Enviroment
Together against conflict resources
Telekom has been supporting the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) since 2008. The RMI is the largest initiative in the economy for responsible raw material procurement. Its aim is to identify conflict raw materials and to prevent their extraction and trading with them. The RMI goes back to a working group founded in 2008 by the Global enabling Sustainability Initiative and Responsible Business Alliance for the sustainable extraction of raw materials. Since then, the number of metalworking and smelting companies that participate in the RMI has grown steadily.
Don’t buy, rent
We want to make sure that used routers and media receivers don’t just end up in the trash. That is why we promote the “Don’t buy, rent” approach. Our rental services conserve resources and reduce electronic waste, thus cutting CO2 emissions. When a contract is canceled, the customer returns the devices, which are then either refurbished and rented out again or professionally recycled. We have simplified the return process by introducing a returns portal. We advertise our rental service actively and successfully. The offer has been well received by our customers
the number of people using the rental service increased to just over 11,65 million by the end of 2022.
Digital Solutions: The EU’s FENIX project – a platform for more efficient and climate-friendly logistics chains
FENIX = Federated European Network of Information eXchange in LogistiX
Development of a European federated architecture for data sharing serving the European logistics community
- More transparency through real-time information
- Standardized interfaces for ETA, etc.
- Innovative software modules (SDK) from the cloud
- Intermodal transport solutions within EU guidelines
Development, testing and validating practice-relevant services, e.g.:
- Container arrival times (ETA)
- Digitization of customs systems
- CO2 monitoring
Project goals:
- Overcome the fragmented goods transportation causing economic bottlenecks in the EU member states
- Harmonize and optimize cross-border logistics along selected European transport corridors
- Establish ICT standards for seamless communication of cargo flow addressing all modes of transport
Benefit:
Partners with profound market knowledge develop an architecture for a collaborative IT environment bringing together logistics information systems on an operational level
LCMM App (Low Carbon Mobility Management): Helps to improve individual, environmental-sensitive driving style
LCMM (Low Carbon Mobility Management) is a complete system developed for managing logistics fleets. DHL and DB Schenker,
for example, use the patented system in China and Europe and have reduced harmful emissions by an average of 20 percent (saving of 468 kg CO2 per HGV within one month). Fuel costs also went down by as much as 15 percent. This solution starts by analyzing
individual driver behavior. The app helps drivers to develop a more environmentally focused driving style. A cloud backend with corresponding dashboards helps fleet operators to manage their vehicle fleets as efficiently as possible (including up-to-date positioning of each vehicle).
In 11/2020, LCMM has been awarded with the "#GreenMagenta" label of Deutsche Telekom.
Impact measurement: EcoSIM
Sustainability Challenges we are facing is that although the state-of-the-art SIM card is the eSim, we still sell 9 million SIM cards per year.
Our solution, from 2022, the environmental footprint of physical SIM cards will be further reduced by using recycled material instead of virgin plastic.
The offer pays off on the following SDGs:
· SDG 12 - Using recycled material instead of virgin plastic
With an annual sales volume of 9 million SIM cards, we save 81 tCO2e annually with the EcoSIM.
We have labeled this solution #GreenMagenta.
Physical Climate Risk Assessment and Adaption
Physical risks
Extreme weather conditions as a consequence of climate change will have a negative impact on our business processes and networks, leading to incidents or even network outages. Potential failure of network infrastructure may arise due to damaged secondary infrastructure (power outages, e.g.) or failed cooling equipment. Another risk is the possible damage to or failure of the network due to damage to the network infrastructure itself, which may occur as a result of extreme heat, heavy rain and inland flood.
Among the effects of breakdowns is their massive impact on the management of rescue operations, for example, sometimes even rendering such emergency efforts entirely impossible.
In contrast to the physical risks due to climate change, we identified the increasing use of energy-efficient technologies (in grid operation, e.g.) and the growing demand for climate-friendly products and services as significant climate-related opportunities. For instance, we are offering our customers more and more sustainable products and services. The basis for these is Deutsche Telekom’s “green network”, which is powered 100 percent by renewable energies. More Details
Physical risk assessment
In various workshops with experts from technology, purchasing, strategy and risk management, we defined the material climate-related risks and opportunities and carried out an initial weighting. We considered the consequences for our business activities that could result from the physical impacts of progressing climate change.
We analyzed - on an initial exemplary basis - 500 Deutsche Telekom AG sites in Germany with regard to their physical climate risks. Such an analysis shall be extended similarly also to other countries. The climate risk analysis was prepared using the "Climate Change Edition" of the "Location Risk Intelligence" software from reinsurer Munich Re. The analysis comprises eight indices (see graph). We consider the risk exposure for the respective locations of fixed line and mobile technical sites (network operation, data center and office buildings) in two climate scenarios of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): a business-as-usual scenario (RCP 4.5), in which the global temperature increase will be more than two degrees, and a four-degree scenario (RCP 8.5). In addition to the climate scenarios, we also examine the risk exposure in different time frames: current, for the year 2050, and for 2100.
The results from this assessment are used to develop a climate change adaptation plan with mitigation measures that consider context-specific factors and different assets (network operation, data center and office buildings).
Adaptation measures for physical risks
We understand physical risk adaption as anticipating the adverse effects of climate change and taking appropriate action to prevent or minimize the damage they can cause. Our action plans consider all material risks that have been identified through our climate risk assessment. By considering context factors such as characteristics of your sites (region, proximity to rivers, …), we ensure tailored made action plans instead of “one size fits all” approach.
More specifically, we have implemented the following actions:
| Measure | Description |
| Business continuity management | To ensure business continuity, we have defined necessary responsibilities, processes, and measures in our internal “Group Policy on Continuity and Situation Management”.The policy also outlines how to handle emergency and crisis situations like for instance floods. |
| New network infrastructure | We take possible consequences of climate change into account when planning new networks infrastructure. Our network infrastructure is set up to be better protected from storm conditions, changes in temperature, and high winds. |
| Network modernization |
We conduct modernization measures such as |
| Infrastructure facility inspections |
We conduct regular assessments to ensure sophistication and resilience of infrastructure facilities. We conduct approximately 80 location inquiries per year. Approximately 35 queries for risk buildings in Germany (plannable, current threat situation), 25 queries for international risk buildings (plannable, current threat situation), 20 queries for national and international locations in the context of projects or customer orders (short-term, current threat situation) Furthermore, in the near future we will check the approx. 20 T-Systems data centers for their "future security" (focus 2050). |
| Physical climate risk analysis | In the future, we enhance our physical risk assessment. We plan to extend the physical climate risk analysis to further countries and context-specific assessment of the physical impacts of climate change for each asset (network operation, data center and office buildings) |
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Further measures relevant e.g.: |
Group-wide environmental guideline
Deutsche Telekom assumes responsibility for environmental protection. Uniform environmental standards ensure that environmental issues are considered and environmentally-friendly behavior is anchored in all processes and in the daily behavior of employees. To this end, the Group has implemented an QHSE (Quality, Health, Safety and Environment) management system in all fully consolidated companies. Internal and external audits are conducted regularly to verify that the requirements of the HSE management system are consistently implemented in the company's day-to-day operations.
Integral part of the QHSE management system is the Group-wide environmental guideline (pdf, 658.0 KB) including environmental issues (such as climate change and energy, the preservation of natural resources, and the protection of water and biodiversity). All fully consolidated Deutsche Telekom Group companies are obligated to apply this policy and necessary measures within the area of their responsibility. The document includes our production operations and business facilities, our products and services, distribution and logistics, the management of waste, requirements for suppliers and contractors and other business partners and also the consideration within due-dilligiences, mergers & aquisitions. The Environmental Guideline summarizes and partially complements existing self-commitments of DT Group.
The Environmental Guideline is approved by the Board of Management. Our Chief Human Resources Officer and Labor Director is responsible for overseeing adherence to this policy and its integration into business management processes.
The Guideline is approved includes the obligation to legal compliance, to environmental laws and regulations. Beyond that we are committed to continuous improvement of our environmental performance and the reduction of our negative environmental impacts. We use key performance indicators (KPIs) to gauge our progress. These indicators help us to effectively steer our efforts while keeping our stakeholders informed of our progress. DT regularly reports the progress in environmental performance and the achievement of the environmental targets within the groups annual CR-report (yearly).
Changes in internal and external stakeholder expectations (e.g. investors, customers, employees) as well as stakeholder feedback are captured through stakeholder communication and dialogues in various formats, such as a permanent stakeholder online survey. With our several stakeholder dialogues formats we not only gather feedback on our environmental performance, we also raise awareness for our environmental management policy and environmental impacts (see also publications on our environmental performance and KPIs).
With the "Youlearn" learning culture initiative, we are continuing to drive forward the further development of our employees. We provide our employees with a powerful training portfolio through the intelligent learning platform "Percipio" (also referred to as the "Netflix of learning") and "Coursera" (provider of digital continuing education courses from top-ranked universities). Over 180,000 Percipio registrations since the third quarter of 2019 confirm our efforts.
Among our wide range of training offers for employees we also provide QHSE trainings, including environmental issues as to understand the impacts of their work activities on the environment (as digital training exercises). Employees and experts of Deutsche Telekom worldwide regularly exchange information and jointly develop a comprehensive QHSE management system.
Right now the Environmental Guideline is in the process of being revised, finished end of 2022. That way, we address new requirements out of our stakeholder process. The new version will include the board commitment and the above stated information on employee trainings.
Green Pioneers
Achieving more together: international collaboration
How can international corporations put sustainability strategies into practice across borders? Deutsche Telekom employs CR managers for the relevant business segments and national companies to reach this goal. They use the CR Manager Network to regularly share best practices and discuss new challenges, thereby jointly promoting essential CR issues. The central Group Corporate Responsibility (GCR) department is responsible for managing the network. In the year 2021, the CR Manager Network encompassed more than 100 CR Manager from 34 subsidiaries based in 20 countries across the globe.
The participants are regularly invited to virtual meetings and capacity building calls by Group Corporate Responsibility. In 2021, content and likely implications of the EU Green Deal were discussed as well as progress within the #GreenMagenta programs and the new strategic stream "Positive impact on society" defined by the EU segment. Furthermore, the network members could gain insights into issues like Impact measurement and the future of a greener mobility.
“IT remarketing” project
Our “IT remarketing” project involves reconditioning our used IT hardware to make it suitable for further use. We continue to maintain our partnership with “AfB gemeinnützige GmbH”, which offers job opportunities to people with disabilities. Within the scope of this partnership, we are giving some of our used IT hardware (e.g. laptops) to the organization for reconditioning and reselling. This will support us to save resources and to create jobs for people with disabilities as well as extend the life cycle of our used hardware.