Virgin Media O2 reduced its scope 1 and scope 2 carbon emissions by 23% per cent last year – the equivalent energy usage of 14,883 UK homes.
In doing so, the telecoms company has reduced direct emissions by 54% against its 2022 baseline, since launching its sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan.
The firm said it is also on track to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its operations, products and supply chain by the end of 2040 – 10 years ahead of the UK’s net zero goal.
In its latest sustainability update, Virgin Media O2 figures also show that its products and services had prevented almost 60 million tonnes of carbon from entering the Earth’s atmosphere throughout 2023.
This was, for example, through powering Internet of Things applications such as smart metering, supporting customers to be more sustainable and preventing carbon emissions from either cars or public transport.
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Meanwhile, it increased its electric fleet to 281 vehicles as part of its overall target to transition to a fully EV fleet by 2030.
Other highlights include the company supporting consumers to carry out 4.7 million ‘circular actions’, against its 10 million goal by the end of 2025, and the 02 Recycle scheme seeing almost 250,000 devices saved from landfills last year.
Last month, Virgin Media O2 said it had removed 65 tonnes of single-use plastic from its operations and products since 2021 – the equivalent weight of five double decker buses.
Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said: “Our Better Connections Plan makes clear that we are a business that aims to deliver for our customers, for our communities and for our planet, and we made further strong progress across the board last year.
“We are on track to meet our targets to cut Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 60% by 2025 and deliver net zero carbon by 2040.
“We are supporting decarbonisation through the products and services we provide, encouraging circular actions among consumers, cutting our own use of plastic, and stepping up to support the communities we serve through initiatives designed to boost skills, tackle digital exclusion and provide free data and devices to those in need.”
