Today Vodafone NZ released its latest sustainability report outlining how the company aims to generate shared value in its mission to create a better Aotearoa through remarkably simple technology solutions.

For the first time, the Vodafone NZ Sustainable Business Report 2020 prioritises and promotes the United Nations Global Goals for sustainable development, to illustrate ways the digital services company is achieving better collective outcomes for its teams, customers and communities.

The four main United Nations goals that Vodafone is striving to exemplify are:

• #8: Decent work and economic growth: To provide a workplace where all employees are valued and productive, while contributing to sustainable and inclusive economic growth for New Zealand.
• #9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure: To provide consistent, resilient, sustainable and leading services to New Zealanders, and be at the forefront of innovative technologies in the telecommunications sector.
• #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: To support the development of a sustainable New Zealand through increasing connections between people, and providing the technology to enhance the social and environmental wellbeing of our cities and communities.
• #17: Partnership for the goals: To work with strategic partners on complementary outcomes for the benefit of New Zealand.

Key areas highlighted in the Sustainable Business Report 2020 include improvements to customer services, fostering diversity among staff, providing IoT applications for example to improve environmental outcomes alongside Predator Free Punakaiki, supporting community organisations such as Zeal via the Vodafone Foundation, and lowering carbon emissions through new technology solutions.

Juliet Jones, Sustainability Director, Vodafone NZ says: "At Vodafone, we’re committed to creating a better future for Aotearoa New Zealand through technology that remarkably simplifies lives and businesses. This is our first Sustainability Report published under our new ownership and underpins our desire to create even greater things for our customers and for Aotearoa New Zealand.

"As a digitally focused industry, telco companies generate relatively low carbon emissions, but we recognise our role in enabling other organisations to transition to cleaner, greener ways of connecting. The increase in remote working in 2020 has seen our connectivity tools replace a lot of travel. We are also investing in new technologies to further reduce our carbon emissions and to help other New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses do the same.

“More broadly, we are focused on creating sustainable, long-term value in order to reinvest in creating a better future, and supporting Aotearoa with long-term innovation and infrastructure to power sustainable cities and communities.

"Our work through the Vodafone New Zealand Foundation will continue to focus on our vision to see all young people in Aotearoa New Zealand having opportunities to live the lives they value. The Foundation is on a 10 year, $20 million journey to reduce the number of excluded and disadvantaged rangatahi in Aotearoa by ensuring they have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive, including increased digital access.”

The newly released Vodafone NZ Sustainable Business Report 2020 covers the company’s previous financial year spanning April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.

To view the report and access past Sustainability Reports, please visit: https://www.vodafone.co.nz/our-company/corporate-responsibility/