Our wider responsibilities

Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR)

We see CSR as the voluntary action a company takes to contribute to the wider social goal of sustainable development.
     Managing social, ethical and environmental issues in a way that grows shareholder value, builds our brand and helps us and our customers become more sustainable is very important to us.
     This section, together with the broad statement on social, environmental and ethical matters (see page 79), conforms to the Association of British Insurers’ disclosure guidelines on social responsibility. More detailed information about our social, ethical and environmental performance is available in our independently verified 2008 sustainability report at www.btplc.com/betterworld
     We invest significant resources in our CSR programmes and believe that it is vital that we continue to be forward-looking and responsible in our everyday operations and maintain our reputation for excellence.
     During 2008, our UK accreditation to environmental management standard ISO 14001 was renewed, and we achieved certification for our operations in Ireland, Italy and Belgium. Our aim is to gain accreditation around the world.

        Waste (UK only)    
arrow   £22.3m
community investment in 2008		   Tonnes 2008   2007   2006   2005  
 
 
  Total waste 79,759   94,928   102,005   110,622  
  Total waste recycled 39,937   40,007   42,340   37,421  
 
 
  % recycled 46%   42%   42%   34%  
       
 
 
 

We have had ISO 9001 (the international quality management system standard) certification for our operations in the UK and much of the rest of the world since 1994.
     During 2008, our CSR strategy prioritised three areas where BT can make the most difference: climate change, social inclusion and sustainable economic growth.

Recognition of our contribution to society
In July 2007, BT won Business in the Community’s prestigious Company of the Year award for our positive impact on society. The award goes to the company judged to be improving its business and its overall impact on society, in the marketplace, the workplace, the environment and the community, through leadership and integration of responsible business practices.
     During 2008, BT was ranked as the top telecommunications company in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the seventh year in a row. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes rank companies for their success in managing social, ethical and environmental issues for competitive advantage. We were reaccredited with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in recognition of our contribution to sustainable development. In 2008, we retained our Platinum Banding for companies scoring over 95% on Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index. We were the top scorer in all but three of the 79 impact areas. And the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) named BT as the winner of its best sustainability report award 2007.

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