Climate Change

Although Bangladesh have been producing only 0.56% of the global emissions that are changing our climate, according to Germanwatch’s 2021 Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) the country is one of the most climate change vulnerable country. This threat is not an abstract one. The data shows that from 2000 to 2019, Bangladesh suffered economic losses worth $3.72 billion and witnessed 185 extreme weather events due to climate change.

In Grameenphone, we are continuously striving to minimise the environmental impact of our operations. Our ongoing programme focuses on four areas –

i)               reduction of carbon emissions

ii)             creation of employee awareness

iii)           adoption of green practices, and

iv)            societal advocacy to create awareness.

The Company adopted an EMS in 2010 in accordance with ISO 14001. Our EMS policy provides the framework for setting and reviewing our environmental objectives and targets.

Grameenphone has set a target to reduce 50% carbon emissions (CO₂) by 2030, taking 2019 emissions as the baseline.

In 2021, Grameenphone had converted 36 tower sites with Generator+Solar to Commercial Power/ Grid electricity +Solar Hybrid sites. These Hybrid sites will provide additional savings of 197,100 litres of fuel reducing 263 tons of CO₂ emission annually.

Grameenphone also upgraded 2,500 sites with Li-ion batteries in 2021. These sites are now running on battery back-up instead of generator power during grid unavailability. This Li-ion battery solution will help the Company reduce 291 tons of CO₂ emission. Besides the above mentioned activities, Grameenphone also initiated several programmes to reduce CO₂ emission through energy efficiency, limiting the use of valuable resources, reducing travel requirements for operations, and lastly creating greater environmental awareness among employees and stakeholders.

Conserving water: Reduce our water footprint and enhance water availability in the communities where we operate. Ambition Maintaining 100% wastewater recycling every year. In 2021, Grameenphone was able to reduce 6% water usage compared to 2020.

Waste management: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (The 3R’s) policy helps to reduce e-waste as well as general waste and conserve natural resources. Grameenphone is prioritising efficient waste management and supporting a circular economy. As of 31st December 2021, more than 91 tons of e-waste (GSM, microwave antennas, and other electronic accessories) has been recycled through our recycling partner. Recycling is completed in Bangladesh and abroad in accordance with ISO 14000, OSHAS 18000, and R2 standards. Also recycling of 100% used lead acid batteries has been set as our internal key performance indicator (KPI). In 2021, Grameenphone has recycled more than 80,000 old lead acid batteries.