Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has revealed its Responsible Business Plan, an ESG blueprint for the next half of the decade. The plan keeps the same direction as its 2022-2025 Better Connections Plan and concentrates the strategy into four themes: climate, connection, control, and circularity.
Scope 3 net zero by 2040 sits at the centre of the climate theme, while the connection track targets support for 500,000 low-income households by 2030 through low-cost social tariffs and charity partnerships.
Four themes: climate, connection, control and circularity
VMO2s updated Responsible Business Plan is structured around climate, connection, control, and circularity. Under climate, VMO2 is reiterating its goal of Scope 3 net zero carbon emissions by 2040 and says it will largely achieve that goal by using clean energy and building more efficient networks.
Under connection, VMO2 says it will support 500,000 low-income households to stay connected by 2030 via low-cost social tariffs and partnerships with Good Things Foundation and Hubbub.
Control: online safety tools plus an expected wellbeing strategy
VMO2 says its control theme will include a range of tools to help keep families safe online. It also says it will double down on fraud prevention and security measures, and that a dedicated digital wellbeing strategy is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Circularity targets: device recycling, refurbishment and reuse
For circularity, VMO2 is aiming to double the number of people recycling unwanted devices by 2030 and to double the number of people buying refurbished devices by 2030.
The operator says it is preparing to champion a device reuse culture in 30 cities by 2030, with the initiative including supporting partner programmes.
CEO view: plan embedded in day-to-day business
Lutz Schhler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said the Responsible Business Plan is more than a strategy and is how the company does business, built into every decision VMO2 makes, including how it treats customers and employees and the products and services it provides across the country.
He added that VMO2 is committed to being a trusted business and a force for good in peoples lives.