Protecting the planet| Our purpose & ESG

Responding to climate change Committed to a low-carbon future and playing our part in addressing the climate crises.

We address the global climate crisis through our efforts to mitigate and address our climate-related impact and risks.

At the core of our climate action, we are:

Embedding climate change into our governance process
Assessing the actual and potential impacts of climate-related risks and opportunities on our business strategy to better understand and build resilience in the transition
Leveraging the Group’s enterprise-wide risk management framework, which includes identifying, assessing and responding to climate-related risks.

Managing climate-related risks and opportunities

Vodacom’s climate programme

Climate change threatens Africa with increased frequency and intensity of droughts, heatwaves and severe flooding. This presents material risks – physical and transition - to our operations, value chains, and the communities we serve. Effectively managing climate-related risks and opportunities is central to the success of our climate programme. We conduct scenario analysis, invest in capacity building and we continuously refine our responses including our policy and risk management frameworks

Our Climate Transition Plan (CTP) serves as a strategic roadmap for navigating these challenges. It outlines the key management actions necessary to support our transition to a low-carbon future and to enhance our climate resilience. Our CTP includes:

Clear objectives and targets aligned with science-based pathways.
Defined actions and resource allocations to reduce our operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1 and 2).
A focused approach to managing Scope 3 emissions through near-term initiatives and stakeholder collaboration.

Through this programme, we aim to embed climate resilience into our core business strategy, ensuring long-term value creation and environmental stewardship.

Notable severe weather impacts

We take a three-pronged approach to extreme weather disruptions:

We act quickly to restore our network.
We support our affected customers including providing free minutes and data and regular weather updates in several OpCos.
In partnership with government and non-profit organisations, we mobilise humanitarian assistance by making donations and partnering with governments and aid organisations.

Advocating for change

Cooperation and collective action beyond our value chain are essential to address the systemic challenges of climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss while responding to the changing regulatory context. We engage with industry peers, global UN bodies and non-governmental organisations to support and drive collective change.

Read more in papers where we have collaborated on business and sector initiatives:

Delivering net zero operations (scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions) Increasing our efficiencies to reduce energy consumption and sourcing alternative energy to reduce our GHG emissions,

We are committed to working with the public and private sectors to reduce GHG emissions in the telecommunications sector.

As we move towards a more digital society, with increasing volumes of internet use and mobile data traffic, we are committed to reducing our GHG emissions in absolute terms, in line with what science requires to avoid catastrophic climate change. We are making progress towards net zero for our operations.

Our approach to energy management prioritises energy efficiency first, followed by onsite and offsite renewables, and finally, offset mechanisms.

Driving energy efficiencies

Managing network consumption

We manage network consumption by sourcing and implementing more efficient network equipment and reducing energy demand by:

Introducing energy-saving network features;
Modernising our network equipment and ancillary equipment like cooling; and
Designing and selecting energy-efficient equipment for new sites.

Managing building and technology-centre consumption

We maintain best practices in our technology centres and properties by installing efficient cooling equipment, lighting and control systems, and ensuring good housekeeping. Ongoing energy efficiency initiatives include:

Hot and cold aisle containment where possible;
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades are implemented where technology centres are due for refurbishment (with more advanced controls, including AI); and
Improved controls and configurations to reduce unnecessary use of equipment such as lighting and managing heating and cooling set points (for example, through a building management system).

Switching to renewables

On-site renewables

We seek to replace our diesel generators with renewable energy sources. Our approach for on-site renewables include:

Solar and battery installations at off grid sites,
Investments in solar at offices and data centres
Pursuing new power-as-a-service agreements

Renewable electricity purchasing

We purchase renewable electricity from independent power producers through power purchase agreements and purchase renewable electricity certificates as part of our energy management strategy in countries where fossil fuel reliance is high, grid availability is low and the potential for renewable energy is limited.

Alternative fuels

Our transition requires technological advancement and the availability of renewable fuels and alternative technology to diesel generators. In the short term, we prioritise batteries over diesel generators, while in the long term, we are seeking diesel alternatives, including connecting off grid sites to the grid, deploying wind and solar where possible and we are exploring newer technologies, including microturbines and hydrogen fuel cells.

Managing scope 3 GHG emissions Engaging our supply chain to reduce our indirect GHG emissions.

Reliable and standardised data from across an entire value chain is fundamental to reducing scope 3 emissions.

To further improve the quality of our scope 3 GHG emissions inventory and identify the appropriate reduction levers, we are onboarding two workstreams in the short term. We are focusing on improving data quality first, which entails data gap closure and improved accuracy, and includes agreements with suppliers on data privacy and data use. Secondly, we are identifying appropriate plans to reduce emissions at a Group and OpCo level.

Working with partners to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions

Vodacom uses Vodafone’s key global supplier benchmarks. Suppliers provide details of their GHG emissions and management programmes through the CDP, a global disclosure system that helps companies measure and report their environmental impacts.
When new suppliers tender for work, they need to demonstrate policies and procedures that prioritise people (support safe working conditions and diversity in the workplace) and address environmental concerns (GHG emissions reduction, renewable energy, plastic reduction, circular economy and product life cycle). These aspects account for up to 20% of the overall evaluation criteria.

Enabling our customers to reduce their GHG emissions

Our IoT services, including logistics, fleet management and smart metering, are underpinned by a robust commercial rationale with three main opportunities for customers.

Increased efficiency and reduced wastage: IoT enables organisations to monitor operational processes, identify waste and address the source.
Using IoT to deliver cost efficiencies: Connectivity allows products and services, such as shared distribution networks and vehicle sharing, to be automated and shared, reducing the cost and carbon impact.
Monitoring and changing customer behaviour: IoT products connect directly to customers, allowing us to monitor trends, such as shifting demands for energy.

Driving circularity Following a circular approach to send resources for reuse, resale and/or recycling to reduce waste in our production and service ecosystem.

E-waste is our business’s second most material environmental issue, and encouraging circularity is a key enabler of our planet strategy.

We aim to use resources for as long as possible to maximise the return on capital employed following which we recover and reuse materials responsibly. We seek to manage our impact sensibly and support our customers’ efforts.

Our e-waste circularity initiatives consider two types of e-waste:

Network equipment, including radio equipment used to run our fixed and mobile access networks; and
Electronic devices, including smartphones and other devices we sell to customers.

Circularity of network waste

Our resource efficiency and waste disposal management programmes minimise the environmental impacts of network and IT equipment waste. When reuse options,either through redeployment or resale, are exhausted, we send obsolete equipment to approved recycling agencies for recycling.

Circularity of devices

We are committed to reducing our impact by implementing circularity initiatives with our partners and other operators. To raise consumer awareness of e-waste and incentivise our customers to bring back their used devices for trade-in, donation or recycling, we have the following programmes:

Vodafone’s WWF ‘1 million phones for the planet’ campaign (Egypt and South Africa only).
RedLovesGreen campaign encourages customers to return their devices to any of our 35 repair centres in South Africa.
Good as New programme aims to drive smartphone penetration and reduce e-waste by providing certified pre-owned smartphones at an affordable price in South Africa.
e-TADWEER solution, which drives circularity solutions for electronics and devices in Egypt.

Reducing virgin plastic use

We continue replacing single-use plastics with lower-impact alternatives across all our retail stores, offices and logistics operations in collaboration with our logistics providers.

Managing general waste

Our general waste management programmes involve reviewing our consumption choices, making more sustainable decisions and working with suppliers to reduce environmental waste. We responsibly manage the waste streams involved in delivering our products by digitalising branch processes to become completely paperless; pursuing green lease agreements for stores including water, waste and electricity management targets; and reducing our plastic usage.

Using water responsibly

While we are not a water-intensive user, majority of our operations are in countries which are classified as medium-high to extremely high-water risk and so we work to reduce our water usage across all our operations. Our water management focuses on different areas including:

Water use assessment: We have a structured water data sharing and monitoring system across our OpCos. Water use assessments are conducted to identify opportunities for water efficiency improvements. Each OpCo aligns its local water use and efficiency programmes with its local context and sustainability objectives.
Actions to reduce water consumption: Water saving measures include installing low-flow fixtures and aeration taps with reduced water flow, smart irrigation systems and water wise gardens, waterless urinals, chemical toilet flushing, waterless hand sanitising stations, rainwater harvesting, pressure-reducing valves, efficient cooling systems, regular leak detection and maintenance.
Education and awareness: Environmental days are used to bring awareness around efficient water use. Capacity building is undertaken with property teams who have the main responsibility of improving water efficiency.
Digital solutions: Our digital solutions and IoT products can help our customers, such as governments and businesses, reduce their water consumption through real-time monitoring and early detection of water leaks.

Supporting biodiversity We seek to understand and manage our biodiversity impact while collaborating with partners to minimise loss through technology solutions. We also support programme funding which enables interventions in local ecosystems.

Understanding and managing our impact

Although our operations’ direct effect on the environment and biodiversity is limited, we conducted a nature and water assessment to understand our nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

From this, we aim to integrate nature risks and opportunities into our enterprise risk management framework, develop Group-level nature-related standards and, importantly, delivering programmes where digital technology will support nature and biodiversity.

Visit our reporting centre to read more in the Climate and nature report.

Supporting biodiversity protection

We partner with various organisations to protect biodiversity on land and at sea. This support combines programme funding, connectivity, and innovative technology solutions for conservation efforts.

Some of our most recent biodiversity projects include:

Vodacom DRC, in partnership with the Kongo River Association, supports several initiatives to preserve the river’s ecosystem and deepen awareness of its economic, cultural and biodiversity importance. In 2024, Vodacom DRC was a key sponsor of the fourth Festival of the Kongo River. The festival is a scientific meeting and a cultural event celebrating the river. It featured a poetry competition for schoolchildren. Students analysed the river’s chemical composition, flora and fauna and created statues from the waste collected from the river.
The Twende Butiama Cycling Tour in partnership with Stanbic Bank and the Twende Butiama Bicycle Club in Tanzania. While cycling, participants engaged in climate action and educational campaigns, and supported inclusive healthcare by sponsoring community medical camps. The OpCo donated 1 500 desks made from recycled material to schools. Environmental clubs were established in six of the 18 participating schools. During the tour, 30 000 trees were planted in communities and 55 000 trees were planted at schools. The tour aligns with Vodacom’s commitment to empowering people and protecting the planet.
Vodacom employees, in collaboration with the local community, the USA Forest Service, and the Sathuma Association, successfully restored one hectare of mangrove forest in the Chiango neighbourhood of Maputo. Approximately 2 300 mangrove trees were planted to help protect and preserve the local ecosystem and a group of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane students will monitor the growth of the mangroves.
Protecting the South African marine ecosystem in partnership with WWF.
Tracking protected animals through Dunia platform in partnership with USAID.

Twende Butiama Cycling Tour - Video

Festival of the Kongo River - Video

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Africa

Protecting the planet

We provide connectivity and digital solutions that help to enable the climate transition and aim to empower others to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, improve the efficiency of resource usage and protect nature.

Responding to climate change Committed to a low-carbon future and playing our part in addressing the climate crises.

Delivering net zero operations (scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions) Increasing our efficiencies to reduce energy consumption and sourcing alternative energy to reduce our GHG emissions,

Managing scope 3 GHG emissions Engaging our supply chain to reduce our indirect GHG emissions.

Driving circularity Following a circular approach to send resources for reuse, resale and/or recycling to reduce waste in our production and service ecosystem.

Supporting biodiversity We seek to understand and manage our biodiversity impact while collaborating with partners to minimise loss through technology solutions. We also support programme funding which enables interventions in local ecosystems.