How we harness technology to create positive change
Doing good matters. Perhaps at no time in history has it ever been more important, in fact. For business, it’s not just part of our social contract with the communities we serve, it’s a business imperative.
Consumers and communities are increasingly demanding that organizations demonstrate a clear, measurable commitment to creating positive environmental and social change. 84% of consumers[1] say they seek out responsible products whenever possible and are more likely to trust companies that show a clear purpose.
Being able to demonstrate this clear purpose also helps companies attract and retain top talent. 56% of millennials[2] globally, would rule out working for an organization if they do not agree with its values, and 83% say they would take a pay cut for a job that makes a social or environmental impact[3].
Operating sustainably and delivering a positive contribution to society is a strategic business approach which creates long term value, fosters customer loyalty and encourages product innovation.
These imperatives were front and center as we were producing our just published 2018 Liberty Global Corporate Responsibility report. The challenge of producing such reports is bringing to life the work of thousands of people across multiple companies that create ripples across the communities we serve.
The core of our Connected Purpose strategy is how we can harness technology to create positive change. By providing communities with the technology, skills and knowledge to innovate new solutions, we help solve society’s most pressing issues. In 2018 we continued our Digital Imagination Challenge in Germany; an innovation contest for digital solutions that promote inclusion for people with disabilities. These innovative solutions and the winners are detailed in our annual report.
As a company that invests billions in our communities, we made real advancements across our supply chain through our responsible procurement program. We continue to lead in sustainability, improving overall energy efficiency 27 percent last year, almost double our annual target. I’m proud to say that Liberty Global has become the world’s first cable operator to set ambitious science-based targets to reduce Scope 1,2 and 3 carbon emissions. Significant reductions are crucial if we’re to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and we have a responsibility to do our part and more.
We are looking beyond our role as a communications provider to explore the potential of higher value services in our domestic energy management. The SCTE Energy 2020 is our industry platform, a forum where we share challenges and a collective to ensure that we have access to the energy we need, now and in the future, so that we are well positioned as key partners in the smart energy world.
Ultimately, what underpins our Corporate Responsibility efforts is our desire to make the world a better place. For us to demonstrate our role in making that happen we need to be accountable. This is amplified ever more as European consumers tell us they value broadband network quality and coverage more than competitive pricing, and would be more willing to give up sex, holidays, their favorite TV channels and chocolate than their home broadband connection, according to a study by AT Kearney.
We are proud of the work we did in 2018, but we are humbled in knowing that there is so much yet to do. As we look ahead to next year, we’ve set ourselves some specific goals which will have a major impact on our people, partners, communities and environment, when we achieve them. I for one am excited about the future, and I look forward to reporting back with our results and setting new, ambitious ones.
Read our full Corporate Responsibility Report here.
[1] Sustainia 100, 2016
[2] Deloitte Millennial Survey, 2016
[3] Deloitte 2030 Purpose Report, 2017
