Mobile Net Zero 2024
State of the Industry on Climate Action
5. Emissions from supply chains and customers
Scope 3 emissions account for three-quarters of the industry’s overall footprint. Further engagement with suppliers is critical to improve measurement and reduce emissions.
Operators have improved the coverage and quality of Scope 3 disclosures
Nearly all operators disclosing to CDP in 2023 disclosed Scope 3 emissions in 2023, including nearly 40 operators disclosing 10 or more categories. More than a third of operators reported emissions from all five key Scope 3 categories (1, 2, 3, 11, and 15) which account for over 90% of the industry’s Scope 3 emissions.
The relative shares of Scope 3 emissions from different categories can differ substantially between operators and regions. Some of these differences may stem from actual differences in their businesses, while others may come from methodological differences or a lack of data.
To help align methodologies and advice on data sources, the new GSMA Scope 3 Guidance for Telecommunication Operators was launched last year and has already been used by some operators. Wider adoption will improve future measurement.
Increasing the circularity of mobile phones and network equipment is critical to reducing value chain emissions
In June 2023 the GSMA announced that leading operators had committed to two new targets, aiming to increase the take-back of mobile phones and prevent them from being sent to landfills or incineration:
- By 2030, the number of used mobile devices collected through operator take-back schemes amount to at least 20% of the number of new mobile devices distributed directly to customers.
- By 2030, 100% of used mobile devices collected through operator take-back schemes will be repaired, reused or transferred to controlled recycling organisations.
As of January 2024, 15 network operators have signed up to the circularity targets, representing a billion connections: BT Group, Deutsche Telekom Group, Globe Telecom, GO Malta, Iliad, KDDI, NOS, Orange, Proximus, Safaricom, Singtel, SoftBank, Tele2, Telefonica, Telenor.