This is Mission Possible: How BT is achieving a sustainable future for energy

This new series of videos is part of Mission Possible, edie’s new campaign for 2018 which seeks to empower and inspire sustainability, energy and resource efficiency professionals to achieve a sustainable future for their business.

The five-part series will hear from a selection of sustainability leaders from some of the UK’s biggest businesses. Each leader will discuss how they and their team are taking bold actions in one of the five Mission Possible campaign pillars: Energy, Resources, The Built Environment, Mobility, and Business Leadership.

In the above video, Ginér discusses how the BT is demonstrating industry leadership in driving sustainability for its energy. 

“As one of the UK’s largest energy users, BT has an important role to play in stimulating the demand and supply of renewable energy,” Ginér explains. “By powering our networks and data centres with renewable electricity, we’re paving the way towards a low-carbon future.

“We will not be able to achieve our 100% renewable energy target without the support of others. But if there is one thing we have learnt from the Paris Agreement, it’s that nothing is impossible. This is Mission Possible.”

MISSION POSSIBLE: Five ways BT is achieving a sustainable future for energy

1) Committing to the RE100 – As a member of the RE100, BT is reducing operational emissions by switching to 100% renewable energy. In 2016, BT sourced 82% of its electricity from renewables, a slight decline on the year prior. This was attributed to the acquisition of EE, and contracts have been agreed to switch the majority of EE’s electricity contracts to renewables.

2) Setting a science-based target – BT is setting itself on the path to help limit global warming to 1.5C through a new science-based target to reduce emissions by 87% by 2030 against a 2016/17 baseline – one of only three companies striving for the 1.5C pathway.

3) Promoting sustainability to consumers – One of BT’s flagship sustainability commitments is to help its customers cut carbon emissions by three times the company’s own end-to-end emissions by 2020. The 3:1 ambition currently sits at a ratio of 1.8:1, up from 1.6:1 last year. BT’s consumer operations and products that contribute to carbon savings now represent 22% of the company’s annual revenue and are worth £5.3bn.

4) Delivering best practice with suppliers – BT assesses its suppliers against global best practices to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of its supply chain. Any company struggling with certain aspects are then given potential solutions and support from BT’s Better Future Suppliers Forum to implement changes.

5) Willing to collaborate for the greater good – BT is currently working with a number of competitors – such as with AT&T, Ericsson, Samsung and Verizon – as part of the GESI initiative, which sees industry leaders collaborate on best practices for sustainability.

The Gabrielle Ginér video interview can be viewed on YouTube here. And all of the video interviews within this Mission Possible series will appear here. 

Achieve YOUR Mission Possible at edie Live 2018

edie’s Mission Possible campaign will be brought to life on the Sustainability Keynote stage at edie Live 2018.

Taking place on 22-23 May 2018 at the NEC Birmingham, visitors will be inspired by thought-leaders, coached by industry experts, encouraged to collaborate with your peers, and shown the way by hundreds of innovative suppliers and solutions providers.

Find out more about the show and register for your free pass here.

Luke Nicholls & Matt Mace