switch third-party landlords of sites its rents to renewable energy, while creating technical and energy transition solutions across its whole business where needed.
O2 will also focus its efforts on the wider power of mobile, working to help other sectors in with more sustainable solutions.
O2 is already involved with the UK Smart Metering programme and working with partners to replicate O2’s own success of saving 20,000 tonnes of carbon over the past eight years.
Ten years on
Its green initiatives over the last decade include using automation in networks which saves energy by dropping capacity when demand is low, saving over 6,000 megawatt hours of energy – the same amount of energy required to make 360 million cups of tea.
O2 started its renewable energy procurement in 2008 and since then has invested £400 million (€464.4 milion) in renewable energy sources.
Since 2009, O2 has helped customers recycle over 3 million devices and saved 450 tonnes of waste from landfill.
O2 claims to be the first to introduce an Eco rating scheme for new phones.