BT today has launched a new proposition to help multinational customers evolve their networks for net zero carbon emissions and deliver circularity in a measurable way.

Sustainability is now a major factor in decision-making for almost all customers globally. Carbon reduction and circularity targets are cascading throughout organisations, including to CIOs and IT teams. However, with networks and digital assets dispersed around the world, many CIOs struggle to effectively measure energy consumption and carbon emissions as well as put in place processes for managing end-of-life equipment.

BT’s new sustainability proposition combines the company’s digital carbon measurement tools, network design services, in-life support and recycling and re-use schemes with strategic partners to deliver a comprehensive managed service for customers.

BT experts can support a full range of network refresh, re-design or transformation plans across customers’ local area networks (LAN) or operational technology (OT) infrastructure. Using BT’s new Digital Carbon Calculator, designs can be assessed for their potential carbon footprint and optimised for the best results. 

The Calculator shows designers details of each network device’s power consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. This gives them the information needed to balance performance, energy consumption, emissions and cost. Once the optimal design is agreed, BT can order equipment, configure and implement it, supporting customers throughout their full network evolution journey.

BT’s Carbon Network Dashboard then provides customers with real-time, detailed data and reports on their devices' energy performance in-life across both LAN and OT infrastructure.

The new service also helps customers to reduce the amount of old equipment heading to landfill. According to WEF, e-waste will be the fastest growing waste stream in the world. If, during a re-design, redundant or poorly performing equipment is identified, BT can help customers return it to vendors for recycling or re-use, with potential discounts applicable depending on the items and vendors. This improves the business case supporting customers’ circularity goals.

“With networks and digital assets spanning multiple sites globally, CIOs face unique challenges when attempting to deliver and measure sustainability improvements,” said Sarwar Khan, head of digital sustainability, Business, BT. “Our new proposition combines cutting-edge digital carbon measurement tools, expert network design services and a sustainable route for upgrading infrastructure. It empowers CIOs to demonstrate achievements and contribute measurably to their organisation’s net zero and circularity goals.”

BT today announced a new programme aimed at reducing business customers’ e-waste by recycling end-of-life equipment and helping them achieve their targets for a circular economy.

It is the latest step in BT Group’s Manifesto pledge to move to circular products, networks and operations by 2030, and then extend this across its supply chain by 2040.

The new programme comes as organisations around the world are transforming their network and IT infrastructure to support the latest multi-cloud deployments. As part of this transformation, BT environmental specialists will work with customers to better understand and map the role of sustainability in a digital world.

Replaced or decommissioned electronic equipment from a customer’s network will be shipped back to Cisco to be responsibly re-used or recycled through its takeback and reuse programme. Up to 99.9 per cent of what is returned will be re-used or recycled.

BT has Cisco-certified environmental specialists in the UK, US, Italy, Ireland, Switzerland and Singapore to manage the process. Further countries will be added by end of 2022.

The programme adds to BT’s existing take-back and reuse services for smartphones providing an easy way to upgrade, securely dispose and recycle the devices using a single, complete solution that handles everything.

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), 57.4 million tonnes of e-waste was generated during 2021 with only 20 per cent recycled. If left unchecked, this could rise to 120 million tonnes each year. WEF also reported that 70 per cent of hazardous waste deposited in landfills is from e-waste. 

“E-waste is a growing concern and according to WEF now the fastest-growing waste stream in the world. Our customers and partners have made commitments to report on and improve performance in this critical area,” said Hriday Ravindranath, chief product & digital officer at BT’s Global unit. “Creating a more sustainable, circular economy, where we prioritise dematerialisation and avoid equipment going to landfill, is vital. It builds on our leadership in sustainability and will help deliver on our BT Group Manifesto commitments and ambition to connect for good.”