BT Group

Carbon per million dollars of revenue. The legacy industry-standard reference (CDP, MSCI). Useful for cross-sector context, but distorted by margin — high-margin firms appear artificially efficient. Read alongside the operational and asset intensities for the full picture.

OpEx (operating expenditure) is the running cost of the business — staff, services, energy, materials. This shows how carbon-intensive operations are per million dollars of spend. Removes the margin distortion that revenue-based ratios introduce.

EVIC (Enterprise Value Including Cash) is the firm's total capital footprint — equity + debt + cash + minority interest. The EU's standard intensity measure (SFDR PAI 3) — answers: how much carbon does each million of capital deployed in this business produce?

PP&E (Property, Plant & Equipment) plus leased real-estate assets is the firm's physical infrastructure on the balance sheet. This shows the carbon intensity of that physical footprint — uses Scope 1+2+3 for consistency with the other headline intensities. Surfaces stranded-asset risk for asset-heavy firms.

From FY25, BT Group stopped purchasing unbundled renewable energy attribute certificates (REACs) and now sources renewable electricity exclusively through PPAs and contractual agreements. BT reports 53% of total energy consumption as renewable electricity in FY25 per SASB disclosure. The group maintains ISO 50001 energy management certification in the UK and Germany, and has installed over 3,000 EV charge points to support fleet electrification, with >5,500 EVs representing 18% of total fleet.

BT states that its operational net-zero target (Scope 1&2 by 2031) is dependent on external factors including EV infrastructure availability and viable low-carbon building heating options. As investigations develop, BT acknowledges that 'some form of carbon offsetting will be required to achieve net zero', but has not yet committed to a specific removals strategy. No project-based carbon credits were cancelled in FY23. The firm's approach is currently unsure on whether permanent carbon removals (e.g. DAC, BECCS) will be used at target year.

• Operational carbon reduction: network energy efficiency and electrification

  BT Group targets a 90% absolute reduction in Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions (LBM) by 31 March 2031 vs FY17 baseline. By FY25, 52% reduction has been achieved. Key actions include rolling out over 5,500 EVs (18% of fleet) with over 3,000 charge points installed, managing ~6,500 diesel generator fuel storage tanks, and operating ISO 14001-certified EMS and ISO 50001-certified energy management in key markets.

• Circular economy and device take-back to reduce embodied carbon

  BT Group collected over 3.1m devices from consumers and businesses through returns and take-back in FY25. 95% of collected mobile devices went for reuse, with a 4.8% take-back rate targeted to reach 20% by FY30. CPE return rate was 66% with 50% refurbished/reused. BT also fed 5,600 tonnes of recovered copper cable back into the global supply chain and recovered 1,750 tonnes of end-of-life network kit.

• Decarbonising buildings and networks

  Over the last eight years, BT cut global energy consumption by 20%, achieved mainly through rationalising and upgrading buildings and networks and reducing use of electricity and gas. BT is building more energy-efficient fixed and mobile networks while switching off old ones. Full fibre networks also better absorb physical climate change risks like flooding and higher temperatures.

• Fleet electrification

  BT operates over 30,000 vehicles — the fleet is the second biggest source of operational emissions after consumed electricity. It has over 5,500 EVs (18% of total fleet) and placed an order for nearly 3,500 additional EVs at end of 2024, which will create one of the UK's largest EV fleets.

• Circular products: device take-back, repair and refurbishment

  BT collected over 3.1m devices from consumers and businesses through returns and take-back. Through Consumer and Business trade-in services it collected 140,000 mobile devices. EE repair service (Apple, Samsung, Google approved) fixed 57,000 devices in FY25. BT launched sale of refurbished devices and expanded eSIM use to reduce physical SIM manufacturing.

• Network waste recovery and copper recycling

  BT achieved a 97% recycling, reuse and recovery rate in the UK and globally. In FY25 it recovered 1,750 tonnes of old/end-of-life network kit and reused 1,548 items back into the network. As customers switch to full fibre, BT recycled over 5,600 tonnes of extracted old copper cable back into the global supply chain.

• Circular economy: device take-back, repair and trade-in

  Collected nearly 2.6m devices via returns and take-back. EE Trade-In collected 166,000 mobile devices (>1m cumulative since launch). EE repair service (Apple, Samsung, Google approved) fixed 58,000 devices (up 94% on FY23). Piloted the Circular Transition Indicator Tool on own-brand consumer devices. UK recycling/reuse/recovery rate 92.1% (90.4% global); recovered 3,300 tonnes of end-of-life network equipment via Exchange Clearance Operations; deal with EMR for copper cable recycling until 2028.

• Energy-efficient fixed and mobile networks

  Building more energy-efficient fixed and 4G/5G networks while switching off legacy networks (e.g. PSTN, copper). Full fibre networks are more resilient to physical climate risks like flooding and higher temperatures, reducing faults and engineering visits.

• Fleet electrification – converting 33,000+ commercial vehicles to EVs by FY31

  Nearly 80% of BT's operational Scope 1 and 2 emissions come from its commercial fleet of over 33,000 vehicles. BT is investing to convert the majority to electric or zero-emission vehicles by end of FY31. Over 4,100 EVs were on the fleet as of FY24, including more than 1,700 added in the year. BT is a founding member of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition and introduced a salary-sacrifice EV scheme for UK colleagues. In India, EVs are being introduced for transport and shuttle passenger services.

• Network energy efficiency – switching off legacy networks and building energy-efficient FTTP/5G

  BT is retiring legacy copper and 3G networks and replacing them with full fibre and 4G/5G infrastructure that is substantially more energy efficient. Full fibre is 80% more energy-efficient than copper and is more passive (no electronics between exchanges and premises), reducing fault rates and engineering visits. In FY24, 15,613 fixed legacy network elements were switched off, saving roughly 27 GWh of power and reducing emissions by 56,162 tCO2e at end state. Total global energy consumption was cut by approximately 140 GWh (4%) in FY24. BT's UK networks energy consumption fell 5.1% vs FY23.

• Buildings decarbonisation – Better Workplace Programme consolidating to ~30 sites

  BT's Better Workplace Programme is consolidating hundreds of buildings to approximately 30 modern facilities. New builds meet BREEAM-Excellent standard. Since the programme started, 746 older buildings have been closed and over 22,000 colleagues moved to new facilities. Investments of ~£3m in cooling upgrades at core metronode sites and £5m on local exchange cooling systems ensure network sites can operate at up to 45°C. Adiabatic cooling units reduce reliance on refrigerant gases.

• Fleet electrification

  BT Group aims to convert the majority of its commercial fleet to electric or zero emission vehicles by 2030. In FY24 added >1,700 EVs, taking the total to >4,100. Developed a street-cabinet-based EV charging unit and is exploring converting up to 60k cabinets into EV charging points. Founding member of the UK Electric Fleets Coalition.

• Building decarbonisation & Better Workplace Programme

  Cut global energy consumption by ~140GWh in FY24 (4% drop on FY23) through rationalising and upgrading buildings and networks. The Better Workplace Programme consolidates hundreds of BT Group buildings to around 30, with new builds meeting BREEAM Excellent standard.

• Buildings decarbonisation via Better Workplace Programme consolidation

  BT is consolidating its UK estate from ~270 office buildings to ~30 modern locations under the Better Workplace Programme. New buildings must achieve BREEAM Excellent or WELL rating. In FY23, the new Bristol Assembly Building was fitted with electric rather than gas heating (saving ~140 tCO2e initially, rising to 500 tCO2e as the estate reduces). Electric boilers were refitted across 19 buildings saving ~193 tCO2e in FY23. Oil and gas heating systems in retained exchange buildings are being replaced with low-carbon alternatives including heat pumps.

• Fleet electrification: transitioning 34,000-vehicle fleet to EVs by 2030

  The commercial fleet (34,000 vehicles) accounts for ~80% of BT Group's Scope 1 emissions. BT is an EV100 member committed to converting the majority of its fleet to electric or zero-emission vehicles by 2030 where technically and economically viable. In FY23, over 1,000 new EVs were added bringing the total to 2,400 EVs which travelled 7.9 million miles saving 2,200 tCO2e. Openreach is targeting ~4,000 EVs by March 2024. BT engages with UK government via the UK Electric Fleets Coalition to advocate for EV infrastructure and incentives.

• Network energy efficiency: legacy network retirement, cooling upgrades and 5G migration

  BT's network consumes ~95% of its electricity (c.2.29 TWh UK annually). Key levers include: retiring the analogue PSTN (equivalent to powering 175,000 homes), shutting down the 3G network from early 2024 (3G uses 35% of RAN energy despite <2% of data), and upgrading >12,000 cooling units to Adiabatic systems (saving 329 GWh/year and eliminating F-gas). In FY23, global energy consumption fell 77.7 GWh (2.85%) to 2,645 GWh. 5G is up to 90% more energy efficient than 3G per unit of data.

• Building decarbonisation: replacing gas/oil heating with electric systems and heat pumps

  BT is replacing conventional gas and oil-fired heating at telephone exchanges, data centres and offices with electric heating and air-source heat pumps as part of the Better Workplace Programme. In FY22, 31 exchanges were converted (58 total since 2019), saving ~600 tCO2e/annum. Three newly acquired buildings (One Braham HQ, Warrington, Three Snow Hill) selected electric-only heating, saving ~298 tCO2e/annum. Heat pump technology and low-carbon alternatives to natural gas are being assessed for retained exchange buildings. These investments support the goal to decarbonise operations (Scope 1) by 87% by FY31.

• Fleet electrification: transition 33,000 commercial vehicles to EV/alternative fuels by 2030

  BT and Openreach operate the UK's second-largest commercial fleet (~33,000 vehicles), representing approximately 70% of direct Scope 1 emissions. Openreach has committed to an all-green fleet by 2030 and had over 1,000 EVs as of March 2022 (700 acquired in FY22). Over 600 home-charging units were provided to engineers. Company-car colleagues have been offered fully electric options since FY19; non-engineer role colleagues can choose from 6 EVs or 4 hybrid EVs since April 2021. BT participates in the UK EV Fleet Accelerator to advocate for supporting infrastructure and policy.

• Network energy efficiency: adiabatic cooling, legacy network closures and building consolidation

  BT invested £102m to upgrade over 8,000 refrigerant-based cooling systems to adiabatic units, expected to save 295 GWh of electricity per year and eliminate F-gas fugitive emissions. The Better Workplace Programme consolidates the UK estate from ~270 offices to ~30 modern locations. Closing legacy networks (e.g. Featurenet in FY22) saves ~£1.8m/annum in run-rate energy costs. FTTP migration will further reduce the number of active network sites. Total energy fell to 3,311 GWh in FY22 from 3,320 GWh in FY21 despite the fibre rollout.

• Customer-enabled avoided emissions via full fibre broadband and IoT/AI services

  BT Group tracks customer-enabled carbon savings cumulatively since FY22, reaching 5,539,059 tCO2e by FY25 (up from 3,777,844 tCO2e in FY24), primarily through full fibre broadband reducing personal and work-related travel. Associated revenues from carbon-saving products amounted to £6bn in FY25. BT expects avoided emissions to grow as IoT and AI products expand.

• Supply chain decarbonisation: 42% Scope 3 upstream reduction target by 2031

  BT Group has an SBTi-validated target to reduce Scope 3 upstream + operational emissions (GHG Categories 1–8) by 42% vs FY17 baseline by 31 March 2031. By FY25, a 25% reduction has been achieved (2,425 kt vs 3,217 kt baseline). BT spends £9.6bn annually with UK-based suppliers and extends its ESG expectations through supplier policies and standards.

• Supply chain decarbonisation via CDP

  BT encourages key suppliers to report to CDP to improve visibility and action on emissions. Suppliers representing more than 65% of supply chain emissions are reporting to CDP. BT collaborates with major Openreach partners through workshops and webinars, and works with the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders initiative and SME Climate Hub to drive climate action across global supply chains.

• Supplier 1.5C alignment

  Requires suppliers to conduct climate risk assessments, set 1.5C aligned science-based targets and report annually. Over 300 suppliers now report to CDP. Collaborates with the 1.5C Supply Chain Leaders initiative, SME Climate Hub and UK Business Climate Hub. Joined the JAC (Joint Alliance for CSR) Board, an association of 27 communications providers transforming ICT supply chains.

• Customer emissions avoidance via full fibre & digital tools

  Helped customers avoid >1.5m tCO2e in FY24 (3.78m cumulative since 2021), mainly via full fibre broadband reducing personal/work travel. Published a new carbon abatement methodology, expanded the Digital Carbon Calculator to include compute and endpoint devices (showing 15% average CO2e savings), and enhanced the Carbon Network Dashboard with energy optimisation recommendations. Target: help customers avoid 60m tCO2e cumulatively by FY30.

• Supply chain decarbonisation – requiring SBT-aligned targets from 300+ suppliers

  Scope 3 supply chain emissions account for approximately 95% of BT's total emissions. BT has cut supply chain (Scope 3 cat 1-8) emissions by 25% since FY17 against a 42% reduction target by March 2031. BT refreshed its climate change policy requiring suppliers to conduct climate risk assessments, set 1.5°C-aligned science-based targets and report progress annually. Over 300 suppliers now report to CDP. BT launched a new supplier engagement campaign in FY24 asking suppliers to set public SBTs, and joined the JAC (Joint Alliance for CSR) Board.

• Customer carbon avoidance – targeting 60m tCO2e avoided by customers by FY30

  BT aims to help customers avoid 60 million tonnes of CO2e by end of March 2030 through its products and services including full fibre broadband, mobile solutions and cloud computing. In FY24, customers avoided more than 1.5 million tonnes (3.8m cumulatively since FY21), mainly through full fibre rollout enabling reductions in personal and work-related travel. BT expanded its Digital Carbon Calculator to include compute and endpoints, and launched AI-powered edge computing solutions with QiO and real-time carbon dashboards to help customers cut emissions.

• Supply chain decarbonisation: SBTi-aligned 42% reduction in Scope 3 cat 1-8 by 2031

  73% of BT's end-to-end carbon emissions come from the upstream supply chain. BT has an SBTi-validated target to cut supply chain (Scope 3 cat 1-8) emissions by 42% by March 2031 vs FY17 baseline; currently 20% cut achieved. Key mechanisms include: climate clauses in 11 key supplier contracts, mandatory net-zero SBTi targets for new contracts >£25m, CDP supply chain programme (200+ suppliers reporting), supplier engagement campaigns (140+ suppliers in FY23), and joint operator engagement with Deutsche Telekom, Swisscom and Telefonica on common suppliers.

• Customer carbon avoidance: helping customers avoid 60 Mt CO2 by 2030 via FTTP, cloud, IoT, 5G

  BT has set a target to help customers avoid 60 million tonnes of CO2 by March 2030 through full fibre broadband (FTTP), 4G/5G, cloud computing, IoT and related technologies. In FY23, customers avoided over 935,000 tCO2e. Carbon-saving products generated ~£5.754bn revenue (28% of total); BT aims to grow this to 45% by 2030. New tools launched in FY23 include a Digital Carbon Calculator and Carbon Network Dashboard to help business customers baseline and reduce their ICT carbon footprint.

• Supply chain decarbonisation: mandatory climate clauses and SBT requirements for key suppliers

  BT has a science-based target to cut supply chain (Scope 3 Cat 1-8) emissions 42% by 2031 vs FY17; in FY22 a 28% reduction had been achieved. All supplier contracts include a mandatory climate change standard. For new contracts over £25m (covering ~67% of procurement spend), suppliers must have a net zero SBT in place or commit to one within six months. BT sent engagement letters to 400+ key suppliers representing 73% of supplier Scope 3 emissions; 84% had set or planned a net zero target and 73% purchase or plan to purchase renewable electricity. BT also participates in the CDP Supply Chain programme.

• Customer carbon abatement: FTTP, 5G, cloud and IoT enabling 60 million tCO2e avoided by 2030

  BT's low-carbon products and services generated £5bn (25% of group revenue) in FY22. Carbon-abating solutions include FTTP broadband (enabling remote work and dematerialisation), unified communications, cloud networking, and IoT/telematics. BT's Green Tech Innovation Platform (GTIP) incubates scale-ups such as iOpt (building energy monitoring for social housing) and EverImpact (urban CO2 sensors). BT has set a new target to help customers avoid 60 million tCO2e by end of March 2030 through these technology shifts. The company works with the Carbon Trust to develop use cases measuring customer carbon savings.