Sandrine Partouche
Human Resources Director, Wholesale International, Orange
The rise of new technologies, the increase of data consumption and the demand for global connectivity has undoubtedly had a significant effect on our planet and our society. Unfortunately, these issues cannot be resolved at the click of a button, as building a sustainable business requires a collective effort at every level of an organization. That’s why, we have implemented green practices end-toend throughout our whole ecosystem.
Our principle objective is to anticipate the GSMA's target by 10 years and be Net Zero carbon by 2040. To achieve this, we have identified some key areas to streamline our actions. With regard to renewable energy, we aim for 50% of our electricity consumption to be from sustainable sources by 2025.
In the Middle East and Africa we are prioritizing the reduction of fuel oil consumption, through partnerships with Energy Services Companies (ESCo) and through the construction of solar farms, of which there are already 2800 in operation. And, in France we have just signed a major green power purchase agreement with Total to develop 80 MW of solar farms.
We are also focusing on limiting our energy consumption. The launch of our Green ITN 2025 program will minimize electricity usage at networks and data centers, with the possibility of avoiding over 80,000 tons of CO2.
Furthermore, in each of our buildings, we are implementing “360° reporting”, enabling us to monitor and optimize our energy consumption. And regarding our cable fleet, Orange Marine is thrilled to announce the construction of its new vessel with a reduced environmental footprint. Moreover, Orange Marine has partnered with Euro-Argo to collaborate on a global ocean climate observation program and was one of the first maritime operations to receive the “Green Marine Europe” label.
Another key priority for us at Orange is to ensure that all of our business processes adhere to the fundamental principle of the circular economy, namely in terms of recycling old materials and the eco-design of our products. In this field, we have implemented a program to encourage the purchase and resale of reconditioned IT equipment. Now, 10% of our mobile phone sales are recycled devices in Europe. Furthermore, we also provide an excellent repair service in each European country in order to avoid emissions from manufacturing new handsets.
Despite these various measures, it is difficult to become completely carbon neutral and we therefore estimate that we will still emit 20% residual CO2 emissions in 2040. In response, we are investing heavily in the development of carbon sinks, such as forests and mangroves.
An ecological conscience is essential for businesses today, not just for the obvious ethical reasons, but also because you increasingly expect, and desire, “greener” offers. Our environmental vision is an inspired action for our employees, our customers, the countries where we operate, our planet and our common future.
With the digital era accelerating rapidly, it is the opportune moment for us to transform our society in this sustainable and socially responsible way. Commitment to social responsibility is a crucial part of our production, our development and our way of doing business. That’s why, we are your trusted partner at Orange.
