BT is looking to measures such as reducing employees’ travel and increasing teleconferencing meetings as part of its pledge to become more environmentally friendly.
A BT spokesperson said flexible working arrangements will be key to employees’ input. Approximately 12,000 of the company’s employees work from home, while approximately 80,000 work flexibly, so BT will ask staff to pursue the most carbon-efficient ways of working. For example, it†will encourage employees to work from the nearest office to their home address and find ways to avoid†unnecessary travel. The company also intends to look for the most carbon emission-friendly solution for its large fleet.
BT has also struck a deal with Npower and British Gas in which it will get 98% of its electricity from renewable sources such as wind and hydro-electricity or other green energy sources.
This comes as The Sunday Telegraph reported that the European Commission is planning to introduce a pan-European green tax on motorists. Under the proposals, a vehicle’s carbon dioxide emissions would be the levying factor for one-quarter of the new tax.
Separately, 29% of fleets see going green as a key issue facing their company, according to The annual fleet professionals survey by car leasing company Lex. Health and safety issues remain the most important concerns facing company fleet managers in 2007, however, running a greener company car fleet came third in the greatest concerns, three places higher than in 2006.
Jon Walden, managing director of Lex, said: "In many respects, we were surprised that going green didn’t come out top of the survey, bearing in mind the exposure this issue has had over the past 12 months."