Elisa to achieve carbon neutrality in 2020

Elisa published its new climate goals today, and committed to carbon neutrality as early as of this year. All electricity used by the company is renewable. The rest of the emissions – including the personnel’s commutes and mobility as well as the network’s backup power – will be offset (totalling some 11% of emissions). Elisa is the first carbon-neutral Nordic operator.

Elisa was among the first Finnish companies to adopt goals prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Science Based Target initiative and confirmed as being in line with the Paris Agreement. Elisa is also one of the leading companies to have ambitious goals in line with limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees.

As a new goal, Elisa committed to an attempt to achieve carbon neutrality as early as during 2020 by implementing both energy reduction measures and acquiring carbon offset credits through the Gold Standard-certified improved cookstoves project.

“Climate change now requires effective action also from businesses, and we want to contribute to the faster achievement of a carbon neutral society. In addition to our own energy efficiency measures, we can impact the change right now, with certified offset credits. Emission reduction has been part of our strategy for more than 10 years. This represents one step on the journey aiming to make our entire energy consumption carbon neutral,” says Elisa’s CEO, Veli-Matti Mattila.

Elisa’s carbon footprint (Scope 1 and 2) has decreased by more than 60% compared to 2016. The measures include the use of renewable electricity, network optimisation and increasingly energy efficient new technologies as well as the utilisation of data centres’ waste heat in the district heating network.  Elisa is a pioneer of flexible work in Finland. The Elisa Ideal Work operating model and opportunities for location-independent work have reduced personnel’s travel and emissions to a significant degree.

In addition to reducing carbon footprint the carbon handprint when utilising mobile techonologies can have even ten times positive impact*, and the services taking advantage of Elisa’s digitalisation, e.g. virtual meetings, reduce the climate burden of our customers’ operations. We also provide our customers with the efficient recycling of, and repair service for, devices as well as with new, environmentally friendly device options.

*) GSMA: The Enablement Effect report