Telia urges its suppliers to align with science

As world leaders gather for the global climate summit (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh to agree on the next steps to scale climate action, Telia Company encourages its suppliers to set targets matching an ambition level that is congruent with science. A call to action was sent to Telia’s suppliers today. After two years of engagement, 29% of Telia’s supply chain emissions are covered by such goals with an additional 21% in the process of getting their targets externally approved. This week, Telia is pushing and supporting its suppliers to set science-based targets covering the remainder of the related emissions.

Michaela Mayrhofer, Chief Procurement Officer at Telia Company, says: “Many challenges are occupying our minds today – how to transition into a net-zero and circular economy is one of them. The latest science is clear: action cannot be postponed. We are therefore requesting our suppliers to set science-based targets, to secure management commitments in our supplier base, ambitious action plans and improved climate data. I am happy to see a growing number of suppliers across industries joining us on this journey – at the end of the day, transforming to climate neutrality and net zero is about staying competitive and securing resilient operations and deliveries.”

Telia has reduced emissions in its own operations by 78% since 2018. But Telia’s targets cover the full value chain – and the supply chain represents more than 90% of total value-chain emissions. This led us to integrate climate as one of the key selection criteria in Telia’s supplier selection process, with weighting increasing each quarter. One of our requirements is that suppliers set science-based targets. To date, suppliers responsible for 29% of Telia’s supply-chain emissions have set such goals, with an additional 21% in the process of getting their targets externally approved.

Sara Nordbrand, Head of Sustainability at Telia Company, says: “A net-zero and circular future is a better and more resilient one – and it is a future we can only create together. Through our supplier selection process, we spur supplier action by monitoring their maturity level to make substantial and ambitious work matter. In parallel, we are joining forces with other parties to support companies in taking the next steps in efficient ways.”

One example is the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders initiative, created under the umbrella of the Exponential Roadmap initiative, with the aim of providing support materials and sharing best practices to accelerate action. Through these initiatives, companies across global supply chains are encouraged to at least halve emissions by 2030 and then continue towards net zero in a scientific manner. In its letter to suppliers this week, Telia shared these support tools produced by these initiatives to facilitate progress.

CT Bureau