Corporate responsibility

Our customers, employees and stakeholders trust us to provide great value for money and great service but also to run our business in a responsible way.

That means we act responsibly in everything we do, for example, protecting children from inappropriate content, helping out in our local communities and making mobile communications greener.

T-Mobile UK has a history of taking its responsibilities seriously. In 1997 we introduced an energy management system to reduce our energy use and reduce our carbon emissions and in 2006 we refocused our work to include the management of social and ethical issues.

To date we have introduced, for example:

  • Carbon management to tackle climate change
  • Handset recycling and reuse scheme for customers
  • Paperless billing for customers
  • SIM only offer to reduce the use of new handsets
  • Environmental management system (ISO14001) to minimise all our impacts
  • Content lock to protect children
  • Employee volunteering in the local community
  • Give as you earn
  • Matched fundraising
  • A scheme to help young people on the first steps back to education or employment
  • Working with our suppliers to ensure an ethical supply-chain.

In 2007, we conducted a review to identify what corporate responsibility issues our stakeholders, including our customers and employees, think we should be tackling. We identified two main topics which formed the basis of our Corporate Responsibility strategy:

  • Bring people together to develop new innovative ways to help have a positive impact in local communities.
  • Endeavour to make mobile communications safer and greener.

Greener mobile communications

In 1997 we put an energy management system in place and since 2006, we have reduced our carbon emissions from our corporate buildings by 30%. To help us manage our energy more efficiently across our network we've installed the largest UK company-wide roll-out of smart meters. We were also the first mobile company to use free-cooling instead of air conditioning units in our network sites, and pioneered network-sharing to further reduce our carbon footprint.

Recycling is also high on our agenda. Our waste recycling has increased from 12% in 2006, to 84% by the end of 2009.

Local communications

One of our projects, a youth mentoring programme, has run in Merthyr Tydfil and Sunderland; matching staff with local young people who are not in education, employment or training, supporting them to reach their potential. So far the programme has changed the lives of 21 young people, helping them back into education, employment or training. 16% of our employees volunteer and, since 2006, we have volunteered 7085 hours, making a difference to 105 different organisations in local communities.

Safer mobile communications

We are members of the Internet Watch Foundation and participate in the new UK Council for Child Internet Safety. In 2005, we introduced a Content Lock filter free of charge for all customers, on all devices. Content Lock was independently reviewed by Ofcom last year who commended its success in protecting children accessing adult content. In collaboration with TimeBank and The Diana Award, we've created the txtup standup website that gives young people somewhere to share their tips on tackling mobile and online bullying. The website includes animations telling powerful, real life stories of young peoples' experiences. Have a look for yourself: www.textup.co.uk

We can't cover everything we have being doing to be a responsible business here, so log on to www.t-mobile.co.uk/responsibility to find out more.