Virgin Media O2 Cuts Carbon Emissions by 56% Since 2020

Virgin Media O2 is steadily ticking boxes on its sustainability roadmap — but not without a few speed bumps. The UK telecoms giant announced on Tuesday that it has slashed its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by an impressive 56% compared to its 2020 baseline. These figures, reflecting its 2024 performance, mark a continued march toward its Better Connections plan — an initiative that’s been in motion for several years.

For context, Scope 1 and 2 emissions encompass both direct emissions (like fuel use in company vehicles) and indirect emissions (such as purchased electricity). This drop—up from a 45% reduction shared this time last year—puts VMO2 firmly on track to meet its near-term Science-Based Targets: a 90% cut in operational emissions by 2030.

However, while the emissions story is strong, the electric vehicle (EV) rollout paints a more complex picture.

VMO2 has deployed just over 350 electric vehicles — an increase from 281 last year. That’s progress, no doubt. However, considering the company’s fleet size is around 4,300 vehicles, EV adoption still exists in the single-digit percentage range. And there’s another red flag: the telco has quietly removed its 2030 target for a fully electric fleet from its roadmap. A goal that once seemed bold and time-bound now feels quietly delayed, likely due to persistent global supply chain issues and slower-than-expected rollout speeds.

In partnership with EkkoSense, VMO2 cut cooling energy use across 20 of its data centres by 15%, which reportedly saved the company £1 million — though that particular stat was left out of the current report. Elsewhere, it has eliminated plastic packaging in its own-brand products and slashed upstream packaging waste by 27% compared to 2022 figures. On the energy side, all sites where VMO2 manages the bill now run on 100% renewable energy.

The company is also making strides in the circular economy. By the end of 2023, it had facilitated 4.7 million “circular actions” — including phone recycling and refurbishments — with a target of 10 million by the end of this year. Currently, the running total sits at 8.5 million — and the trajectory suggests that the goal is well within reach.