en.Wedoany.com Reported - Sustainability in the telecommunications industry is often discussed in terms of abstract goals and long-term planning. However, for UK company Openreach — which is building one of Europe's largest full-fiber networks — this challenge is more concrete and urgent.

"We install millions of these devices every year," said Trevor Linney, Network Technology Director at Openreach, referring to Optical Network Terminals (ONTs). "Therefore, reducing plastic usage or improving energy efficiency can quickly translate into tangible benefits." The ONT equipment, which converts fiber optic signals to Ethernet, has become a key point for sustainability improvements due to its involvement in manufacturing materials, packaging, transportation, and household energy consumption.

Openreach has already provided fiber access to 23 million premises in the UK and is progressing towards a target of 30 million. The scale of deployment means that even minor design adjustments can have a significant impact. Through its "Let’s Reach Zero" program, the company aims to achieve net-zero emissions from its own operations by 2031 and net-zero emissions across its supply chain by 2041. This pressure has been transmitted to the procurement process. Linney noted, "We have examined every stage of the process, from eliminating single-use plastics in packaging to electrifying our vehicle fleet — we already have about 5,000 electric vehicles in operation, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 10,000 tons per year."

Supplier Zyxel is also being driven by this push. Jeff Pitt, Regional Director for Western Europe at Zyxel, stated, "Over the past five to ten years, service providers have incorporated sustainability into their tender requirements. Openreach has helped us increase the recycled material content of our products to 95%." This refers to the ONT plastic casing being made entirely from recycled materials, with the remaining 5% being additives necessary for durability and safety. Zyxel has also redesigned its packaging, eliminating single-use plastics, reducing cardboard usage, and optimizing transportation efficiency. Pitt emphasized, "By removing air from the packaging, we can load more units per pallet, which directly impacts transportation emissions — at this scale, logistics are as important as materials."

Zyxel's sustainability efforts have been integrated into its core operations. In 2025, the company achieved an EcoVadis Platinum rating, placing it within the top 1% of companies assessed globally. It was also listed in the *S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2026*, and its carbon reduction targets were validated by the Science Based Targets initiative. Furthermore, Zyxel received the Joint Alliance for CSR (JAC) Best Practice Award for Supply Chain Risk Governance, which is crucial for operators scrutinizing Scope 3 emissions. Linney concluded, "Sustainability is not just about the product itself; it also encompasses safety, power consumption, and supply chain integrity — these factors together form the whole." By focusing on ONT equipment and supply chain collaboration, Openreach is turning the concept of sustainability into practice within its fiber deployment.

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