Page ContentENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITYTelekom Slovenije is aware that our activities also impact the natural environment. This is the reason we make sure that our actions contribute to a healthy environment and preserving nature, energy and material resources.We develop business processes in such a way that we protect the environment and preserve natural resources wherever we are, as well as actively minimize the impact of our activities. We systematically monitor the consumption of resources and energy. By achieving environmentally friendly goals, balanced by the specific needs of the Group's operation and development, we focus on continually improving energy and environmental efficiency. We model our services and products according to the global guidelines in energy and environmental development. We must to follow and meet all Slovenian and European legislation requirements in that field. We additionally follow and meet other normative and ethical requirements related to energy and environmental aspects of ICT services and operation. We participate in expert initiatives for objective communication of scientific positions related to the impacts of our industry on the environment. We also encourage our users to use energy responsibly. We use measurable indicators to monitor our progress.Our key focus:regularly monitoring the use of resources, especially energy strategic and executional energy goals compliant with our development of operations following and fulfilling the requirements of the Slovenian and European legislation lowering the impact of our activities on the environment and the living spaceWe have adopted a Statement on energy efficiency. System of efficient energy managementUse of electricity, fuel and other energy products is among Telekom Slovenije's major environmental impacts. By fulfilling our strategic and operative goals in line with the business needs and expectations of our stakeholders, we contribute towards improving energy efficiency.To accomplish this, we follow local and international best practices. Our procurement process and service development also adhere to energy efficiency guidelines. We utilize training courses and communication across all channels to raise awareness of this topic among our employees. We also encourage our users towards responsible energy consumption, and our e-services can help them lower their carbon footprint. We report to regulatory bodies and other state bodies in accordance with legislation. Transition to the updated SIST EN ISO 50001:2018 standardWe pass independent external reviews of our compliance with the requirements of the ISO 50001 standards. In 2019 we were the first major Slovenian infrastructure system to transition to the new SIST EN ISO 50001:2018 standard.Through constant improvements in efficient energy use, we have managed to bring down our energy costs by over EUR 2 million, compared to the base year of 2009. Telekom Slovenije's energy costsAlong with the reduction of energy use, the company's carbon footprint has also been improving, with its biggest share attributed to indirect transmissions (i.e. scope 2, mostly resulting from electricity use, which accounts for more than 80% of company's entire energy use in kWh). According to our internally measured carbon footprint, we have been reducing it by approximately 400 thousand kg CO2eq per year. Along with lower electricity use, an important factor was also fuel consumption in our car fleet (just over 10%) and energy use for heating (just under 10%). Energy use in our fixed segment and in our commercial properties segment are in decline because of network modernisation and improved user awareness, however, it is growing in the mobile segment because of upgrades to the radio network.The results of international comparisons made as part of the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Association's Energy Task Team (ETNO ETT) show that our achievements put us alongside major European operators.One of the basic principles of management systems according to ISO standards are constant improvements. All the success we've had so far is really our obligation for the future. Renewable energy sources Vehicle fleet Besides the vehicles in our fleet, Telekom Slovenije Group employees also use electric car sharing. In 2019 we completed 5,000 drives using these. This reduces the impact on the environment and lowers the costs of procuring and maintaining vehicles. In accordance with legislation, we will continue installing smart charging station. Our solar power plantsTelekom Slovenije has six solar power plants, one on its premises in Koper, three in Ljubljana, two on our base stations in Tropovci pri Murski Soboti and Podkraj, and we also create electricity with our wind turbine on Kredarica, which we partially own. Annually we generate approximately 200,000 kWh from renewable sources. Environmental Management SystemTelekom Slovenije received the ISO 14001 certificate in March 2008, and has been successfully renewing it since. The purpose of the system is as follows: waste separation on the spot (with separation of all the waste that can be reused) returning waste packaging, electrical and electronic equipment to suppliers,reducing municipal waste We have a waste management plan and Instructions for separate waste collection at designated collection points at all of our business locations. Collecting old mobile phones, batteries and chargers All Telekom Sales Centres collect old mobile phones, batteries and chargers in accordance with the valid legislation. Waters and biodiversityTelekom Slovenije Group also includes the company Soline, which plays an active role in ensuring biodiversity. The company manages the Salina Nature Park, which produces salt using traditional methods. The salt pans are also unique wetlands with great biotic diversity, including many species listed in the NATURA 2000 network. These are important and exceptional living environments, with different plant and animal species sharing the harsh habitat that they had adapted to. As these are mostly caught between the sea and the land, we have an array of different living environments – from areas with fresh and salt water, and to those with highly salinized water. Electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic radiationWe install our infrastructure in space responsibly and deliberately. Through careful planning and the use of modern technological solutions, we are reducing the strength of our base stations and adding network elements, contributing to a considerably lower radiation impact. Mobile network is an infrastructure that ensures a good signal for mobile communication services and their safety for the broader environment when it is carefully planned and introduced into the environment responsibly. We follow the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The suitability of our infrastructure for the environment is also regularly verified by accredited institutions with authority from the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO), where all the measurements are also publicly available.We are an active member and supporter of the EMS Forum, which provides education, networking and objective information for all stakeholders. Within the framework of the EMS Forum, we have subscribed to and implement the code of good practice. By subscribing to the code, companies undertake to increase their contribution to reducing their introduction or sources of electromagnetic radiation into the environment. As part of the e-karta project, the EMS Forum has also developed a mobile app that provides everyone the data on high-frequency EMS radiation levels in the environment and exposure due to mobile phone use: http://www.inis.si/index.php?id=348&no_cache=1#.Xfd5neRYZdh.Sustainable reportingIn 2009 we were among the first in Slovenia to begin reporting on our sustainable development in accordance with the GRI standards as part of our Annual Report. This also prepared us for the requirements of the latest European directive and the Companies Act ZGD-1 on obligatory non-financial reporting. When preparing our reports, we also take into account the GRI recommendations for ICT and IT industry and the media. We verify compliance with these standards with the support of external independent verifiers.
