Blog from Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2

As it (very slowly!) begins to feel like we’re approaching the warmer summer months, today (1 May), marks the start of Skin Cancer Awareness month. With at least 100,000 new cases of skin cancer reported each year*, this is something that needs to be talked about more and I’m proud to share that we’re partnering with The British Skin Foundation and Green People this summer to raise awareness of the issue – in line with the launch of our latest European Roaming campaign.

O2’s research has found that, shockingly, people are more attentive to their phone than they are sun protection, with British holiday makers being three times more likely to remember their phone than sunscreen when preparing for a trip away. Our research also found that a huge 6.4 million British holidaymakers avoid using sunscreen, in order to catch a tan – despite 76% of Brits admitting that getting burnt can have a negative effect on their holiday.   

These shocking stats got us thinking as to how we could best support and today I’m excited to share that we’ve partnered up with The British Skin Foundation and Green Peopleduring Skin Cancer Awareness Month to create the ‘Sun Case’ – the ultimate summer smartphone accessory which contains a handy 10ml tube of Green People’s best-selling SPF30 sunscreen.  It’s the perfect travel accessory for those jetting away this summer as our latest research shows that people prioritise taking their phones to the pool or beach over a bottle of sunscreen.  

Concerningly, 17% of Brits admit to forgetting their sunscreen when visiting the pool or beach, compared to a mere 8% forgetting to bring their mobile phone, so we’re bringing the two together:  providing a constant reminder for people to top-up their sunscreen whilst on holiday.  

Whether you’re chilling by the pool in Greece this summer, at the beach in Spain or a cocktail bar in Italy – we also have you covered as the only network operator to offer both free EU roaming up to 25GB, and a helpful reminder to keep yourself protected while out in the sun.  

The limited-edition free mobile phone accessory will be available at selected O2 stores across the country, while stocks last, from 15 May, including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast, so people, regardless of their mobile provider, can grab one ahead of holiday season.  

Members of the public simply need to head to a participating O2 store and say “don’t get burned” to a staff member at the till to get theirs.  

Find out more about roaming in the EU here.  

#RoamOn 

END

*https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/bsf-research-funding 

**https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexledsom/2024/03/09/as-2024-travel-hits-pre-covid-levels-heres-when-to-go-to-europe/?sh=79f378924def 

The post Don’t get burned this summer appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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• Virgin Media O2 is adding a selection of 11 new FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) channels to its TV service, providing its customers with a content boost at no extra cost
• The channels offer a hybrid of traditional viewing and streaming offering customers a ‘lean back’ viewing experience
• The entertainment upgrade will automatically be added to Virgin TV 360, Stream and V6 boxes, with no need for customers to take action
• All 11 channels will be added to Virgin Media’s TV guide ensuring they are quick and easy to find
• These channels complement the existing 19 FAST channels which includes three channels from Pluto TV (Catfish, CSI: New York and 5Cops) that Virgin Media O2 launched in March.

Virgin Media O2 is today announcing the launch of 11 brand-new FAST channels, offering customers the opportunity to immerse themselves in round-the-clock episodes of popular TV shows, at no extra cost.

Available to all Virgin TV customers directly via their set-top box, the brand-new FAST channels offer 24/7 access to binge-worthy shows and comfort series including Big Zuu’s Big Eats, Flipping Bangers: Deal Masters and Fan Favourite Concerts such as Mariah Carey – The Adventures of Mimi.

As part of the new channel line-up, Virgin TV customers will gain access to a variety of new FAST channels, including:

1. History Hunters (A+E Networks)
2. Deal Masters (A+E Networks)
3. Qello Concerts (Stingray)
4. Trace Sports Stars (Trace)
5. Real Crime (Little Dot Studios)
6. Real Life (Little Dot Studios)
7. ZenLIFE (Stingray)
8. UKTV Play Laughs (UKTV)
9. UKTV Play Heroes (UKTV)
10. UKTV Play Full Throttle (UKTV)
11. UKTV Play Uncovered (UKTV)

The new channels join the existing 19 FAST channels which include three from Pluto TV that launched in March – Catfish, CSI: New York and 5Cops.

David Bouchier, Chief TV and Entertainment Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “The introduction of these fantastic new streaming channels demonstrates our ambition to continue enhancing our entertainment offering, giving our customers even more choice and 24/7 access to their favourite shows.

“Having launched 30 streaming channels in the last year alone, we are constantly striving to offer our customers even more entertainment, providing them with easy access to shows we know they’ll love, at no extra cost.”

The new additions to Virgin Media’s TV line up can be found on the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and come as part of the company’s expanding FAST channel offering, providing an alternative and complimentary experience to traditional linear TV.

Virgin Media O2 will continue to evolve its FAST channel offering, adding more fantastic channels that will provide customers with even greater choice, at no extra cost.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• V6, Virgin TV360 and Stream customers only
• FAST channels can be found on:
  • History Hunters (Ch234)
  • Deal Masters (Ch254)
  • Qello Concerts (Ch299)
  • Trace Sports Stars (Ch557)
  • Real Crime (Ch237)
  • Real Life (Ch238)
  • ZenLIFE (Ch298)
  • UKTV Play Laughs (Ch241)
  • UKTV Play Heroes (Ch228)
  • UKTV Play Full Throttle (Ch229)
  • UKTV Play Uncovered (Ch227)

The post Fast and free: Virgin Media TV customers can enjoy 11 brand-new FAST channels at no extra cost appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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• Multi-award-winning duo, D-Block Europe, are performing an intimate gig at indigo at The O2 on Thursday 6 June
• The pair return to The O2 after selling out the iconic arena seven times across 2023/24, making them the first UK rap act to sell out four consecutive nights
• The show will be the first Priority Gig of 2024 following performances from popular artists including Kylie Minogue and Anne-Marie last year
• 800 pairs of free tickets will be available exclusively for O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers through Priority from O2

O2 has today announced that Platinum-selling duo, D-Block Europe, are performing an exclusive gig on Thursday 6 June for O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers.

Taking place at indigo at The O2, the intimate gig offers fans an up close and personal experience with the Lewisham-based group as they perform their most popular hits including “Prada” and “Overseas”.

The show will take place on the back of their success in selling out the UK’s most iconic arena, The O2, seven times last year following multiple Top 10 hits, gold and platinum certifications, billions of global streams, and collaborations with acclaimed artists including Raye and Central Cee.

800 pairs of tickets will be available to win through a ballot on Priority, exclusively for O2 and Virgin Media broadband customers.

As a thank you to their fans, a group of Priority members who have engaged with D-Block Europe shows previously through the Priority Tickets platform will enjoy an exclusive 48-hour window starting from today, for their chance to get tickets to the show on a first come, first served basis. A ballot will then be opened for all Priority members from 1 May and will close on 17 May.

D-Block Europe fans should also keep an eye on O2 and Virgin Media social channels as exclusive giveaways are set to become available over the coming weeks.

D-Block Europe, commenting on the exclusive Priority gig, said: “We can’t wait to return to The O2 to perform our favourite tracks in a more intimate gig for Priority members. We wanted to say thank you to our fans for all the support they’ve shown us over the years, and we couldn’t think of a better way to do so than through a Priority Gig.”

Gareth Griffiths, Director, Partnerships and Sponsorship at Virgin Media O2, said: “We’re so excited to welcome D-Block Europe back to The O2, this time in a more intimate and exclusive setting for our Priority members at indigo at The O2. They are a very special group with a huge fan base, so to see them perform live up close and personal will be unforgettable for our customers. We can’t wait for the show!”

Jim Campling, President of Live Nation Marketing Partnerships, said: The continued success of Priority gigs and the intimate show format is a testament to O2’s understanding of their audience and the passion their customer base has for live music. It’s been a privilege to work closely with O2 on unforgettable Priority gigs to date, including Wizkid, Sam Fender, and Kylie Minogue, and to witness how meaningful the gigs are for fans. We look forward to growing the Priority gig series with O2 and can’t wait to celebrate with fans and D-Block Europe in June.

Paul Samuels, Executive Vice President at AEG Global Partnerships, said: “We can’t wait to welcome D-Block Europe back to The O2 after several sold out shows in the arena, for their most exclusive gig yet. Creating the very best experience and lifelong memories for fans visiting the venue is what our longstanding partnership with Virgin Media O2 is all about, and the Priority Gigs absolutely epitomise this. Seeing a platinum-selling artist up close and personal in such an intimate venue is a bucket list moment – long may the Priority Gigs continue!”

Priority is O2’s way of saying thanks to its customers. In addition to early Priority Tickets access to thousands of popular venues across the UK, Priority members can also benefit from queue jump, cloakroom services, phone charging, VIP hospitality and discounts on merchandise at The O2 and the 20 nationwide O2 Academy venues.

With O2, customers can also enjoy the greatest extra value in the market*, with access to premium mobile initiatives including inclusive EU Roaming as standard as well exclusive rewards and experiences, only on Priority, meaning customers can enjoy over £200 in additional value compared to other mobile operators.

ENDS

* according to Uswitch and link to their release

The post Platinum-selling duo D-Block Europe to perform exclusive Priority gig at indigo at The O2 appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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• O2 – the only major UK network provider to offer inclusive EU Roaming up to 25GB as standard – has partnered with The British Skin Foundation and Green People to prevent Brits from getting burnt this summer.
• Merging smartphones with sunscreen, the campaign aims to encourage holidaymakers to protect their skin through the creation of ‘Sun Case’ which is available in selected O2 stores.
• The integrated PR campaign launches during Skin Cancer Awareness Month and aims to highlight the importance of sun safety.
• The British Skin Foundation reports skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and rates continue to rise, with at least 100,000 new cases now diagnosed annually and more than 2,500 people killed by the disease each year – that’s seven people every day.

To mark Skin Cancer Awareness Month, O2 has partnered with The British Skin Foundation and organic skin care brand, Green People, to merge smartphones with sunscreen and create a limited-edition mobile phone accessory with a built-in 10ml tube of SPF to remind holidaymakers to ‘top up’ their protection while in the sun.

The campaign, which is rooted in the insight that Brits are three times more likely to remember to take their phone when heading off on holiday than they are sunscreen*, taps into this common holiday mishap and brings together two holiday essentials to create this summer’s must-have mobile accessory – ‘Sun Case’.

Sun Case is a chic and convenient mobile accessory that sticks neatly onto the back of a variety of phones so any one can use it, aiming to remind holiday goers to pay as much attention to their sun protection as they do to their mobile phone.

As part of the campaign, O2 conducted research into Brits’ habits and misconceptions around sun protection, finding that despite nine in 10 acknowledge the importance of protecting their skin, only two in five (43%) always wear sunscreen while on holiday. Worryingly, of those who do use sunscreen, one in 10 only do so when they sense they ‘might’ be burning.

When asked why people don’t use sunscreen, 23% admitted to forgetting to bring it and a further 20% claimed it feels too oily on the skin. The research also found 7% deem sunscreen unnecessary as they have black or brown skin – which is a misconception commonly believed, with almost one in 10 (9%) of the general population thinking those who have darker skin tones do not need sunscreen.

Most concerning of all, it seems sun safety is so low down on British holidaymakers’ agenda, that a shocking 6.4 million admit to shunning sunscreen altogether in a bid to catch a tan**.

As the only major UK network provider not to burn customers with EU roaming charges, O2 wanted to show up for its customers in a fitting and authentic way. Inspired by Hailey Bieber’s viral Rhode ‘Lip Case’, O2 created its slick mobile accessory with the aim of putting an emergency top up sunscreen supply directly into customers’ hands, ensuring the product is genuinely helpful so EU roaming charges aren’t the only thing they won’t get burnt by.

The 100% sustainable bioplastic phone accessory comes with a 10ml bottle of Green People’s Age Defy+ Daily SPF30 facial sunscreen, acting as a helpful top-up in case consumers get caught out in the sun. O2’s Sun Case fits perfectly onto a variety of handsets so consumers can be protected no matter what phone they have.

Christian Hindennach, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “The sun isn’t the only thing at risk of burning consumers this summer as research indicates a family of four could spend around £100 in roaming fees during a two-week holiday in Europe – that’s a lot of additional money to spend on top of the cost of the trip. Through our partnerships with the British Skin Foundation and Green People, we want to equip our customers with helpful information about how to protect their skin while ensuring they don’t have to worry about getting burnt by unwanted roaming charges.”

Green People’s founder, Charlotte Vøhtz, said: “Don’t let sunburn steal your summer memories. Sunburn, premature ageing, and skin cancer are all consequences of sun damage and are the holiday souvenirs that no one wants. Make SPF your priority!”

Lisa Bickerstaffe, Head of Comms at The British Skin Foundation, said: “At the BSF we know that UV rays damage the skin and can potentially cause health problems in the future, so we’re proud to work together with O2 on this initiative by providing expert advice on sun safety to educate the public.”

Sun Case launches ahead of a fully integrated marketing campaign to highlight the unique benefits of roaming on O2, which will be the second phase under the new banner ‘Only O2’, with support across PR, social and customer marketing. A 10” social video dedicated to Sun Case will run on O2’s social channels at launch alongside influencer activity throughout the summer. O2 customers also have the chance to win a Sun Case accessory via O2’s customer newsletter or can head to a selected O2 store to pick one up.

The limited-edition free mobile phone accessory will be available at selected O2 stores across the country from 15 May 2024, while stocks last, including London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast, so people, regardless of their mobile provider, can grab one ahead of holiday season. Members of the public simply need to head to a participating O2 store and say “don’t get burnt” to a staff member at the till to get theirs.

Virgin Media broadband and O2 customers can also enjoy an exclusive 30% discount on all Green People products via Priority from O2 from 1 May 2024 until 31 May 2024, helping to keep their skin protected while they’re out and about in the sun this summer.

END

For more information, please contact: [email protected]

*The research was conducted by Censuswide with 2,000 Natrep UK respondents between 02.04.2024 – 03.04.2024. Censuswide abide by and employ members of the Market Research Society which is based on the ESOMAR principles and are members of The British Polling Council.

**12% of 18-90 YOs (53,646,829) in the UK = 6,437,619 (ONS population 2022 estimates)

Notes to Editor

• All O2 airtime plans come with inclusive EU roaming as standard, up to 25GB. For more information about O2’s inclusive EU roaming, visit: Roaming in Europe | Pay Monthly | Help | O2
• ‘Sun Case’ is available for a limited time only, while stocks last. Consumers can get the accessory on a first come first serve basis from the following O2 stores:
  • London: 120 Oxford St, London W1D 1LT
  • Cardiff: Unit Lg10, St Davids, St Davids Centre, Cardiff CF10 2ER
  • Edinburgh: 129 St James Crescent St James Quarter Edinburgh EH1 3AD Scotland.
  • Belfast: 14-16 Castle Ln, Belfast BT1 5DA
  • Birmingham: 24 New St, Birmingham B2 4RQ
  • Manchester Market St: Unit 5, 39 Market St, Manchester M1 1WR

About Virgin Media O2

Virgin Media O2 launched on 1 June 2021, combining the UK’s largest and most reliable mobile network with a broadband network offering the fastest widely-available broadband speeds. It is a customer-first organisation that brings a range of connectivity services together in one place with a clear mission: to upgrade the nation. Virgin Media O2 is the corporate brand of the 50:50 joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, and one of the UK’s largest businesses.

The company has 47 million UK connections across broadband, mobile, TV and home phone. Its own fixed network currently passes 15.5 million premises alongside a mobile network that covers 99% of the nation’s population with 4G, and almost 200 towns and cities with 5G services. Virgin Media O2 is committed to delivering gigabit broadband speeds across its entire network footprint by the end of 2021 and plans to upgrade its fixed network to full fibre to the premises with completion in 2028.

Virgin Media O2 is a major investor in the UK. It employs around 18,000 people, has more than 430 retail stores and has committed to invest at least £10 billion over the next five years.

As integration work progresses at pace, both Virgin Media and O2 continue to offer their respective products to customers, with new, joint services launching soon.

Today, the business delivers award-winning broadband and WiFi connectivity to homes as well as providing a connected entertainment service. This brings together live TV, thousands of hours of on-demand programming and a wide-selection of apps to customers through a set-top box and on-the-go through tablets and smartphones.

About Green People

Green People is the UK’s number-one brand for sensitive skin. Founded over 25 years ago, Green People is the UK’s pioneer in certified organic skin care, leading the way with over 150 innovative natural formulas for the whole family.

Green People’s best-selling sun care offers broad-spectrum UV protection. The soothing, antioxidant-rich formulas are suitable for those prone to prickly heat and eczema and are also dermatologically tested and clinically proven to be gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin.

Green People is proud to be an environmentally friendly brand. All products are cruelty-free, vegan, and ocean-friendly and come in recyclable packaging.

Available from www.greenpeople.co.uk.

About The British Skin Foundation

The British Skin Foundation is the only UK charity that raises money to fund research into all types of skin diseases, including skin cancer. While we are dedicated to raising money for research, we also aim to raise awareness of skin diseases in the wider community. We’re committed to educating people about skin conditions, helping to reduce stigma an promote understanding.

www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk

Social @BSFcharity

The post O2 brings together two holiday essentials to help prevent customers from ‘getting burnt’ this summer appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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Virgin Media O2 has removed 65 tonnes of single-use plastic from its operations and products since 2021 – the equivalent weight of five double decker buses*.

The company is striving to cut waste and single-use plastic from packaging and equipment sent to customers, and to our engineers to build and maintain its leading broadband and mobile networks.

It forms part of the company’s sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, and its goal to achieve zero waste operations and products by the end of 2025.

Cutting waste

With most recent Government figures showing the UK produced more than 2.5 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste in 2021**, Virgin Media O2 works closely with manufacturers and suppliers at all stages from design to manufacturing and shipping of items, to eliminate waste and single-use plastic from its operations and products.

Since 2021, Virgin Media O2 in partnership with Technetix has removed almost 18 tonnes of single-use plastic from the equipment and tools used by engineers, including cables, batteries, splitters, and wall outlets. This includes removing plastic bags, foam, or blister packs from packaging sent with parts, and plastic straps from shipping cartons, and replacing plastic ties with paper ties on cables.

In addition, working with GXO, the company has cut around 48 tonnes of single-use plastic since 2021 – a reduction of 94%, from packaging containing products sent to cable customers such as set-top boxes and routers.

Virgin Media O2 and GXO have also reduced the amount of single-use plastic used in delivery of TV and broadband products between distribution centres, and created plastic-free packaging for customers to return unwanted kit, with the latter preventing around 22 tonnes of single-use plastic each year.  All removed single-use plastic is recycled, reused or repurposed.

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:

“As a leading UK business, Virgin Media O2 is committed to minimising its impact on the planet.

“That’s why we’re always looking at where we can remove waste and single-use plastic from our operations and products, and use materials which can be easily recycled.

“It’s all part of our sustainability strategy, the Better Connections Plan, and our aim to become a zero-waste business by the end of 2025.”

Anna Burns, Group Operational Excellence Director at Technetix, said:

“At Technetix, we prioritise circularity and waste reduction in our products and packaging. While many operators are addressing plastic packaging on customer equipment, there is also a vast array of equipment in the network that requires attention.

“We are pleased to collaborate closely with Virgin Media O2 on removing single-use plastic at the source from its network and customer equipment. Together, we have introduced new packaging solutions that prevent many tonnes of plastic from entering the supply chain every year, while also simplifying product and waste handling across the company’s operations.”

Meagan Fitzsimmons, GXO’s Chief Compliance and ESG Officer, said:

“GXO and Virgin Media O2 are working together to create a supply chain that is as environmentally responsible as it is efficient and reliable. Companies have to reduce single use plastics from their supply chain to meet regulatory requirements and environmental goals. These results show what’s possible with a best in class partnership. Through great collaboration, open thinking, and innovation, we can help to significantly reduce and remove single use plastics from the supply chain. We’re really proud of our partnership with Virgin Media 02 and the work we have done to continuously remove plastic waste from our operation.”

 

 

*A Routemaster double decker bus weighs 12.4 tonnes. Source here.

65 tonnes divided by 12.4 tonnes = 5.2.

** Source:  UK statistics on waste – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The post Virgin Media O2 drives down single-use plastic from its operations and products appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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• Virgin Media O2 Business has today published its Q1 Movers Index, revealing Gen Z’s rising office attendance as companies introduce money-saving perks, like free pizza and drinks.
• This comes as only 10% of businesses have long term plans to allow employees to choose where they work.
• Using aggregated and anonymised mobile data from O2 Motion combined with polling of businesses and consumers, the quarterly Movers Index highlights UK movement trends and insights. 

With the majority (89%) of businesses mandating in-office working days, the latest Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index shows Gen Z attendance is up by 10% as businesses lay on the perks to attract workers in.

The quarterly Movers Index, now its second year, is based on combining anonymised and aggregated UK movement data from O2 Motion* with national polling findings to reveal key behavioural trends. The combined data paints an accurate picture of movement patterns and the trends influencing them.

Gen Z upping office attendance as companies lay on perks

The first few months of the year in-office working rose, with almost half (46%) of Brits working in the office more frequently now, compared to three months ago. O2 Motion data shows Gen Z daily commute trips are up 9% from this time last year, including a 14% increase in January trips. To maintain office attendance and offset employee costs, businesses are offering perks including free drinks (27%), regular socials (22%), free lunch on certain days (18%) and free pizza (12%). Companies are also looking to increase staff productivity with flexible hours (51%), productivity tools (36%), virtual events (16%), making reliable connectivity key to facilitating efficient hybrid working.

Bank holidays set to boost local economy

With May bank holidays approaching, the majority of Brits (93%) are planning to stay in the UK instead of going on foreign trips. Six in ten (60%) are planning activities for the upcoming bank holidays including visiting the seaside (25%), the countryside (24%) and outdoor activities like long walks or picnics (15%), setting the UK economy up for a much-needed boost. To encourage spending, 37% of businesses are planning special deals and discounts during this period.

Brits spending more to shop local

Brits started the year with reduced trips to shopping centres (6%) and high streets (1%) according to mobile data. The months with the biggest fall in growth for high streets are July, November and December**, suggesting that online shopping may be preferable in colder months and peak holiday periods.

Local high streets remain important to shoppers, with just under half (47%) planning to increase their shopping at small local businesses in the next three months. In fact, Brits are willing to pay up to 33% more for an item locally rather than a large online retailer, up 14% from the end of 2024.

Jo Bertram, Managing Director of Virgin Media O2 Business, said: “Despite challenging winter months for Brits and businesses, our Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index shows positive trends are emerging. After experiencing reduced spending from the cost-of-living crisis, there is a clear consumer appetite to support local businesses, with many willing to spend more to do so.

“With Gen Z’s office attendance rising, businesses need to ensure they’re equipped to support this trend. This relies on quality connectivity and communication tools to provide a good working experience in the office and beyond.

“As trends continue to evolve, it’s important for businesses to partner with organisations that can equip them with the tools to succeed. Our mobile insights have been supporting businesses for years to tap into reliable data that can help inform strategic choices.”

From retailers to public sector organisations, Virgin Media O2 Business’ team of data experts support companies of all sizes to understand these trends and use them to make strategic decisions. The Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index is a publicly available quarterly report that explores the latest UK movement insights from each quarter. Find out more and access the report here: Virgin Media O2 Business website.

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Source: O2 Blog
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By Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Virgin Media O2 

Today marks the 54th celebration of Earth Day, a day set out to celebrate our amazing planet and to call on governments, communities, and businesses to take action for nature conservation and a healthier Earth. 

Since 1970, Earth Day has mobilised over 1 billion people to fight for our planet’s health and has grown at a significant rate internationally, demonstrating the power of education and advocacy.  For many like myself who work in sustainability, we live and breathe the essence of Earth Day every day to ensure we are driving change and keeping the planet on every agenda.  

I want to use today as an opportunity to share the work we’re doing at Virgin Media O2 to minimise our impact on the planet. While we still have a lot to do, we’re learning through this journey as much about our challenges as we are about the opportunities that have helped us make amazing progress over the past few years. In 2022, we launched our Better Connections plan – our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy which is a binding commitment that helps us ensure our entire business operates in a sustainable and ethical way.   

Committed to zero-waste 

This year, Earth Day’s theme is Planet vs Plastic with a bold target to reduce global plastic production by 60% by 2040. This will take a herculean effort and a real drive to innovate and rethink the way we design products, partner with suppliers, and engage with government on the policy reform needed to make this goal a reality.  

As a business, we’re committed to reaching zero waste operations and products by the end of 2025, and ensure 100% of customer packaging of own-branded products are widely recyclable and contain no single-use plastic.   

We continue to work closely with manufacturers and suppliers at all stages, from design to manufacturing and shipping, to eliminate waste and use materials that can be easily recycled. 

A more circular economy 

With the UK producing the second most e-waste per person in the world, it’s vital that we take bold action to combat the growing problem of electronic waste. This is why we have a number of schemes in place to extend the life of handsets and broadband and TV kit, whether that’s through recycling old devices lying around at home, a handset needing repair, ensuring your old device is reused when upgrading and giving customers the option of a great Like New handset range.  

Our pioneering O2 Recycle initiative launched in 2009 and has saved more than 4 million devices from landfill. O2 Recycle gives consumers (on any mobile network) the opportunity to recycle mobiles, laptops and gaming consoles in return for cash. It is a network-agnostic scheme; anyone regardless of which network they use can hand over their devices to us for recycling as we believe some challenges require of collaborative solutions, and e-waste is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. You can find out more about O2 Recycle here. 

We also offer a range of refurbished handsets which are checked for everything from scuffed screens to cracked cases and sold in ‘like new’ condition, ensuring that we’re extending the life of handsets while also offering more affordable handset options for customers 

In addition, we also operate a leasing scheme for our TV set-up boxes and routers which helps us ensure the hardware is returned to us at the end of the contract instead of being disposed of. Over 11 million routers and set-top boxes have been refurbished and reused since 2014. 

We also believe we have a responsibility to look beyond our four walls and play a role in raising awareness of e-waste in the UK and supporting innovative solutions that help tackle the problem. In partnership with environmental charity Hubbub, we launched our second Time after Time e-waste fund, awarding grants of between £25,000 and £100,000 for creative UK projects that help close the digital divide while reducing e-waste. To date, 8 projects from around the UK have been awarded grants to help them scale up. We’ve also run hackathons and engagement events with Universities across the country to raise awareness of the issue of e-waste and the role Gen Z can play. We published earlier this year a State of The Nation report focusing on the attitudes and behaviours of Gen Z towards handset reuse and recycling and providing recommendations to both the industry and government to address the issue. You can find it here.  

This Earth Day we’re also running a promo on our TV platform where Virgin TV customers can access a specialty curated on-demand collection of shows and films, highlighting the effect of plastic waste on the planet. The collection is made up of 16 titles including Sky documentaries such as Plastic Nile, Channel 4’s The Great Climate Fight and Discovery’s The Great Global Clean Up. We also created a 60-second film, to be repeated across Channel 100, to highlight the problem of e-waste and how consumers can tackle it by sustainably disposing of their unwanted devices, rather than them ending up in landfill.      

Sustainable choices through the customer journey 

We’re helping consumers to make informed choices about the products and services that they’re using.  By sharing Eco Rating scores, we’re helping consumers identify and compare the most sustainable mobile phones – encouraging suppliers to reduce the environmental impact of their devices. 

With ticketless pricing in our retail stores helping to reduce paper waste, nudges through the online customer journey and digitisation of product manuals we’re continually looking at ways to reduce the impact of our operations and products, for the customer and the planet.  

Building a carbon-free future 

We’re also committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across our entire value chain by 2040 and we’re proud to be making positive progress already.  In 2023, we exceeded our scope 1 and 2 target by reducing carbon emissions by 45% against our 2020 baseline, and we remain on target to deliver our 2040 net zero carbon plan. We have a number of measures in place to ensure we achieve these bold milestones, including: 

• Investing in renewable electricity and energy efficiency initiatives 
• Cutting carbon emissions as we transition to electric vehicles by the end of 2030 
• Working with suppliers to adopt science-based carbon reduction plans 

 

Read more about our Net Zero commitment here. 

Children born today will be the most impacted by the worst effects of global warming, and seeing the havoc climate change is wreaking already, that thought scares me. I used to say ‘for the sake of future generations…’ but now we know climate change is here and it’s real. So for the sake of our children, we can’t afford to be cynical or to be pessimistic. That’s why despite working in a field which can be filled with doom and gloom headlines at the moment, I remain optimistic about the future. Businesses like ours have a huge role to play in helping citizens navigate how to act in the face of climate change and I’m proud of the work we’re doing. It’s on all of us to create change and take action for our beautiful planet.  

The post Earth Day 2024: Using connectivity to make our business better for the planet appeared first on Virgin Media O2.

Source: O2 Blog
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