Openreach is ‘going green’ and says it will remove 100 tonnes of plastic from its supply chain by using new ‘modems’ to connect customers to its full fibre network, as part of an initiative under the company’s “Let’s Reach Zero” strategy — a commitment to reach net zero emissions in its operations by 2031.
The business is launching a range of new Optical Network Terminals (ONTs) - the wall-mounted box of electronics that converts optical signals into electrical ones used by household devices, with re-engineered casings made from 85% recycled plastic.
Engineers installed around 2m ONTs last year and the company expects to install more this year as customers upgrade to full fibre.
Abby Chicken, Head of Sustainability for Openreach, said: "Our mission will deliver a more sustainable, reliable network and serve as the digital platform for a greener economy.
“We recognise the environmental impact of building that future, and that’s why we’re committed to using fewer materials and reducing waste.”
The new ONT models – launching this summer – will cut 100 tonnes of new plastic from the company’s manufacturing process and supply chain every year, the equivalent of eight double-decker buses in weight.
Openreach is working with partners such as Nokia, Adtran, Zyxel and Sercomm to manufacture the new kit, with casings made from recycled plastic pellets from a variety of sources based on the plastic family of polycarbonate (PC), including recycled casings for laptops, tablets or phones, personal safety equipment.
The company has also re-designed the packaging that ONTs arrive in, working with Nokia, to reduce the amount of cardboard it uses by 30 per cent, allowing for 40 per cent more ONTs to be delivered in every shipping container, helping to make its supply chain even more efficient.
