United Group, the leading telecommunications and media provider in Southeastern Europe, has made significant strides in its sustainability efforts throughout 2023. The company has published its 2023 Sustainability Report, which highlights significant achievements in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas. This report underscores United Group’s dedication to sustainability and details its advancements in fostering positive environmental and social impacts.

A major highlight of United Group’s sustainability aspirations are ambitious emissions reduction targets, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). As part of its commitment to combating climate change, United Group is targeting net zero emissions by 2040. Significant progress was made in 2023, with the company achieving a 46% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions compared to the base year of 2020.

In 2023, United Group upheld its commitment to renewable energy by sourcing 40% of its total electricity consumption from renewable sources, further reinforcing its role in promoting sustainable business practices across the industry. Beyond emissions reductions, United Group has pledged to achieve zero operational waste to landfill by 2030. This goal is supported by a focus on circularity principles, re-use and recycling initiatives and the elimination of e-waste. The company already promotes circular economy principles through its half-SIM and eSIM initiatives, customer waste drop-off and smartphone trade in programs. Notably in 2023, about 40% of the company’s installed customer premises equipment (CPE) consisted of refurbished units.

This year also saw United Group completing its inaugural EU Taxonomy assessment, evaluating its activities against the EU’s sustainable finance frameworks that promote the sustainable transition and socially responsible investments.

In terms of social initiatives, United Group achieved significant milestones in gender equality and diversity in 2023. Women held 52% of leadership roles across the company were, reflecting the company’s dedication to empowering women in the workplace. Additionally, United Group signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), a global initiative promoting corporate action for gender equality, and completed its first median gender pay gap assessment, highlighting its support for women throughout their careers.

To strengthen its leadership team’s capacity to drive sustainability initiatives, United Group introduced the “Keep the Future” Leadership ESG Training Program in 2023. This program provides leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to lead the organization’s efforts in achieving its long-term sustainability objectives.

“The progress we have made in 2023 underscores United Group’s commitment to building a sustainable future,” said Miriam Di Traglia, Executive Director Compliance, Risk & Sustainability of United Group. “Our successes in emissions reduction, renewable energy usage, and gender equality demonstrate that sustainability is at the core of our strategy. We are proud of our progress and remain committed to delivering long-term value for all our stakeholders.”