About
Cable&Wireless Worldwide is a leading global telecoms company providing a wide range of high-quality managed voice, data, hosting and IP-based services and applications. Established in the 1860s, their network stretches to more than 500 000km, enabling connectivity to 153 countries. They help more than 6 000 organisations deliver their goals.Their vision is to be the first choice for mission critical communications.
Strategy
Cable & Wireless Worldwide Founding ‘Green’ ICT
Cable&Wireless Worldwide is taking steps to address Climate Change and its environmental performance. The complexity of addressing such an important issue is best approached by providing an overview of what we are doing at the operational level and particular services we believe can be considered as contributing towards the development of services addressing climate change issues - ‘green ICT’. ‘Green’ is the tag identifying ICT services supporting a growing trend to move towards sustainable business. Business that is more efficient, manages its resources well and has greater knowledge of its interaction with society and the environment.
Breakdown of greenhouse gas emission C&W UK and Ireland business operations by source for the calendar year 2007. Source ECCM Report 2007.
Total greenhouse gas emissions: 189,980 tonnes of CO2
[ Back to Top]
Energy Stakeholders Group (ESG)
Our ESG meets quarterly to discuss energy related matters. This has become increasingly important for two reasons, addressing climate change and the fluctuating cost of energy. The two matters work in parallel by reducing our energy consumption we reduce our carbon footprint. In 2007 our greenhouse gas emissions from our UK and Ireland business operations were equivalent to 189,980 tonnes of CO2. The ESG is spearheading a number of initiatives to reduce our energy consumption profile and in turn our carbon footprint.
Our ICT Infrastructure & Procurement
Our ICT infrastructure is continuously modified and updated as new business is incorporated. The procurement team purchases new equipment meeting the operational build demands of our business. Procurement ensures our suppliers meet our expectations and energy efficiency of equipment is considered. Further to this our procurement audits help us understand the priorities of our suppliers from an ethical, environmental and social aspect. We are increasing our knowledge of our carbon footprint within our supply chain as well as the standards our suppliers work towards.
Transport Logistics
Our Logistics team has completely reworked the transportation and storage of our operational equipment reducing our carbon footprint. Logistics is increasingly important to groups such as retail. Moving products nationally and internationally produces considerable carbon emissions. In the UK transport is the biggest user of energy. Since 1970 the use of energy in industry has steadily declined whilst energy used for transportation has steadily increased to well above industrial energy usage levels. Using ICT based services businesses can plot efficient transport routes, reduce empty carriages, keep track of their resources and reduce waste.
Business Waste and Recycling
Our two key waste streams are from our offices and electrical waste. The disposal of electrical waste is bound by the WEEE Regulations (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations). Responsible treatment and disposal of electronic waste is important to prevent pollution and improve resource efficiency. Natural resources are decreasing, making recycling an important part of business sustainability. Without these natural resources prices increase as producers run out of sources. Recycled produce feeds back into the supply chain. Over time this will become increasingly important as producers seek to establish alternatives to guarantee sources for their production needs.
It is equally important to reduce, reuse and recycle office waste. We actively monitor our office waste and have introduced reduction targets. Changing behavioural patterns is a further part of our approach to address climate change issues. Driving behaviour change brings many challengesbut without it we will be unable to adapt to a low carbon economy. Therefore helping our colleagues adjust their behaviour and learn more about what they can do both at work and at home contributes to our overall approach.
[ Back to Top ]
Business Travel
Across our Worldwide offices we have 42 tele-conferencing suites and our meeting rooms are fitted with audio conferencing units. Utilizing this technology is enabling us to reduce our business travel footprint.
Many of our colleagues need to travel a fair distance to work. At our offices in Bracknell we provide relay coaches back and forth to the major stations at the beginning and end of the working day. We are part of a web-based lift-share scheme and also provide an incentive programme encouraging our colleagues to buy bicycles and cycle more.
During 2008 we conducted a green fleet review. This provides us with a greater understanding of our fleet operations from an environmental perspective. The results provide a different way of looking at our fleet and a starting point to address reducing our CO2 emission. such as providing training courses for economic fuel use and using fuel efficient or low emission cars.
Conclusion
The above summary sets out how we are working to better understand and address the environmental impacts from our operations. We see the value in reducing energy consumption across our business and monitoring our environmental impact closely. For our customers our ongoing work helps identify their supply chain carbon footprint and understand how we are working to reduce our CO2 emissions.