More than 97% of the Swisscom Group’s emissions stem from its upstream and downstream supply chains. These include raw material production, suppliers, transport and energy as well as sales, utilisation, maintenance and disposal. As the upstream supply chain is largely shaped by international producers and suppliers, achieving meaningful reductions will require coordinated global action. This prompted Swisscom and Fastweb + Vodafone to join around 30 telecommunications companies worldwide in committing to the Joint Alliance for Corporate Social Responsibility (JAC).
Cooperation beyond competition
Under the motto of ‘Cooperation beyond competition’, the telecommunications industry is joining forces to encourage suppliers to rethink their methods and provide climate-friendly solutions. Swisscom requires its strategically important suppliers to report their carbon footprint through the Carbon Disclosure Project. For supply partners with larger carbon footprints, tailored programmes are in place in which suppliers analyse the sources of their emissions together with Swisscom and jointly develop targeted action plans to reduce them.
Direct impact on the circular economy
Through simplified, more compact designs and the economical use of materials, Swisscom’s product development aims to drive tangible progress in the downstream supply chain. Unlike third-party products such as mobile phones—where the influence on design and energy efficiency is limited—Swisscom and Fastweb + Vodafone’s own devices, such as internet boxes, have a direct impact on the circular economy. Reducing material use in production and energy consumption during operation results in measurable benefits for the climate and the preservation of natural resources. Swisscom aims to cut the carbon footprint of each product generation by 10% by 2030.
