Virgin Media O2 UK Sets Out New Net Zero Focused Responsible Business Plan

Broadband and mobile operator Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) has today set out a new “Responsible Business Plan” to 2030, which updates their approach to improving sustainability and social impact. In short, more support and new targets for tackling digital exclusion, reducing carbon emissions and greater recycling etc.

The new targets are effectively a sequel to their previous “Better Connections Plan“, which ran between 2022 and 2025. The previous plan helped to reduce Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 16% in 2025 and 63% in total against its 2020 baseline, prevented 61.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions from entering Earth’s atmosphere, encouraged more than 12 million consumers to carry out ‘circular actions’ (e.g. recycling or buying refurbished devices), expanded 4G mobile services as part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN), helped to connect over 500,000 people via the National Databank (free mobile data SIMs) and much more.

The new strategy focuses on the 2026 to 2030 period and pledges to embed their updated Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) plan into every aspect of the business, “taking greater ownership over the full lifecycle of its operations – from how its network is built and run, to the impact its products and services have on people’s lives“. This includes continuing to reduce the operator’s environmental impact, making connectivity accessible, supporting customers to navigate the digital world safely, and keeping technology in use for longer.

Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2, said:

“Our Responsible Business Plan is more than a strategy – it’s how we do business.

It’s built into every decision we make, how we treat our customers and employees, and the products and services we provide to people across the country.

Whether it’s cutting carbon and working towards net zero, helping even more low-income households stay connected, or giving technology a second life – Virgin Media O2 is committed to being a trusted business and a force for good in people’s lives.”

The full list of targets and actions can be found below, although it’s quite a generalised summary and does rehash a lot of what they’re already offering or doing.

VMO2’s Responsible Business Plan – 2026 to 2030

1. Climate – reducing the impact of our network  

Virgin Media O2 will continue its journey to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the end of 2040 across its operations, products, and supply chain.  

1. This includes supporting the UK’s energy transition by sourcing 100% carbon-free energy from UK sources and driving energy efficiency across its operations. 
2. It will build and operate more climate-resilient broadband and mobile networks.  

2. Connection – making connectivity accessible to all  

Virgin Media O2 will build on its industry-leading work to tackle digital exclusion by supporting 500,000 low-income households with connectivity that meets their critical needs by 2030. 

This will be underpinned by Virgin Media O2’s ongoing measures to help people experiencing hardship stay connected. This includes: 

• Its broadband and mobile low-cost tariffs which are available for people who receive government support payments. 
• Its partnerships with charities Good Things Foundation and Hubbub to help more people in need get online.  

This is delivered through: 

• The National Databank initiative with Good Things Foundation, which provides free O2 mobile data via digital inclusion hubs and O2 stores across the country. 

• The Community Calling programme with Hubbub, which rehomes devices via community groups and charities across the UK with people who need them. The devices are being sourced from Virgin Media O2’s customer returns and its O2 Recycle service, which is helping to give unwanted tech a second life.   

3. Control – digital confidence grounded in wellbeing   

Virgin Media O2 will support six million people to navigate the online world with confidence by 2030. 

• It will continue to support families to stay safe online, offering a range of tools and controls, plus advice and tips via its co-founded support for Internet Matters. 
• The operator will also double down on its commitment to fraud and scam prevention, helping keep customers safe from cybercrime. It will continue to invest in cutting-edge tools, such as its AI-assisted service, Call Defence, and Brand ID, to flag suspicious calls and block fraudulent messages. It will also continue collaborating with cross-sector partners through initiatives like Stop Scams UK. 
• Additionally, Virgin Media O2 will help to prevent risk for its customers through proactive and intelligent security measures, strong data protection and privacy policies, and responsible AI use.  

In the coming weeks, Virgin Media O2 will also announce a dedicated digital wellbeing strategy, backed by a series of measures to address compulsive online behaviours and associated harms, helping people to have greater control of their time online.  

4. Circularity – extending the life of technology  

Virgin Media O2 will continue to drive the UK’s circular economy, underpinned by an ethos that ‘every device should live twice’, where tech, such as smartphones, tablets or consoles, can be given a second life and repaired, recycled, or refurbished and sold as ‘like new’ products.  

This is backed by two targets: 

• Double the number of people buying refurbished devices from Virgin Media O2 by 2030.  

• Double the number of people recycling unwanted devices via O2 Recycle by 2030 

The company will build on its partnership with Coventry City Council by championing a device reuse culture in 30 cities by 2030, supporting programmes and initiatives to keep tech in use for longer. This means devices will be reused locally and passed to people who need them, creating social value and preventing electronic waste. 

The Responsible Business Plan is also underpinned by Virgin Media O2’s commitment to become a more inclusive and equitable employer.