Proximus reaches its goal to become climate neutral
- Having reduced its carbon footprint by more than 70% between 2007 and 2015, Proximus has reached its objective to become a climate neutral company in 2016.
- The "CO₂ Neutral" label recognizes the significant efforts made by Proximus to reduce CO₂ emissions directly linked to its activities (vehicle fleet, heating in buildings, data centers, fixed and mobile networks) but also to reduce indirect emissions, particularly the home-work commute, business travel, and the energy consumption of decoders and modems.
- The results are impressive: in six years, Proximus managed to reduce its energy consumption by 22% (-3% in 2016) and its carbon emissions by 32% (-4% in 2016).
- And it doesn’t stop there: Proximus aims to reduce its CO₂ emissions by an additional 30% by 2025, and to reduce its indirect emissions by 50% by 2040, in particular by raising awareness among customers and suppliers.
- At the same time, Proximus will continue to offset its remaining emissions by supporting international climate projects, especially in Africa.
Alignment with scientific objectives
On a global scale, 15 of the 16 hottest years on record were in the 21st century. Today, the effects of global warming are clearly being felt in countries throughout the world. As a socially responsible company, Proximus plays an active role in the fight against climate change and wants to set an example in this area by aligning its objectives with the objectives fixed by scientists at the Paris COP21 in 2015 to keep global temperature rise below 2°C. Thanks to Proximus’ efforts over the past decade to reduce its environmental impact, it has become one of the first BEL 20 companies to be recognized as climate neutral. Proximus is also the only Belgian company to receive the CDP Climate Leadership Award which recognizes initiatives taken by listed companies to reduce their CO₂ emissions, thereby limiting their impact on climate change. Last October, Proximus received this award for the fourth consecutive year.
Very encouraging results
At Proximus, sustainability is not new. Since 2007, the company has reduced its CO₂ emissions for its Belgian activities by more than 70%. How? Notably, by using 100% green electricity; by improving the energy efficiency of its fixed and mobile networks; by reducing electricity consumption in its data centers; by renewing heating installations in its buildings; by switching to a greener vehicle fleet; and by encouraging the use of public transport and bikes for the employee commute.
These different measures, which are described in detail in the new Proximus CSR Report for 2016, have led to some impressive results:
- Carbon emissions of the Proximus Group have fallen by 32% in six years.
- Energy consumption of the Proximus Group has fallen by 22% in six years.
- Fuel consumption per vehicle has fallen by 22% in 9 years.
- 99.6% of company vehicles currently report CO₂ emissions under 145 g CO₂/km, compared to 56% in 2010.
- 47% of employees who have a company car have chosen to replace it with public transport for the home-work commute.
- 88% of Proximus waste was recycled in 2016 (compared with 85% in 2015).
- Thanks to the new V5 and V5 Compact decoders, which consume more than 50% less energy than their predecessors, the average consumption of all TV decoders used by Proximus customers has fallen by 33% in the past three years.
Further reducing our environmental impact
Now that we have a good momentum going, there's no stopping us. Proximus is determined to continue and even intensify its efforts to protect the environment in order to achieve an additional 30% reduction of its CO₂ emissions by 2025.
In the longer term, Proximus also wants to exert more influence on the reduction of indirect emissions resulting from its activities, in order to reduce these emissions by 50% by 2040. In practice, this means that Proximus will have to continue its efforts to reduce waste reduction, purchase sustainable goods and services, and reduce the ecological footprint of Proximus devices supplied to customers.
I am proud that Proximus has fulfilled its ambition to become a climate neutral company in 2016. We achieved this fantastic result partly thanks to the significant reduction of energy consumption in our buildings and of fuel consumption in our vehicle fleet, and to employees who chose mobility plans allowing them to trade in their company car for public transport. Furthermore, the average consumption of our entire fleet of TV decoders has fallen by 33% in the past three years. But this is only a first step. We will continue our efforts to achieve an additional 30% reduction of CO₂ emissions by 2025, while seeking to increase our impact on the reduction of indirect emissions resulting from our activities. For example, by reducing the energy consumption of Proximus devices supplied to customers.
Projects in Africa
Besides reducing its CO₂ emissions, Proximus also offsets emissions which it cannot yet reduce by supporting international climate projects aimed at fighting global warming. An example is the TEG STOVE project in Benin. This project, which will run for several years, aims to deploy high-performance stoves in households, on which a thermo-electric generator is installed for charging smartphones and LED lamps. By providing cheaper, more reliable and more sustainable energy, these stoves are not just beneficial for the families (savings on wood, access to electricity and telecoms, fewer respiratory illnesses) but are also good for the planet (fight against deforestation).
CO₂ emissions know no borders and have social and economic consequences for our civilization. We will all end up paying the price of climate change and, unfortunately, the most disadvantaged in developing countries will be the most affected. Companies such as Proximus who reduce and offset their climate impact (locally and globally) can truly speak of social responsibility.
