Caring for the environment
Environmental protection policy
The commitment of Telefónica CR to keep the footprint of its operations on the environment minimal in 2011 was anchored in the Company’s long-term strategy and Environmental Policy. The Environmental Policy focuses on the elimination, or at least the mitigation, of damage to or degradation of the environment – in its whole or in part and with regard to the Company’s sphere of activity; in doing so, the company uses the latest research. Telefónica CR’s fundamental principles of environmental protection were coordinated across the Telefónica Group and helped to deliver on both the group and local objectives and to meet the statutory and other conditions.
Green Company
Telefónica CR continually worked with its suppliers, gradually raising the bar they have to meet, in order to promote the ideas of environmental protection in its external environment. The Company continued to lead by example in 2011 – its Green Company programme involved employees in protecting the environment; this time employees helped to collect 269 tons of waste electrical and electronic equipment and came first among all teams participating in the project.
Reducing environmental footprint
The Company continued in its successful campaign to reduce its negative footprint on the environment. Compared to 2010, a saving of 18.1% of fuel was achieved by more economical business travel; the consumption of natural gas and electricity also went down 23.84% and 2%, respectively, in year-on-year comparison. The volume of communal-type waste produced by Telefónica in 2011 was 3.5% lower than in 2010. We also succeeded with increasing the volume of waste that was recycled, especially industrial packaging in warehouses. In 2011, we also saw a major progress in the removal of the regulated coolant R22 from the air-conditioning units; 56 units over 10 kW and 228 units under 10 kW were treated.
The way the Company cares for the environment showed also in other areas – for instance, recycled materials and environmentally friendly materials continued being used for packaging.
Certification
The Company’s activities in the environmental area were regularly audited, both internally and with respect to suppliers. The standard of environmental protection is certified according to ISO 14001 international standards. Telefónica CR was the first telecommunications operator in the Czech Republic to have this certificate.
Supporting sustainability
Green Open Air Festival
Already for the second year running, Telefónica CR, General Partner to Open Air Festival in Panenský Týnec, was in charge of its sustainable format. The Eko Think Big festival zone provided for the recycling and coordination of clean-up teams, but there was also educational programme. Festival goers were invited to visit recycling boxes and learn more about recycling and about protecting the environment in general. One Think Big tent offered the opportunity to try how hard it is to make enough electricity to charge up a mobile phone by pedalling on a bicycle.
As in 2010, caterers used biologically degradable plastic cups. ‘Green patrols’ were monitoring the compound for any waste, helping to keep the grounds neat and clean for the duration of the festival.
The care and diligence helped in Telefónica CR and the organiser reclaiming the ‘Commended’ mark in the Greener Festival Awards also in 2011.