What are Virgin Media O2’s key milestones for achieving net zero by 2040?
We have a net zero programme and a goal to achieve net zero by 2040, which we are very committed to. As of now, we are on track to meet our 2025 interim target of a 60% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions, with a 56% reduction from our 2020 baseline. We are working on our scope 3 emissions measurement for 2024, but we reported a 15% reduction at the end of 2023.
Energy consumption as a business has remained flat over the last few years, and we have been able to decouple growth from consumption and emissions
How will the current Mobile Transformation Plan for increased automation, faster connectivity, and better penetration align with the company’s ambitions to keep down energy consumption and emissions?
Through this transformation plan we will see increases in some aspects, but overall we expect to deliver a significant reduction in power use over the coming years as we realise efficiencies from new technologies and retire legacy networks such as 3G.
What types of energy sources and suppliers does Virgin Media O2 work with?
We power our network with 100% renewable energy wherever we control the bill, for which we primarily use wind and solar power through our power contracts. We are currently exploring renewable-based Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), which will make up part of our supply in the future. PPAs will give us more long-term pricing certainty and a clearer link to how this power has been produced. Eventually, we expect to have a mix of power from PPAs, main power providers, and some third-party suppliers. However, on-site renewables are not a major focus right now given deployment challenges for small-scale renewables across thousands of sites.
We do have some third-party sites where landlords control tariffs. Our mast decarbonisation project has been seeking to transition those sites to green tariffs wherever possible. In 2024, 96% of our total electricity use came from renewable sources, and we are continuing to work on reducing emissions from third-party sites.
Virgin Media O2 has set a target of zero-waste operations by 2025. What are its initiatives for managing e-waste in the lifecycle of its products?
Our circular economy strategy focuses on three areas: stimulating the market for consumers and products, encouraging behavior change, and demonstrating leadership in managing our own footprint. We have set an ambitious target of 95% recycling within our operations, and we are currently at around 85-86%. We have also implemented a zero-waste-to-landfill policy, with a focus on reusing equipment from technical sites, passing it on to secondary markets, or recycling it when necessary.
We already take back our broadband and TV products (such as routers and set-top boxes) from customers, with 9.3 million taken back since 2020. We are also continually exploring opportunities to reuse equipment in our network and technical sites, and working with suppliers on innovative methods for extracting valuable materials from old equipment. In terms of awareness campaigns, we launched ‘Time After Time’ with Hubbub to educate consumers, as many do not fully understand its environmental impact.
Do you see evidence that consumers are responding to these recycling campaigns?
We have a device take-back scheme, O2 Recycle, where we have collected over 4 million devices since 2009 and returned £350 million worth of value to customers – so that has been very successful. It is one of the most recognized mobile operator-led device take-back schemes, playing a key role in our circular economy strategy.
Additionally, there is growing demand for second-hand or pre-owned devices, especially given the cost of living, so we launched a revamped proposition last year called "Like New", which includes a 40-point health check and a three-year warranty. O2 Recycle is available to everyone in the UK, not just O2 customers, which makes it accessible to all.
What UK policies have positively impacted telecom’s green transition, and how?
One policy initiative that could be significant is the government’s focus on device reuse to bridge the digital divide. Over the last couple of years, we have funded projects through our ‘Time After Time’ fund, distributing a million pounds to support e-waste reduction and tackling digital exclusion. We have also launched a program called ‘Community Calling’, which rehomes second-hand devices. We have distributed over 24,000 smartphones across the UK since the pandemic.
Those devices are data wiped, and they can then be given to somebody in need. It is making a huge difference in that digital inclusion piece, the type of people that have received them. We work with lots of charities like Women's Aid, Migrant Help and others for example, homelessness charities. We are keen to work with the Government to remove barriers and encourage more businesses to donate their used devices. This is part of a broader view that many issues, like climate change, carbon reduction, digital inclusion, and circular economy practices, are interconnected.
Do you perceive an authentic shift in the corporate world towards nature stewardship, even when it is not translated into profit?
Yes, I do think there is a shift happening. There are regulatory measures around reporting, especially from the EU, which are pushing businesses to think about nature and in many cases for the first time in a meaningful way. On a personal level, many of us care because our children are learning about environmental issues - and they are passionate about it. This change is visible with younger generations coming into business, who want to know what companies are doing about sustainability.
People are voting with their feet – they will not work for, buy from, or support companies that are not taking these issues seriously. There is no doubt that businesses now must invest in sustainability, strategize around it, and be held accountable.
While short-term commercial realities might sometimes conflict with these goals, the overall direction is clear: businesses can no longer ignore their environmental impact.
