TalkTalk Group FY24 emissions

Below is a summary of our performance relating to environmental and in particular climate goals in financial year 2024 for TalkTalk Group. The summary uses the four pillars of the group’s environmental policy as its headers.

For full charts and tables, see here.

The first pillar of our environmental policy is carbon emissions, and in FY24 TalkTalk’s near-term Science Based Targets were validated.

TalkTalk have a goal to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 93.5% between FY20 and FY30. Whilst emissions did increase year on year, these still represent a reduction of 58% compared with FY20 and remain on track to reach our goals.

Our continuous efficiency in the data centres – where we saw a further 5% year on year energy reduction, has been a key contributor to our overall decarbonisation.

TalkTalk’s Science Based Targets also includes a commitment to reduce scope 3 by 42% between FY20 and FY30. The largest sources of emissions within scope 3 come from TalkTalk’s supply chain, and TalkTalk’s focus in FY24 was on this topic.

In FY24, TalkTalk set a bonusable objective for all employees that 90% of our supplier spend would be with companies who have committed to, or set, credible carbon reduction goals.

We are delighted to say that by the end of the year this figure was over 92% (spend which is captured in scopes 3, categories 1, 2 and 4). This is broken down as 85.5% of supplier spend who had validated Science Based Targets or equivalent Race to Zero pledge, 1.5% who had made the Climate Pledge, and 5.5% who had officially committed to Science Based Targets.

The 85.5% figure corresponds with public goals set by other companies – as you can see from Chart A linked here, our figures are at a higher percentage than others in the telecoms, media and technology sectors.

The second pillar of TalkTalk’s environmental policy is Our Materials; using our materials wisely.

In FY24 we refurbished more devices than ever before, and as a result saved over 4,000 tonnes of co2e, compared to manufacturing new devices.

Engaging Our People on the drive towards our sustainable future is TalkTalk’s third pillar of environmental activity. In FY24 TalkTalk became the first telecoms company globally to have a Carbon Literacy accredited training course and have started to roll this out to employees.

TalkTalk have also made a company-wide default search engine switch on company computers to Ecosia, resulting in 10,000 trees planted in FY24.

Our fourth pillar is Our Communities – where TalkTalk looks to help its customers and wider communities reduce their own emissions.

TalkTalk chair a working group of sustainability experts in the UK telecoms sector through the Digital Connectivity Forum, and in FY24 launched a sector-wide guide for small and medium enterprises to help them in their journey to net zero.

TalkTalk also progressed a pioneering trial backed by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Tasked with leveraging data to help the UK to net zero, a consortia of members businesses and institutions including Salford University are trialling innovative ways to use data to change how UK homes are heated.

Our work in responding to customers’ climate needs was seen through our CDP Supply Chain score, which for 2023 was again A-, above the industry and UK average.

TalkTalk’s work on its environmental impact was recognised at the Comms National Awards where the company picked up the prestigious Sustainability Award.

The tables linked here cover our mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 and The Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018. All emissions refer to UK operations only.

This information was collected and reported in line with the methodology set out in the UK Government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines, 2021. Emissions have been calculated using the 2023 conversion factors provided by Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. There are no material omissions from the mandatory scope 1 and 2 emissions. The reporting period is 1 March 2023 to 28 February 2024. Full charts and tables can be viewed here.