UK telecommunications company BT announces green procurement strategy

Global communication solutions BT, based in the UK, have launched a green procurement strategy which will require all its suppliers to prove they are making efforts to cut their carbon emissions, claiming to be among the first companies in the UK to introduce such a scheme.

All suppliers will now have to create a formal climate change action plan, report their annual CO2 emissions and prove they have set themselves "challenging" emissions reduction targets.

During 2010, BT spent AUD$19 billion with its suppliers, meaning the new scheme is likely to affect a large number of firms.

"This is not something that we're legally obliged to do, but we see this as key to delivering on our commitments on carbon reduction," Liz Cross, BT's policy for procurement manager, said.

She added that while "there is no penalty" for suppliers who do not currently comply with the new rules, "tenders and replacement contracts will take into account the action taken by suppliers to reduce their carbon output".

BT has made high profile strides to promote its commitment to energy efficiency in recent months.

Earlier in the year the company told BusinessGreen it was looking at extending the carbon footprinting model used for its London 2012 services to other corporate customers.

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