Greener Network

At O2 we have a strong heritage in doing the right thing by our customers. That’s why we’re joining those businesses putting progress over perfection by making a bold promise to help tackle climate change.  

This week we’ve revealed our commitment to become a Net Zero business by 2025: setting the bar for major mobile networks in the UK.

I’m incredibly proud that as a business in a challenging market we’ve taken the decision to take a step back and put our time, effort, energy and money behind building a greener O2.  

I’m also fortunate that this is not a new territory for us. We have a track record that means we can make a promise like this with confidence.  

• In 2008 we started using renewable energy where we paid the bill.
• Since 2009 we’ve helped customers recycle over three million devices and saved 450 tonnes of waste from landfill. It’s the longest-running major UK network recycling initiative.
• In 2014 we were the first mobile network in the world to achieve both the Carbon Trust Standard for Carbon, Waste and Water and the Carbon Trust Supply Chain Standard.

It’s not a one side story though. I’m incredibly passionate about how we can also use network technology to make the UK more sustainable, like where we have installed connectivity for over two million smart hubs in homes – and that’s just the beginning. 

Let’s take a step back. The case for acting on climate change is all around us every day; in the news, in what our children say to us, in how our customers want us to help them do their bit. So, I believe now is the time that as businesses and as leaders we must step up, and work together to tackle this challenge head on.  

That’s why we have set ourselves another target that stretches beyond our own business: to work with our suppliers to help them reduce their carbon footprint by 30% in the same time.

And that’s before even talking about some of our customers, and the work we’re doing with them to help get connectivity tackling sustainability challenges in their businesses too.

See, this really isn’t something any business can do alone. Tech companies, town planners, government departments, councils… we all have our part to play, there is room for everyone to help the UK tackle climate change.

My door is open, I’d love to hear your thoughts.  

I’ll keep you updated on our progress over the next five years and in the meantime you can find out more on our website: https://o2lin.kr/GreenerNetwork