Exploring Corporations that are having Social Impact and Climate Action: Huawei

Corporations are working to reduce their carbon footprints in their operations and to implement climate change measures throughout their global footprint. Many forward thinking corporations are letting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide and inform these sustainability efforts including setting climate change targets to cut their carbon emissions and to support zero deforestation. 

Leading corporations are stepping up and making internal changes including leadership commitments to help with climate action. Others are creating programs to support sustainability and to establish key performance indicator (KPIs) goals to track, manage and monitor progress.

“Tackling climate change is going to demand historic levels of global cooperation, unprecedented amounts of innovation in nearly every sector of the economy, widespread deployment of today’s clean-energy solutions like solar and wind, and a concerted effort to work with the people who are most vulnerable to a warmer world. That won’t happen unless we decide what we’re going to do and how we’re going to do it. In other words, we need a plan.” Bill Gates

All generations expect positive impacts, but the younger generations have vowed to only support brands that are making a positive difference in the world. They have clearly stated in various studies that they are willing to pay more money to do business with brands that have a positive social impact.

Workers expect their employers to align business goals with positive social impact as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which should align with an impact agenda dedicated to the mission of the brand. The Nielsen June 2014 report “Doing Well by Doing Good” showed that 67% of millennials want to work for a socially responsible brand.

In 2019, I visited several Huawei locations to learn more about their Climate Action, TECH4ALL, TECH4GOOD, Digital Inclusion, SDGs, and Digital Divide efforts. They join other technology giants in their efforts to make the world a better place for everyone. Here are a few ways Huawei is implementing programs that help with Climate Action and the SDGs.

Huawei SDGs Efforts

In the past three years, Huawei has shifted efforts by actively contributing and supporting the United Nations to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and by helping reduce the digital divide. 

They are achieving these goals by advancing digital technology that supports digital inclusion. Their efforts include TECH4ALL, TECH4GOOD, wireless networks, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and helping countries provide access to all people including the Rural Areas. Over the past few years, Huawei shifted their efforts to support global problems like climate change, supporting disenfranchised populations like the inclusion of persons with disabilities and refugees. They have found innovative ways to help with recycling, inclusive ecosystems, resource shortages, and digital inclusion via innovative programs and sustainability strategies.

5G and Climate Change

International standards for 5G expect reduced energy when compared to current networks like 4G networks. Recently, Huawei launched the lightest 5G base station sites that are in the industry, and continues to innovate green technology to save energy consumption and reduce emissions. They continue to build components that keep these efficiencies in mind.

Huawei emphasized the important role 5G networks can play in mitigating climate change according to Dr. Hui Cao, Head of Strategy and Policy, Huawei EU. Dr. Cao noted “climate change is here, and we cannot afford to ignore it. Just like digital, green is a horizontal aspect of policy and business“. Dr. Cao believes that the only way forward is with a facts-based approach that includes measuring the impact of new technologies like 5G. “5G power consumption per bit is a mere 10% of 4G. In other words, 90% of power is saved per bit.”

Environment Protection

Huawei works with partners and to drive industries to conserve energy and build an environmentally friendly low-carbon society that saves resources. Huawei understands that it will take all of us to have true impact. 

Huawei has created many programs to help protect our environment. As early as 2011, Huawei adopted IPE’s enterprise environmental data to Huawei’s supplier audit list and supplier self-checklist. In 2018, they reviewed routine queries about the environmental data of 900 of their key partners/suppliers revealed 52 violations of environmental protection rules. All of these supplier violations were quickly and properly addressed. 

They also encouraged their suppliers to develop energy metering systems , audit their energy usage, identify opportunities to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, study industry-leading practices and case studies, develop and implement their own energy conservation and emissions reduction plans. As a result of these efforts 20 of Huawei suppliers took part in our program, together reducing CO2 emissions by 51,094 tons.

In 2018, Huawei used 932 million kWh of electricity from clean energy sources, representing an emissions reduction of about 450,000 tons. They brought in over 800 new-energy shuttle vehicles for use in our campuses in China, replacing diesel buses.  This is expected to reduce annual CO2 emissions by about 32,000 tons. Additionally, they built 3 smart PC plants in their campuses generating over 16 million kWh of electricity. This is equivalent to a reduction in CO2 emissions of more than 13,000 tons.

Huawei is proud to partner with all other players in the industry chain to build a more beautiful, greener world.

Building a Reverse Supply Chain That Is Secure, Compliant, Green, Efficient, and Intelligent

Huawei is integrating social responsibility throughout their global supply chain as a key element in their ‘Quality First’ strategy. They are also working with customers, suppliers, partners, and industry organizations to minimize supply risks, increase customer satisfaction, boost the competitiveness of the supply chain and collaborating with industries in the development of industry standards.

While ensuring security and compliance, Huawei has used digital technologies to establish a global management system for returned materials, covering material return and storage, and scrapping. These efforts will increase the reuse rate of materials and better dispose of waste across the planet.

In Summary:

Bottomline society is demanding that corporations align their business goals with positive social impact agenda dedicated protecting our planet, humans, and all inhabitants of the planet. This is a good trend and we should all encourage corporations do a better job at making the world work for everyone. I am proud to work with brands like Huawei that are adding value to the world via their efforts to provide access for all, digital inclusion, TECH4All, AI4GOOD, and TECH4GOOD. We are stronger together.