O2 becomes first U.K. mobile operator to retain Carbon Trust Standard

by Brianna Crandall — February 16, 2011—British mobile network operator O2 has been recertified with the Carbon Trust Standard for successfully measuring, managing and improving carbon efficiency across its business by nearly 18 percent, based on turnover.

O2 was the first mobile network operator to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in January 2009. In the last two years the company has honed its energy efficiency strategies even further to cut carbon emissions by nearly 30,000 tonnes CO2. In doing so, O2 has become the first mobile operator to be recertified by the Carbon Trust Standard.

In total, over the five years O2’s performance has been measured by the Carbon Trust Standard, the company has improved carbon efficiency by 22 percent, relative to turnover.

To achieve the Carbon Trust Standard, organizations must firstly measure their direct carbon footprint (for example, on-site fuel and electricity use), prove that good carbon management practices are in place, and demonstrate genuine reduction in their emissions over a three-year period.

The Carbon Trust Standard certificate is valid for two years. The recertification demands an even greater focus on carbon reduction since companies typically have already targeted “low-hanging fruit” during their first certification.

Initiatives undertaken by O2 to meet the Carbon Trust Standard include:

  • The launch of a major sustainability program called Think Big, part of which involves engaging O2’s 11,000 employees to get behind carbon reduction initiatives;
  • Setting in place a carbon reduction target to reduce “Carbon per Connection” by 40 percent by 2015;
  • The multi-million pound development of a new, state-of-the-art head office campus, using environmental management, smart technology and flexible working to cut the office’s carbon emissions by 53 percent;
  • £2 million investment in 7,000+ electricity smart meters, rolled out in company cell sites, offices and retail outlets over the last three years;
  • A £750,000 investment in power quality monitoring for data centers; and
  • A £300,000 investment in micro wind turbines to test feasibility for installation at cell sites and O2’s main office buildings.