How to Drive Company-Wide Sustainability: Openreach (Abby Chicken)

Sustainability Solved

What does it take for large-scale organisations to achieve Net-Zero? Let’s find out! Today, Will and Charlie talk big business & big sustainability with Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability at Openreach. As the company behind the UK's second-largest van fleet and a crucial telecommunications infrastructure provider, Openreach is tackling ambitious net-zero targets while revolutionising how large organisations approach sustainability.

As Will says… “Abby just get’s it!”. She knows business, she knows sustainability. That’s what this show is all about and what makes this episode vital listening. Enjoy!

And remember to let us know about your sustainability problems! Let us know here or drop us an email on [email protected]

Problem:

• Moving a large workforce to greener practices requires careful planning and infrastructure
• Company vehicles are often one of the biggest sources of emissions
• Staff who work remotely or in the field need practical solutions that don't disrupt their work
• Many suppliers and contractors need to align with your environmental goals
• Hard to measure impact when sharing buildings and resources with other companies
• Rural and remote locations pose unique challenges for green initiatives

Solutions:

Start with a clear company-wide strategy that:

• Begins with the easiest changes first
• Uses pilot programs to test and prove new approaches
• Makes sustainable choices convenient for employees
• Builds requirements into supplier contracts
• Partners with other companies to share resources
• Changes behaviour through practical benefits, not just environmental appeals

Focus on using less overall:

• Look for waste in packaging and materials
• Update to more efficient technologies
• Find ways to reuse or recycle old equipment
• Share facilities and equipment where possible
• Make it easy for people to reduce waste in their daily work

Results:

• Early adopters become advocates for change
• Suppliers actively engage in environmental improvements
• New industry standards get created
• Progress toward long-term goals
• Better data on what works and what doesn't
• Practical solutions that work in the real world

Takeaways:

• Sustainability needs to move beyond passion to become business as usual
• Large organisations can drive industry-wide change through supplier requirements
• Financial institutions increasingly require robust sustainability strategies
• Success requires multiple approaches - from boardroom economics to employee engagement
• Infrastructure sharing can significantly reduce environmental impact
• Clear metrics and visibility are crucial for driving organisational change

Resources:

• Material World by Ed Conway
• Openreach sustainability initiatives
• Science Based Targets Initiative
• Carbon Disclosure Project

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Credits:

Hosts: Will Richardson, Charlie Luxton

Production: Soundquake

Exec-Producer: Sam Hamilton-Turner

Producer: Jake Lee-Savage

For questions or feedback, email us at [email protected].

Tune in next time for more stories on sustainability and business innovation!

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