We also contribute to resource efficiency at the workplace by endeavoring to use as many green office supplies as possible. In 2022, over 65 percent of all of our catalog-based office supplies in Germany were sustainable. We also took the following measures in Germany:
Our “IT Remarketing” project: Used IT hardware is refurbished so that it can be reused.
Our partner, the charitable organization “AfB gemeinnützige GmbH” (only available in German), which offers jobs for people with limitations, receives some of our used IT hardware (e.g., laptops) for reconditioning and reselling.
In our catalog of office supplies, over 65 percent of products are classified as sustainable, meaning they have been awarded a label recommended by the German Environment Agency (UBA). This is an increase of 15 percent from the previous year. The labels in question include the EU Ecolabel, the Fairtrade seal, the Organic Farming seal, the Blue Angel eco-label, and the FSC® and PEFC environmental labels. Office supplies are delivered largely in accordance with the carbon neutrality certificate.
The goal of our “Paperless Office” project is to increase the number of e-books and e-papers used in our company to save even more paper.
Since 2018, we have worked with a paper wholesaler to purchase only environmentally certified paper that has been awarded the Blue Angel certificate.
To reduce the amount of paper used throughout the Group, we ask our employees to opt out of having salary statements sent by post, and we provide them online instead. Many other apps digitize paper-based processes and thus contribute to paper avoidance such as sick leave via app, travel expense reporting, time booking, etc.
On our “You and Me UNITED” social network, we also offer our employees a platform where they can exchange used office supplies instead of ordering new supplies.
To meet the requirements of the Minamata Convention and curb mercury emissions, we are working to modernize the media technology used in our company.
Less food waste in cafeterias Since 2020, we have been offering our employees discounted items in the cafeterias after 4 p.m. at two locations in Germany. Employees can purchase items that would otherwise have to be thrown away, such as baked goods, salads, and muesli, at half price. In 2022, a large proportion of our employees worked from home, which is why there was a drop in take-up of the offer. For the spring of 2023, we expect our employees to take advantage of the offer of discounted items more frequently again.
In addition, our staff have had the option, since 2021, of getting their midday meal as a takeaway lunch in reusable containers (“REBOWL”) that have a 5 euro deposit. The containers can be returned to any REBOWL partner. Our employees have responded well to this offer: more than 10 000 of the reusable containers are now in circulation. Since 2022, containers with microwave-safe lids have been made available, with a second, smaller container due to be rolled out in 2023.
We have joined forces with Sodexo, the company running our cafeterias in Germany, to introduce the RECUP returnable cup at many Deutsche Telekom sites in Germany. More than 45 000 RECUP returnable cups have been purchased since the pilot. As a sustainable alternative, one reusable RECUP can replace around 500 disposable cups and can then simply be recycled. In return for a deposit of 1 euro, our employees get their coffee or tea in a reusable RECUP. This can be handed in to any participating partner, where the deposit is returned and the cup washed and reused.
We also contribute to resource efficiency at the workplace by endeavoring to use as many green office supplies as possible. In 2022, over 65 percent of all of our catalog-based office supplies in Germany were sustainable. We also took the following measures in Germany:
Less food waste in cafeterias
Since 2020, we have been offering our employees discounted items in the cafeterias after 4 p.m. at two locations in Germany. Employees can purchase items that would otherwise have to be thrown away, such as baked goods, salads, and muesli, at half price. In 2022, a large proportion of our employees worked from home, which is why there was a drop in take-up of the offer. For the spring of 2023, we expect our employees to take advantage of the offer of discounted items more frequently again.
In addition, our staff have had the option, since 2021, of getting their midday meal as a takeaway lunch in reusable containers (“REBOWL”) that have a 5 euro deposit. The containers can be returned to any REBOWL partner. Our employees have responded well to this offer: more than 10 000 of the reusable containers are now in circulation. Since 2022, containers with microwave-safe lids have been made available, with a second, smaller container due to be rolled out in 2023.
We have joined forces with Sodexo, the company running our cafeterias in Germany, to introduce the RECUP returnable cup at many Deutsche Telekom sites in Germany. More than 45 000 RECUP returnable cups have been purchased since the pilot. As a sustainable alternative, one reusable RECUP can replace around 500 disposable cups and can then simply be recycled. In return for a deposit of 1 euro, our employees get their coffee or tea in a reusable RECUP. This can be handed in to any participating partner, where the deposit is returned and the cup washed and reused.