Our environmental management focuses on the areas where we can exert the greatest leverage. These include energy savings, recycling of mobile phones, and raising the awareness of our customers and employees on all issues relating to environmental protection.
In 2008, we identified fields where our business activities as a telecommunications provider exert the greatest effects on the environment. We are striving to reduce the environmental impacts caused by our business activities as much as possible.
Our purchasing and travel guidelines are the most important guidelines determining the approach at O2 to environmental protection, alongside the standards defined by Telefónica S.A.
In 2008, we identified fields where our business activities as a telecommunications provider exert the greatest effects on the environment. We are striving to reduce the environmental impacts caused by our business activities as much as possible.
Our purchasing and travel guidelines are the most important guidelines determining the approach at O2 to environmental protection, alongside the standards defined by Telefónica S.A.
Focusing on central pillars
Our environmental strategy is based on three pillars. Firstly, we want to save energy in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Secondly, we want to take a responsible approach to raw materials and other resources. This concept has been anchored in our procurement guidelines and we put it into practice with measures like recycling mobile phones. Thirdly, we want to raise the awareness of our employees and customers to environmental issues, because we can only succeed in achieving our objectives for environmental and climate protection with their support.
Recording environmental data accurately
Continuous recording of material and energy flows forms an important launch pad for environmental protection. In 2009, we continued optimising our environmental information system. This standardised system provides us with an overview of trends developing in relation to resource consumption, emissions and the generation of waste. This is important for internal management of our environmental impacts and communication with our stakeholders in the public domain.
Defining structures and workflows
Tackling environmental protection in a company with a responsible approach entails allocating responsibilities clearly and defining workflows. Environmental management at O2 has been handled by the Corporate Communications division since the beginning of the business year 2010. The Department for External Communication & Corporate Responsibility manages and coordinates all the company's environmental activities here. Our environmental officer is part of the Corporate & Legal Affairs department and takes care of arrangements for regular certification of our environmental management system. We interpret environmental protection at O2 as an overarching issue that can only be implemented successfully and strategically by coordinated efforts made in all areas - from employees, through network operations, to customer management. The Environmental Committee meets several times a year to address environmental issues. It is made up of a number of specialist sections that are each responsible for specific environmental issues.
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