One NZ has emission reductions verified against science-based targets
One New Zealand has had its emissions reductions independently verified against science-based climate targets for the first time. The telco this week released its 2026 Sustainability Report, which outlines the. . .
One New Zealand has had its emissions reductions independently verified against science-based climate targets for the first time. The telco this week released its 2026 Sustainability Report, which outlines the progress it is making across its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. According to One NZ, this was the first year its emissions reduction targets were verified by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global body that assesses corporate climate targets against current climate science. “We’re proud to now have independently verified emissions reduction targets to guide our initiatives, which gives us confidence we’re focusing on the actions that matter most,” said One NZ head of sustainability and corporate affairs Nicky Preston. “It reinforces our commitment to reducing emissions across our operations and value chain, while continuing to invest in the resilient networks and services New Zealanders rely on every day. ”As part of One NZ’s validated targets, the company has committed to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2, and scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions by 42 per cent by FY30 from a FY24 baseline year. Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are ways to categorise the source of an organisation’s emissions. Scope 1 emissions are those an organisation emits directly, while scope 2 and 3 are indirect emissions and do not come from sources owned or controlled by the organisation. One NZ reported that by FY26 it had already reduced reported scope 1 and 2 emissions by 82 per cent and reported scope 3 by 13 per cent, against the baseline. However, One NZ is not the first local telco to have its emissions reduction targets independently verified by SBTi. Spark NZ said its science-based emissions reduction target received verification by SBTi in August 2021, while 2degrees said its were verified in 2024. A Spark spokesperson toldReseller News, its target includes a commitment to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 56 per cent by FY30 against a FY20 baseline year, alongside a scope 3 emissions target that 70 per cent of its suppliers, by spend, have science-aligned targets in place by the end of FY26. In itsFY25 Community Impact Report, 2degrees said its science-based targets include reducing scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 90 per cent by FY30 from an FY22 baseline, along with scope 3 emissions by 90 per cent by FY40. Reducing waste, improving circularityMeanwhile, in addition to its progress on emissions, One NZ also focussed on reducing waste and improving circularity across the business. “One of the biggest opportunities we have to reduce the environmental impact of technology is keeping devices in use for longer,” Preston said. “We’ve been encouraged by the popularity of our NZ-first pilot of selling refurbished phones, plus growth in our trade-in programme. We will continue to look at other practical ways to reduce electronic waste. ”More than 26,000 devices went through One NZ’s trade-in programme during FY26, representing a 50 per cent increase on the previous year. The company said it has also improved the management of operational e-waste generated through network upgrades and legacy technology replacement programmes. During the year, more than 90,000 kilograms of operational e-waste was processed, with 99 per cent diverted from landfill. The company has also used AI to optimise its network resulting in improved energy efficiency. As a result, the telco’s energy consumption increased by just 26 per cent year on year despite data traffic growing by more than 28 per cent and network coverage expanding significantly. Another key sustainability achievement for One NZ in FY26 was its first rooftop solar installation at its central Christchurch data centre, which it said helped support its target of sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity by FY30. The company was also the winner of the Medium Company of the Year category at the 2025 Global Sustainability Awards. In terms of its social responsibility efforts, One NZ said it remained focused on supporting rangatahi (young people) through its corporate foundation, Te Rourou. The company said it contributed $2 million to support 55 organisations and 33 individuals working to improve opportunities and outcomes, with a continued focus on Murihiku Southland. A group of 17 also completed Kāwai, One NZ’s leadership development programme focused on supporting Māori and Pasifika employees. “As New Zealand’s telco, we understand the important role we play in supporting communities, enabling economic participation and building resilient infrastructure that helps keep New Zealanders connected,” Preston said. “We’re especially proud to have supported so many charitable initiatives via Te Rourou. ”