O2 suppliers and partners can now buy renewable energy direct from SSE Business Energy at a reduced rate under a new deal agreed between the two firms.
The agreement is part of O2's efforts to reduce supply chain emissions, offering cheaper renewables to small and medium enterprises and large businesses of 500 people or more.
It allows suppliers and partners to demonstrate their own sustainability credentials and comes as part of O2's plans to reduce carbon emissions across its business by 2025.
O2 said the agreement is a “major step“ towards giving UK consumers and businesses a mobile network where calls, texts and data are powered by cleaner, greener energy.
SSE chief sustainability officer Rachel McEwen said: “O2 is one of the best examples of demanding, not only climate action, but improved sustainability across their supply chain.“
As a large renewable developer SSE can provide the zero carbon energy that the rest of the economy needs, and we're delighted to be working with O2 to offer SSE Green to their suppliers.
In its own operations, O2 already uses SSE Green 100% renewable electricity at all of the sites where it controls the energy bill.
Last year, the mobile company announced that it had achieved recertification to the Carbon Trust Standard for Supply Chain at level 3, the highest possible level.
The standard is the world's first independent certification for recognising organisations that are measuring, managing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions within their supply chains.
O2 was the first business in the world to achieve certification at level 3, and today is still only one of three businesses to have achieved this.
Tracey Herald, head of partnerships & social impact at O2, said: “We're proud to be a responsible business – and part of this means upholding the highest environmental standards in our own supply chain.
“This latest project with SSE Business Energy is the perfect example of working together for good: using O2's purchasing power to give Britain's suppliers and partners the option to access preferential renewable electricity rates, while reducing their own carbon footprint.“
