The road to net-zero emission and true circularity

Firstly, we are continuing to source green electricity by maximizing self-production through solar panels and by gradually moving toward the right mix of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This is in line with the global initiative RE100, led by the Climate Group, to accelerate change toward renewable energy. In this respect, we signed a PPA with Engie in October 2023 that will contribute to securing approximately 20% of Proximus’ green electricity and reduce exposure to a volatile electricity market.

Secondly, we are closely monitoring our electricity consumption, and implementing measures to keep it under control, despite the increasing demand for bandwidth and data, and the resulting rise in electricity usage in our networks and data centers. For instance, when upgrading old network equipment like voice switches, we incorporate energy-efficient technologies. We are also simplifying our network by replacing buildings storing technical equipment with extremely compact and more electricity-efficient units. Through Mwingz, our joint venture with Orange Belgium, we have continued the consolidation of our mobile sites, switching off 264 mobile sites in 2023. Furthermore, we maintained a consistent Power Usage Efficiency (PUE) of 1.47 in our data centers throughout 2023, indicating a 25% reduction in power usage over the past decade. Collectively, these initiatives resulted in a net saving of 10 GWh, representing an additional 3% net saving in 2023.

Thirdly, to become net zero, we are progressively eradicating the use of fossil fuels by replacing fossil fuel heating systems with alternative technologies. This represents an investment of € 17 million throughout the period 2021-2030. Additionally, we are intensifying the electrification of our management fleet. Since July 2023, employees have only been able to choose from a range of electric vehicles. However, the heavy-duty vans in our technical fleet remain a challenge, as no suitable alternatives are currently available on the market. Finally, bicycles are increasingly being used by our technicians and for store deliveries. Thanks to the CULT project (Collaborative Urban Logistics & Transport), deliveries in the center of Antwerp are now almost entirely emission-free. We have reduced our CO2 emissions by 95% and our delivery driving kilometers by 25%. The CULT project was launched in Brussels in 2023.

Our scope 3 emissions are highly concentrated in the “Purchased Goods & Services” activities and represent 19 times the amount generated by our own operations. These account for approximately 95% of our total CO2 emissions in 2023. To reach our emission reduction targets, we are transitioning towards sustainable sourcing as a standard practice, which impacts the way we operate, as well as the ways we engage with our suppliers.

Internally, we are progressively transforming the way we operate to avoid carbon emissions by sourcing less, namely by shifting toward circular business models wherever possible. Furthermore, we aim to source in the “right” way, meaning we integrate environmental criteria into our procurement decisions.

Through our Supplier Engagement Program, we collaborate with our top 150 suppliers, which collectively represent 85% of our scope 3 emissions (category 1 “Purchased Goods and Services” and category 2 “Capital Goods”) in 2023. We support them in establishing emission reduction targets that are just as ambitious as our own, and in disclosing their progress in this respect on an annual basis. These goals are integrated into contractual clauses.

With these actions, we position ourselves as a key enabler for climate action across our value chain. By 2025, our ambition is to have suppliers with validated emission reduction targets account for 35% of these scope 3 emission categories.