The new offering uses individual businesses details, including such things as travel and office space arrangements, to help identify ways to save money and reduce carbon emissions from flexible working.
Additionally, the tool can be used to build the business case to invest in the digital tools as the calculator looks at different savings sources across the business, including business travel reduction and longer-term initiatives like fleet and office rationalisation.
“The pandemic has undoubtedly been tough for Britain, but it is also a catalyst for change. The surge in flexible working is already delivering clear benefits for people, businesses, and the environment, that we should look to carry into the future,” said Mark Evans, CEO at O2.
“Mobile and digital connectivity, smartly designed and deployed, can help businesses and industries to improve their productivity and efficiency, while reducing carbon emissions. All businesses need to start thinking green with every decision they make.”
Built by The Lab, powered by O2 and based on calculations by the Carbon Trust, the calculators is designed to help businesses plan for the long term and maximise on savings made during the lockdown and subsequent pandemic.
During trials, the calculator reported an annual potential saving of £2.6 million for a company that had 1,000 employees. Overall, O2 calculated that it could help UK companies save £53 billion per annum.
“We are dedicated to helping businesses move towards a more sustainable future by creating tools to inform strategic decisions. Re-imagining working patterns in the coming months and years provides an opportunity to shift towards more sustainable business models,” added Tom Delay, chief executive at the Carbon Trust.
“The Carbon Trust has worked with O2 for over 10 years on its carbon reduction strategy and we look forward to continuing our work together to help deliver a net zero future.”
Hitachi Capital UK PLC is one of the companies signed up to the ongoing beta trial of the calculator and the news supports O2’s goal of becoming the UK’s first net zero in its own operations telecoms company by 2025.
