Sustainability strategy 2005-2008

Main aim

Magyar Telekom Group, as a leading info-communication provider in Central Europe has achieved a leading role also in environmental protection. The main aim of the Sustainability Strategy of 2005-2008 is to maintain the company’s leading role in environmental protection and, at the same time, to achieve a leading position in sustainability as well. The leading position on sustainability includes the inclusion of sustainability in 'core business'; the revision of the processes and operation of organisations; the application of international guidelines; and setting the course of a new communication and co-operation guidelines.

Focuses

In parallel with the increasingly wide use of information and communication technology (ICT) products and services (through the operation of technology itself) the negative impacts on the environment and society may also increase. The Group steps up efforts to reduce these negative impacts. To this aim-group belong the control of inputs and outputs, and decrease of them as it is needed and possible, e.g. carbon-dioxide equivalent (by reducing the use of non-renewable resources), electro-magnetic radiation, waste reduction, effective management, etc.

The sustainable management of information and communication technology, utilisation of the opportunities. The opportunities to sustainability lying in info-communication products and services (as reducing global negative environmental impacts - by decreasing green house gases, dematerialization - improving social welfare - knowledge society, access to information, workplaces, etc. - increasing economic effectiveness) should be supported for wider use. For this aim such processes should be implemented, which enables to analyse the products, and to control them on the input and output sides properly.

Results

The integration of sustainability into the core business and operating processes can be illustrated, among others, with the following achievements: Diversity Policy, Social Charter, Equal Opportunities Film Club, Romaster Program, sustainable supply chain management, active participation in ETNO’s Sustainability Working Group, annual publication of the sustainability report, climate protection campaign, regular sustainability section in the company’s magazine “Enter”, annual sustainability round table discussions, professional cooperation, etc.

Reduction of operation-related negative environmental and social impacts can be demonstrated by the company’s efforts in reducing group level CO₂ emission, using energy rationalizing solutions (e.g. cooling of base stations with free air), waste recycling, collection of used batteries, introducing the use of hybrid cars, communication of the impact of electro-magnetic fields, reducing the use of paper, digital inclusion initiatives, etc.

The efforts aimed at managing information and communication products from sustainability aspects resulted, among others, in publishing the brochure “Climate Protection at the Speed of Light” in cooperation with ETNO-WWF, in expanding the product development process with sustainability aspects and in the management of sustainable product proposals. It can also be ascribed to the credit of the ETNO-WWF publication that the European Commission issued a communication on May 13, according to which it will promote the use of info-communication technology in making the economy more energy-efficient. According to Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media it is a win-win situation, as ICT enhances the competitiveness of the EU’s industry, while spearheading the struggle against climate change.

Prizes, ratings

In addition to the achievements enumerated above, various awards and ratings prove the achievement of a leading role in the region. Some of the most important ones: Accountability Rating Hungary, first place in 2006 and 2007, DT Diversity Award, Business Ethics Award and Company Rating evaluation (Cégmérce).