.

The Netherlands sustainably connected
Together with Glaspoort, KPN now provides coverage of 63% of Dutch households with fiber. The focus of fiber rollout has shifted in 2024 from installing basic infrastructure in the street to connecting and activating households and businesses. In 2025, KPN will continue with this shift in emphasis on rollout.
Also in the mobile network, great strides have been made again. The network was again voted one of the best in the world. It has also been strengthened by obtaining a frequency package in the 3.5 GHz auction. This makes it possible to enter the next phase of 5G services with more capacity in busy areas, improving the mobile experience for all users of the KPN network.
In 2024, KPN announced a partnership with pension fund ABP in the field of mobile infrastructure. This will place approximately 3,800 mobile transmission masts and roof locations in a new company, called Althio.

Better Internet
2024 was KPN's first full year of the Connect, Activate & Grow strategy, with an emphasis on growth through technological progress and the best digital experience for our customers. KPN took another step forward in its sustainability strategy; from the beginning of 2025, green energy will be purchased from the Kabeljauwbeek solar park for our fixed and mobile networks.

KPN has the ambition to be one of the best employers in the Netherlands. The new collective labor agreement, which was concluded at the beginning of 2024, makes an important contribution to this, for example with a contribution to the repayment of your student debt, a compensation of 40 cents per bicycle kilometer home/work traffic, or a contribution to the sustainability of your home.
By promoting digital and social inclusion, KPN strives to increase mutual cohesion in society. With the KPN Mooiste Contact Fonds, KPN continues its efforts to make contact possible for people for whom this is not self-evident.

General Meeting of Shareholders
On April 16, 2025, KPN will hold its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, where the 2024 annual results will be discussed. The agenda for this meeting will be published shortly.
The Integrated Annual Report 2024 is available online on the interactive website.

 

Work began in February of last year. Since then, some 88,000 solar panels have been installed southwest of the village of Ossendrecht. The farm, lying between the A4 motorway, the Schelde-Rijnkanaal canal and the Belgian border, became operational just before the turn of the year.

Eneco’s first site to feature both a solar farm and a wind farm, Kabeljauwbeek makes optimal use of the available space and the existing connection to the electrical grid. As wind and sun generally do not occur in large amounts at the same time, this set-up makes better use of the electrical connection and creates more moments when Eneco can supply sustainable electricity.

KPN uses the solar farm’s electricity for its fixed and mobile networks, drawing around 47 gigawatt hours of green solar electricity per year. KPN previously signed a contract with Eneco for electricity from the Ecowende wind farm. Once the realisation of Ecowende is complete, starting in 2027 approximately two thirds of KPN’s electricity will come from sustainable assets.

SBTi validated the following emission reduction targets regarding KPN's sustainability ambitions until 2040:

• In 2030, KPN aims to reduce its absolute scope 1 emissions by 84% and in 2033 its absolute scope 3 emissions by 75.6% compared to 2015.
• KPN is committed to continuing to purchase 100% renewable energy annually (scope 2).
• KPN aims to be net-zero for its total emissions by 2040, including the impact of its suppliers and customers (scope 3).

KPN has been working on #BetterInternet for years , an internet that is not only faster and more stable, but above all safer, more social and greener. As a green provider, KPN is committed to sustainability and reducing its impact on the climate. In 2017, KPN was one of the first companies in the Netherlands to join SBTi, an initiative aimed at enabling organizations to make a substantiated contribution to CO₂ reduction. In recent years, KPN has made great strides forward with long-term agreements for the purchase of renewable energy from wind and sun .

View the validation by SBTi.

Eneco started the construction of its largest onshore solar farm in Woensdrecht at the beginning of this year. This solar farm will be built under the five wind turbines of the Kabeljauwbeek wind farm and is expected to be fully operational at the beginning of 2025. KPN will purchase more than 47 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity annually. In 2027, more than 200 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity will be added from the new Ecowende wind farm, which is being built more than 50 km off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden. In addition, solar panels have been installed on 40 KPN technical buildings in recent years. This means that approximately two-thirds of the electricity that KPN will consume from 2027 will come from sustainable sources.

KPN currently has several short-term green energy contracts. This will be further expanded in the coming years with long-term commitments. The ‘pay as nominated’ mechanism applies to both new contracts for Eneco’s supply of green energy to KPN. In other words, KPN’s purchase must match the volume of electricity sustainably generated by the solar farm and wind farm, buying when there is plenty of sunshine and wind to make the most efficient use of the available green power. If it’s very windy, the electricity will be supplied by the wind farm; on days with less wind, the sun will usually be the main source of energy. The summer months have the most sunshine hours while the winter is the windiest time of the year. Day and night follow a similar pattern: the sun shines during the day but the wind is stronger at night. So, by combining these two sources, KPN can ensure that the amount of generated power equals the amount of consumed power as closely as possible. It means that other sources of energy will be less needed and less often to temporarily meet the demand for energy. This move means that KPN can help make the Netherlands’ electricity production more sustainable.

Joost Farwerck, CEO KPN: “We at KPN have been committed to a better internet for years. This is not only faster and more stable, but also more social, safer and greener. That is why we are making the transition to sustainable energy sources. From next year, a large part of our power needs will come from the new Kabeljauwbeek solar park. Two years later we will add electricity from the Ecowende wind farm that is now being built. In three years' time, almost all our customers will be using the internet via a sustainable and efficient network that we feed with the right power at the right time, via energy from the sun and wind.”

KPN's fixed and mobile networks have been running on green energy since 2011 and KPN's own operations have been climate neutral since 2015. KPN has also taken significant steps to reduce energy in recent years. For example, KPN's absolute energy consumption has fallen by 42% since 2010, while data consumption increased approximately 28x in the same period. KPN wants to save at least an additional 10% until 2030. At the same time, KPN has formulated circular ambitions and set the goal of reducing emissions across the entire value chain to net zero by 2040.

The herb roof features dead wood and little mounds, while the walls have plants climbing up them that produce flowers and berries and are hung with insect hotels created from tree trunks with holes in them. These additions make this structure in Leiden the Netherlands’ first nature-inclusive fiber exchange. Its aim is to create space for local biodiversity and green the living environment. The new exchange was officially unveiled yesterday and can now be admired by one and all.

Starting point
Development of the new-look structure started a number of months ago with the following question: 'What does a nature-inclusive structure look like?'. KPN - the company asking the question - wanted to know how it could use its infrastructure locations to contribute to improved biodiversity. It approached a research team from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center for help. One of the researchers, Fleur van Duin, refers to the current nature-inclusive structure as the starting point for increased biodiversity: “You can still see a lot of empty holes on and around the structure; they’ve been left empty deliberately to give current plants and future seedlings space to grow”, she explains. “It will be a green oasis in the future.”

The hope is that this nature-inclusive approach to construction will inspire companies, individuals and municipalities. Van Duin: “The various elements can be used in similar constructions, like transformer houses, bus shelters and garden sheds, as well. To promote biodiversity, we need to look for ways to make a large-scale impact. A nature-inclusive approach to building is a great place to start.”

KPN Sustainability Manager Brechtje Spoorenberg agrees. “KPN is a sustainability frontrunner where circularity and reducing energy use and CO₂ emissions are concerned. Biodiversity is an important factor in all the above and will only be successful if utilized widely in society. We are pleased that this fiber exchange and others are now gaining an extra, sustainable function.”

Biodiversity, water storage and cooling
The green elements of the exchange aren’t just an attractive addition for local residents. They also benefit local water management and have a cooling effect on their surroundings. Spoorenberg: “We can use this structure to test and assess the effects that its new, extra function has on biodiversity, temperature, noise and power consumption. We will then incorporate the results into our plans to add at least 10 more exchanges in the years ahead and, by doing this, green the living environment in other places in the Netherlands too.”

Knowledge Naturally!
KPN gained an answer to its question via Knowledge Naturally!, a Naturalis project that has been made possible with the collaboration of ASN Bank and a.s.r. Both of the above want to work with Naturalis to play an important role in making society more sustainable. The project aims to make residential, working and living environments healthy, nature-inclusive and climate-proof. The research necessary to achieve this aim has the financial support of ASN Bank, which is making 2% of insurance premiums available for this purpose. Click here to see the final product.

Watch the video for an idea of what the unveiling was like. 

KPN wants to contribute considerably to the reduction of CO₂ emissions and has set itself the target of achieving 0% emissions across the entire chain, including business travel, by 2040. KPN has therefore joined the Anders Reizen coalition, a network of more than 70 large employers who are committed to radically improving the sustainability of their mobility. Carlo Steenvoorden, responsible for mobility at KPN: “For us, sustainability means seeking to minimize our impact on the environment while at the same time making a positive contribution to solving social issues. Mobility is one of those issues. But how can we encourage people to choose cycling and public transport? This requires a change in behavior. We believe this can be achieved by encouraging and rewarding sustainable transport choices: the better it is for the environment, the better it is for your wallet.”

Unique scheme
For this reason, every KPN employee now has the opportunity to ride a bike at a low cost, thanks to the new leasing plan. KPN pays €0.40 net for every kilometer cycled. The reimbursement also applies if the employee uses their own bike and for kilometers cycled to a railway station. Steenvoorden continues: “The Netherlands is one of the leading countries in the world for cycling, so the bike should be the preferred way for Dutch people to get to work every day, alongside public transport. With a bike scheme like this, combined with a public transport card and the fact that our offices are located near public transport hubs, I’m convinced that more and more KPN employees will choose to travel sustainably. It would be amazing if KPN employees cycled an average of 30 kilometers a week!” 

Freedom of choice
The cycling kilometer allowance and the bike leasing plan are part of KPN's revised mobility scheme, which comes into effect on 1 August. KPN encourages sustainable modes of transport, but offers maximum freedom of choice and a wide range of transport options for all employees, even when it is not possible to travel by bike. For example, the company has an attractive scheme for leasing an electric car for private use, car-pooling vehicles and departmental cars are available, and employees who commute in their own car are reimbursed €0.23 net per kilometer.

Green ambitions are seen and appreciated by a growing group of consumers and Brechtje Spoorenberg, KPN’s Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility sees it too: “Sustainability is increasingly playing a role when choosing a telecom provider. Meanwhile, more than half of our customers indicate that this is part of the selection process.”

For KPN, sustainability means seeking to minimize its impact as a company on its environment while at the same time making a positive contribution, helping the Netherlands to make progress in solving social issues.

“In recent years, for example, we have made modems, super-WiFi points and TV products more sustainable. Made in black recycled plastic, they are more environmentally friendly to produce and better to recycle. And we have increased the possibility to hand in used phones for reuse.”

Already climate neutral since 2015, KPN’s operations are also making strides by reducing energy consumption. “Our total energy consumption has fallen by 45 per cent since 2010 while data use increased about 24 times over the same period,” Spoorenberg says. “In the coming years, we want to save at least another 10 per cent and have planned some big moments on our way to becoming a circular company and achieving a fossil-free supply chain.”

Catalyst for more sustainability in the Netherlands

At the same time, KPN’s networks, products and services are also an important catalyst for making the Netherlands more sustainable. For example, fiber and 5G-connectivity make it possible to work from home and conduct business online, resulting in fewer kilometers being driven, and thanks to far-reaching digitalization, companies can further reduce their ecological footprint.”

Sustainable Brand Index
The Sustainable Brand Index is the biggest and most authoritative survey in Europe in the field of sustainability and consumer brands. It conducts an annual survey of more than 12,000 consumers in the Netherlands about their perception of the sustainability of 210 well-known brands operating in 22 different industry segments in the Netherlands.

As of 2027 KPN will purchase more than 200 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity on an annual basis from the new wind farm, which will be located more than 50 km off the Dutch coast near IJmuiden. The unique thing about this contract is that Eneco supplies the green electricity to KPN 'as nominated'. This means that KPN actually purchases the green electricity production from the wind farm when the wind blows. When there is no wind, other solutions can be used, such as storage or solar energy. KPN has opted for this contract because it considers it important that the electricity it uses is actually produced sustainably at that time.

Joost Farwerck, CEO KPN: “The world around us is changing rapidly, we are in the middle of the energy transition to a fossil-free future. This also means that we have to make long-term commitments to using sustainable sources for our energy. We are pleased that with this agreement we are continuing to build on our sustainability strategy in which we move towards the right energy at the right time. In the coming years, we have planned a number of major moments on the way to a circular and fossil-free company. 2027 will be a very important year in this respect, when almost all our customers will be using internet via our sustainable and efficient fiber network. This collaboration, with which we feed the network with energy from wind, fits in perfectly.”

As Tempelman, CEO Eneco: “We are proud of this new chapter in many years of cooperation with KPN. With the supply of green electricity from Hollandse Kust (west) VI, we help KPN to realize its climate ambitions. At the same time, KPN enables us to invest in offshore wind farms. By working together in this way, we are strong in accelerating the energy transition and we are working towards a climate-neutral future.”

KPN's fixed and mobile networks have been running on green electricity since 2011 and KPN has been climate neutral since 2015. In recent years, KPN has also taken significant steps to reduce energy consumption. For example, KPN's absolute energy consumption fell by 45% since 2010, while data consumption increased approximately 24x in the same period. Until 2030, KPN wants to save at least another 10%. At the same time, KPN has formulated circular ambitions and set a target to reduce emissions throughout the value chain to net zero by 2040.

Image: Copyright Shell

CDP puts KPN in the highest position in 2022; the A-list demonstrating international recognition for corporate transparency leadership and climate change performance. CDP regularly raises the bar for environmental leadership, and the criteria were further tightened this year as well.

The outcomes of the CDP report are based, among other things, on energy consumption and reduction targets. For example, it measures how organizations combat CO₂ emissions and climate change and what opportunities they see for developing products and services for customers.

In recent years, KPN has taken major steps towards reducing energy. For example, KPN's absolute energy consumption fell by 45% since 2010, while data consumption increased approximately 24 times in the same period. In the coming years, KPN wants to save at least another 10%.

KPN launched the CDP Supplier Engagement Program last year to further reduce emissions throughout the value chain (scope 3). Several initiatives have been taken that contribute to the goal of being almost completely circular by 2025. For example, last year the SuperWifi points became more sustainable, made of black recycled plastic, they are more environmentally friendly to produce and easier to recycle. KPN also introduced the ecosim and the possibility of returning a used telephone for reuse was expanded.

KPN has also linked financial instruments to its climate ambitions. With the issue of two sustainable bonds and a sustainable revolving credit facility, KPN is committed to combating climate change. In addition, KPN has formulated circular ambitions and set a goal to reduce emissions throughout the value chain to net zero by 2040. KPN is also taking initiatives in the area of improving biodiversity by promoting nature-inclusive infrastructure.

About CDP
CDP has been bringing together investors, companies and cities for many years and allowing them to report transparently on climate change. This involves both reducing the negative impact of energy consumption and developing products and services to make the chain more sustainable together with customers and partners. By 2022, nearly 20,000 companies will have disclosed environmental impact data to more than 680 investors through the CDP platform. A small part of these, including KPN, is on the Climate Change A-List of the CDP this year.

Read more about KPN's sustainability policy here.

Many organizations put sustainability, biodiversity and climate high on their list of priorities. As does KPN, which is currently rolling out fiber across the Netherlands. To find out how KPN can contribute to improving biodiversity, we asked the Naturalis Biodiversity Center for help with, for example, our fiber neighborhood exchange.

Consequently, KennisNatuurlijk! from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center developed a user-friendly yardstick that provides clear guidance on how to construct such an object in a nature-inclusive way. KPN will use this yardstick to achieve its first fully nature-inclusive fiber exchange next year, in Leiden.

The Yardstick for nature-inclusive construction of a fiber neighborhood exchange

Incidentally, the yardstick that’s been developed is more widely applicable, so not only for fiber exchanges and transformer houses. Any garage or shed in the back garden can also be converted into a green oasis on the basis of these guidelines. The KennisNatuurlijk! Team hopes that it will also inspire others to look at buildings through green-tinted glasses. 

Groene Netten
KPN is part of Groene Netten, a partnership between eight major infrastructure managers in the Netherlands: Alliander, Enexis, Gasunie, KPN, ProRail, Rijkswaterstaat, Stedin and TenneT. They are jointly developing a National Ecological Infrastructure on much of the nearly 1,000 sq. km. of land managed by these parties. That acreage will serve as the basis for the Biodiversity Opportunities Map. The main aim is to maximize the area’s potential for enhancing both urban and rural biodiversity. The Vlinderstichting [Butterfly Foundation] and Naturalis are also helping to shape this plan.

Rotterdam, 10 November 2022 - In times when energy prices are rising sharply, saving on energy is more important than ever. Especially for a company like KPN where sustainability is an integral part of the strategy. That is why we are fully committed to accelerate further reductions in energy consumption. A company-wide action plan must ensure that energy consumption in the entire chain is reduced in the short term.

Several energy-efficient measures have been taken already. Such as energy-saving adjustments to the fixed and mobile networks and smart solutions for cooling and heating of technical buildings, shops and offices. KPN will also start generating sustainable energy on the roofs of approximately 150 of its own technical buildings over the next two years.

“In recent years, we have made significant progress in the field of sustainability. Since 2010, we have already saved 45% of absolute energy consumption, and we want to save an additional 10% on energy until 2030. At the same time, we expect data usage to continue to rise, about 27x more in the current decade. We therefore also want to further reduce the relative energy consumption per gigabyte sent over our network,” says Chris Figee, CFO at KPN. “We are also feeling the impact of the increased energy prices, and next year we expect an extra 50 to 60 million euros in energy costs. That’s why it relevant to speed up the process of smartly reducing our energy consumption, optimizing our energy efficiency and generating green electricity. So we can work towards the right energy at the right time in the short term, thereby avoiding as much as possible the use of gas or electricity in the energy grid.”

Fixed and mobile networks and IT 
Since 2011, KPN has been using 100% green electricity and from 2015 its operations are completely climate neutral. Most of the energy is used for the networks and digital infrastructure. KPN is therefore adding more and more smart and energy-saving software features to the fixed network. In addition, each new generation is more energy efficient than the previous one. The switch from copper to fiber optic provides significant savings, especially when the copper network is switched off at 2.2 million addresses where fiber is already installed .

In the mobile network KPN is also focusing on further savings. The total energy consumption remains more or less the same, despite the continuous increase in data traffic. Thanks to the network modernization, the total capacity increases by 7.5 times, while the amount of energy per GB decreases by 86%. KPN has also activated a dynamic energy-saving mode on mobile masts when few people use the network at night. When the demand for data increases, the network switches back automatically.

KPN will also accelerate its rationalization in the IT infrastructure. This means that a number of smaller data centers can be shut down earlier than expected. A number of processes are also virtualized in small steps, which saves hardware and power.

Office buildings, shops, technical buildings & power stations 
KPN is also looking at how it can use the square meters of office space more efficiently. Since covid-19, the various office buildings have definitely been used less. As a result, the occupancy rate is also considerably lower and KPN is looking how office space can be arranged more efficiently and optimally in the future. Partly for this reason, the office workplaces in the The Hague region will be concentrated at one location from the beginning of next year; Zoetermeer. As a result, KPN can significantly reduce the energy bill at the Maanplein location. Even in case of a possible new tenant.

KPN is also taking a number of measures in various shops; for example an experiment to close shop doors as much as possible during opening hours, so as little energy as possible is lost. KPN has many technical buildings and network exchanges throughout the country. The energy consumption of these buildings is continuously monitored. For example, a number of buildings have been furnished in a more optimal way, so less heating or cooling is required. The settings of heating and cooling installations have also been adjusted, cooling corridors have been installed and gas consumption has been reduced. Several heating boilers have also been removed at hundreds of locations. And experiments with heat pumps are underway at a number of locations.

Renewable energy generation 
KPN will start installing solar panels on technical buildings and power stations. Over the next two years, the roofs of 150 locations will be equipped with solar panels. These rooftop locations are technically suitable and also conveniently located, so in the coming years solar energy will have a greater share in KPN's total energy mix.

Visual - KPN is fully committed to accelerated energy savings

For this scheme, KPN is working with Recommerce to ensure that the device you hand in is either given a second life, or is sustainably recycled. Recommerce focuses entirely on the reconditioning and recycling of mobile phones and other equipment that are handed in, and which deserve a second life. Customers can hand in their old devices via www.kpn.com/telefooninruilen. Here they will be offered a valuation and all the steps required to complete the transaction can be followed.

KPN, recognized as the most sustainable telecom brand, has launched this campaign to encourage customers to give their used phones a sustainable future. The telecom provider has set itself the goal of becoming almost entirely circular by 2025. To this end, KPN was the first Dutch provider to introduce the ecosim made from used fridges, and changed the color of the recognized SuperWifi charging points because they are made of recycled plastic. The KPN tv receivers are also recognized as being more energy efficient than the receivers of other suppliers.

“The fact that we are ranked first by consumers for the third time indicates that KPN's green ambitions are recognized and appreciated,” says Brechtje Spoorenberg, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPN. “More than half of our customers say that sustainability plays a role in their choice of telecom provider. Thanks to digitalization across the network of the Netherlands, we as a society are succeeding in achieving significant energy savings.”

Digitalization and sustainability
Thanks to KPN’s products and services, customers achieved an energy saving in the past year (2021) that was more than three times greater than the energy KPN needed to keep the network of the Netherlands running.

Thanks in part to online remote working, fewer kilometers were driven and digitalization allowed customers to reduce their ecological footprint by avoiding emitting 518,000 tons of CO₂e and 2,000 tons of particulate matter. All in all, this means that using KPNs services and products resulted in a collective cost saving of 375 million euros.

Traditionally, the telecom sector is among the biggest electricity consumers in the Netherlands. During 2021, KPN once again succeeded in making the network of the Netherlands more sustainable, as confirmed in its recently published annual report. In more than ten years, KPN’s energy consumption decreased by 45%, while over the same period the volume of data increased almost 21-fold.

Sustainable Brand
KPN recently increased its sustainability ambition and is aiming to achieve net zero emissions in the chain by 2040. For instance, the network of the Netherlands has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025. Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy.

“For us, sustainability means minimizing the impact on our environment while making a positive contribution by helping the Netherlands to solve societal issues,” says Brechtje Spoorenberg. “Just look at our efforts in the field of security to make the Netherlands safer, our commitment to health care and all the innovations to increase the quality of life in the cities.”

The Sustainable Brand Index is the biggest and most authoritative survey in Europe in the field of sustainability and consumer brands. In the Netherlands, it conducts an annual survey among more than 11,000 consumers about their perception of the sustainability of 202 brands that are well known in the Netherlands.

Less plastic and circular
“To achieve our circular target, we are subjecting everything in the chain to research, to see where we can make it more sustainable”, says Jean-Pascal Van Overbeke, KPN’s Chief of Consumer Market and member of the Board of Management. Practice shows that the production of white recycled plastic and the associated finishing layer causes a greater burden on the environment than the making of black plastic. With the renewal of the SuperWiFi points, the choice was swiftly made. The new SuperWiFi points are 33 per cent smaller than the previous ones. What’s more, the material can also be reprocessed for new purposes after. This way, KPN is not only reducing the mountain of plastic, but is also going further, by making packaging materials plastic-free. “This means that we are also meeting a legitimate wish of many customers in terms of sustainability. We see that more than of half of customers indicate that sustainability plays a role in their choice of their telecom provider.” A nice side-effect is that many customers indicate that they also like the look of the ‘black’ SuperWiFi points.

Future ready
The black SuperWiFi points use the latest generation of wireless internet: WiFi 6. What 5G is to mobile internet, WiFi 6 is to fixed internet. This makes faster internet possible for multiple devices at the same time. In addition to telephones and laptops, more and more devices at home are connected to the internet. Just think of security equipment or a smart thermostat. Thanks to WiFi 6 at the renewed SuperWiFi point, customers are experiencing an even faster, more stable, and more interference-free WiFi signal. KPN’s fiber customers are even better able to supply their home devices with the best symmetrical speeds, thanks to WiFi 6. In addition to WiFi 6, an extra ethernet port has been added (2 ports in total) to make it easier to directly connect important devices at home.

From today, customers who order the new SuperWiFi points via the WiFi Manager app, online, via customer service, or in KPN shops will receive the renewed black variant.

No more new plastic stock 
KPN’s current stock of SIM cards is currently only being supplemented with the new ecosim made from old refrigerators. It is expected that the first customers will receive a recycled SIM card in the next few weeks. 

 

“We ask our product suppliers to provide specific product data, such as a statement of materials used and features of the product design. Based on this data, Circular IQ and KPMG analyze the degree of circularity of a product, its carbon footprint, and make recommendations for further improvement,” explains Edwin Rutten, KPN’s circular economy consultant. “We discuss the analysis and recommendations with our suppliers and challenge them to explore and implement the recommendations. With each report, we gain a better understanding of the circularity of our operations and encourage innovation among our suppliers.”

Fairphone is the first mobile phone supplier that has partnered with KPN to produce a Product Circularity Report. To share some of the insights from the project, we created a joint publication and a podcast. Rutten: “Transparency is an important prerequisite in thinking about circularity. Although this is not yet a matter of course for every supplier, I'm pleased that more and more producers are willing to provide insight into their products and materials. This is how we’re greening the Netherlands together.”

Having recently signed a credit facility which included sustainability targets, KPN further expands its sustainable financing sources through the issuance of this Sustainability-Linked Bond. KPN links the coupon of the bond to the performance against its commitment to reduce absolute value chain CO₂ emissions (Scope 3) by 30% by the end of 2030 against a 2014 baseline.

Chris Figee, Chief Financial Officer of KPN: “KPN is recognized as an ESG front runner. We have been climate neutral for our own operations since 2015, use 100% green electricity and have been able to significantly reduce our energy consumption despite high growth in data communication. Through this bond we underline our commitment to a sustainable future and climate change mitigation by integrating our target to reduce carbon emissions across the entire value chain into a core financing instrument. This commitment is in line with our ambition to achieve “net zero” emissions across the value chain by 2040.”

The bond has a coupon rate of 0.875% per annum. The sustainability-linked feature could result in an increase in the interest rate of 0.375% p.a. for the period from 15 November 2031 until the maturity date, if KPN does not achieve the targeted Scope 3 emissions reduction on 31 December 2030. If KPN meets the target, the interest rate of the bond will remain unchanged.

The bond was issued in accordance with KPN’s Sustainability-Linked Finance Framework (the “Framework”) and aligns with the ICMA Sustainability-Linked Bond Principles. Sustainalytics, a leading ESG research agency, has reviewed KPN’s Framework and considers Scope 3 emissions highly material and relevant (strongest assessment for KPIs). The associated science-based target, taking into account a 1.5^oC climate scenario and KPN’s historical performance to reduce CO₂ emissions, has been reviewed by Sustainalytics as “highly ambitious” (strongest assessment for targets). The documentation related to this bond issue is available on KPN’s website.

The bond issue was very well received by Socially Responsible Investors (SRI), allowing KPN to diversify its investor base and further optimize its funding structure. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing of existing debt.

The bond will be listed on the regulated market of Euronext Dublin and has been placed with the assistance of Barclays, BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank, ING and SMBC Nikko acting as Joint Lead Managers. ING acted as ESG Structuring Advisor.

Disclaimer
This communication is not for release, distribution or publication, whether directly or indirectly and whether in whole or in part, into or in the United States, or any (other) jurisdiction where to do so would constitute a violation of the relevant laws of such jurisdiction.

The offer of bonds referred to in this communication was limited in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom to qualified investors only. The bonds have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the US Securities Act) and will also not be registered with any authority competent with respect to securities in any state or other jurisdiction of the United States of America. The bonds may not be offered or sold in the United States of America without either registration of the securities or an exemption from registration under the US Securities Act being applicable.

The credit facility interest rate is linked to KPN’s performance in relation to three strategic sustainability targets: speeding up the digitization of the Netherlands by rolling out fiber optics, reducing KPN’s energy consumption, and decreasing CO2 emissions throughout the chain (Scope 3 emissions).

“This is an important financing agreement for KPN that provides financial flexibility and ensures that we retain our solid liquidity position,” says KPN CFO Chris Figee. “Linking our sustainability performance to our financing structure underscores our commitment and is in keeping with the status of KPN as one of the world’s most sustainable telecom companies.” The new facility has a maturity of five years with two one-year extension options. The credit facility replaces the current facility, which dates from 2016, and will be used mainly as a liquidity reserve.

Digitization the driving force behind energy saving
Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy. For instance, the company has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025. This means that KPN will focus even more on reducing the emissions of suppliers and customers when using their products and services. KPN CFO Chris Figee: “Thanks to digitization across the network of the Netherlands, we as a society are succeeding in achieving significant energy savings. Thanks to digital processes, in 2020 KPN saved its customers a total of three times the energy needed to run the KPN network. KPN takes its responsibility as a sustainable and ‘virtuous’ company seriously. With our technology and services we explore the potential to help other companies and sectors – including agriculture, mobility and healthcare – make their activities more sustainable. We want to use our digital services to contribute towards reducing emissions and creating a better living environment.”

The telecom sector is known as one of the biggest energy consumers. Nevertheless, KPN manages year in, year out to make the network of the Netherlands even more sustainable. In the last ten years, our energy consumption decreased by 37%, while over the same period the volume of data traffic increased almost 21-fold.

For many years, KPN has had a leading position in the field of sustainability, which is an integral part of its strategy. Since 2011, KPN has run its business exclusively on green power and has been climate-neutral since 2015. And the ultimate goal is even more far-reaching: KPN aspires to run a virtually circular operation in 2025 and aims to have zero net CO2 emissions in its chain in 2040. This relates to, for example, improving the energy settings of TV receivers, more sustainable transport of products and equipment by our suppliers, and using less material in the production of equipment for our customers.

The purpose of the EGDC is to speed up the sustainability targets through digitization. For example, by using ICT solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a variety of sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture and construction. This will speed up the sustainability and circular transitions of these sectors. Other ambitions are the efficient use of energy and materials, making the net impact of digital technology measurable and putting forward recommendations for the digital transformation of these sectors.

The EGDC members will work closely with the European Commission and will make regular progress reports. The first results will be presented in 2022.

Participation in the EGDC fits in with KPN’s sustainability targets, which have recently been scaled up. KPN is aiming to achieve net zero emissions in the chain by 2040. This means a further reduction in the emissions by suppliers and customers using KPN’s products and services. Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy. For instance, the company has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025.

Click here for more information.

Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy. For instance, the company has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025. KPN was already on track to reduce emissions in the chain by 50% by 2040. This ambition has now been scaled up to zero net emissions in the chain by 2040. This relates to, for example, improving the energy settings of TV receivers, more sustainable transport of products and equipment by our suppliers, and using less material in the production of equipment for our customers.

“The fact that KPN is ranked first among consumers in the telecom sector indicates that KPN's green ambitions are recognized and appreciated,” says Brechtje Spoorenberg, Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility at KPN. “Thanks to digitization across the network of the Netherlands, we as a society are succeeding in achieving significant energy savings.”

Energy savings through digitization
For example, last year because of COVID-19 large numbers of people in the Netherlands started working from home and children sometimes took part in online classes. We traveled considerably less, thereby reducing emissions from road transport considerably. In comparison with the energy needed to run KPN's network, working digitally by phone and internet saved more than three times as much energy (7.5 petajoules). Customers saved 277 million liters of fuel and avoided 3.7 billion kilometers of travel. This takes account of the higher energy consumption at home.

Traditionally, the telecom sector is among the biggest energy consumers in the Netherlands. During 2020, KPN once again succeeded in making the network of the Netherlands more sustainable, according to the recently published annual report. In the last ten years, our energy consumption decreased by 37%, while over the same period the amount of data increased almost 21-fold.

Sustainable Brand
Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy. For instance, KPN has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025. These sustainable ambitions go beyond just minimizing the energy used.

“For us, sustainability means minimizing the impact on our environment while making a positive contribution by helping the Netherlands to solve societal issues,” says Brechtje Spoorenberg. “Just look at our efforts in the field of security to make the Netherlands safer, our commitment to health care and all the innovations to increase the quality of life in the cities. With our energy-efficient services, we help our customers to be more sustainable themselves.”

The Sustainable Brand Index is the largest brand study in Europe in the field of sustainability and consumer brands. In the Netherlands, it conducts an annual survey among more than 9,000 consumers about their perception of the sustainability of 196 brands that are well known in the Netherlands. Brands are selected impartially on the basis of market share, sales and overall brand recognition.

Joost Farwerck, KPN CEO: “In 2020, large numbers of people in the Netherlands have been working from home. The reduction in the number of kilometers driven has resulted in a fall in CO₂ emissions. Never before have we seen so clearly the positive effect of digitization on sustainability. We at KPN continue making progress in making our company and our products and services even more sustainable. And we are not letting up. Companies have a key role to play in making the society more sustainable. At KPN we are raising the bar ever higher: we aim to become a virtually circular company in 2025. Only in conjunction with our customers and suppliers can we take on the challenge of combating climate change.”

TV receivers, dike monitoring, smart meters and extra energy storage
The results of the CDP report are based on elements such as energy consumption and reduction targets. Measurements are being made of how organizations are combating CO₂ emissions and climate change and what opportunities they see for developing products and services to help customers in that respect. KPN has introduced a new TV receiver with a recycled plastic casing and a power save mode. 5G and IoT innovations are being used to monitor dikes alongside rivers, to reduce the need for agricultural pesticides and to measure the air quality in schools.

KPN’s target is to use renewable energy as efficiently as possible. One notable example is the pilot scheme involving a back-up battery in a local switch in Amersfoort so the use of green power is being optimized and is also available at times when there is no wind and sun to generate energy.

About CDP
For the past 20 years CDP has been bringing investors, companies and cities together and getting them to report on climate change in a transparent manner. This relates both to reducing the negative impact of energy consumption and – in conjunction with customers and partners – to developing products and services to make the chain more sustainable.

In 2020 more than 9,600 companies issued data on environmental effects to 515 investors via the CDP platform. This year 3% (270) of these companies, including KPN, are on the CDP Climate Change A List. As well as KPN, seven international telecom companies and seven other Dutch companies on the A list. KPN has been highly placed in CDP report for the last ten years, achieving A status in seven of them. Recently KPN was proclaimed one of the world’s most sustainable telecom companies in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

Read more about KPN's sustainability policy here.

Joost Farwerck, CEO of KPN: “It is great to receive once again international recognition for our sustainability efforts with this high DJSI ranking. Also in the future, we want to contribute to the necessary sustainability of our society. That is why we focus on the best, safest and sustainable infrastructure, in which everyone can participate. And we help customers by reducing energy in the value chain and accelerating circularity. In this way growth actually brings progress. This is also KPN with the Network of the Netherlands. ”

More than recognition
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) shows how the 2500 largest listed companies in the world perform in terms of sustainability. The ranking is based on economic, social and environmental performance and investors are increasingly assigning value to this. KPN customers also increasingly include the sustainability factor in their consideration. The 10% best-scoring telecom companies are included in the DJSI World Index every year. Since 2016, KPN has been listed as the only telecom company in the world continuously in the top 5 and in 2017 KPN was named the most sustainable telecom company in the world.

Continuously sustainable
Due to the increasing focus on sustainability worldwide and the improvements that all industries are showing, the criteria in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index are tightened every year. For KPN, the DJSI is an important indicator of its sustainability objectives and performance. The feedback from last year was used to do even better. This has led to more transparency in the areas of network stability, privacy, tax and human rights.

Towards a circular company
KPN wants to be near to circular from 2025, this is why KPN is providing the design of more and more products with a circular design. In 2020, for example, KPN introduced a new modem with a housing made of recycled plastic. There are also experiments with circular back-up batteries in the network. And currently KPN is conducting a pilot with fiber cables that not only have a smaller diameter, but also use 90% recycled plastic. The dimensions of packaging have been reduced to save on material. In addition, by 2040 KPN wants to reduce CO₂ emissions by half compared to 2010 throughout the entire chain. KPN has been operating in a climate-neutral manner since 2015 and helps its customers to reduce CO₂ emissions by providing smart services in areas such as security, smart cities or e-health.

Click here for the DJSI overview that Dow Jones published Friday, November 13. Read more about KPN's sustainability policy.

In May, KPN, together with partners Allinq, ICT Group, and Eneco began research into how the hundreds of back-up batteries that the telecom company uses in local exchanges can contribute to the energy transition that the Netherlands is going through. These batteries were originally intended to deal with power cuts in local exchanges, but because power outages rarely occur, in reality they are almost never used.

Less gray energy
Almost all of the back-up batteries will need to be replaced in the next five to ten years. For KPN, this is a good moment to investigate whether the new batteries can be used to store green energy surpluses. At moments when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing energy, suppliers fall back on gray energy, which is not sustainable. “In the second part of the trial, we want to be able to control the battery in such a way that it charges when there is a surplus of green energy and discharges when there is a shortage, so that we always use the green energy that is generated”, says Silvana Lefel, energy innovations advisor at KPN.

Sustainability is an integral part of KPN’s strategy. For example, KPN has been using green energy exclusively on an annual basis since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015, and aims to be virtually circular by 2025. With the green back-up battery, KPN wants to contribute to the acceleration of the green energy transition in the Netherlands.

Green score
Although the battery in Amersfoort is already showing promising results after three months, KPN continues to investigate how energy storage can be optimized. Partner Eneco has developed a monitor for this that displays a so-called ‘green score’. “This shows, per hour, what percentage of the energy used in the local exchange is generated green”, says Lefel.

When no green energy is available, the so-called market mix is purchased: the type of energy that is available on the market at that moment. In order to be able to use green energy at such times in the long-term, ICT Group is developing a special algorithm for KPN. “Based on sun- and wind forecasts, the battery then charges when there is a surplus and this green energy is used at a time when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining,” explains Lefel.

The new batteries must offer a reliable and sustainable solution for the challenges associated with the current energy transition going on in the Netherlands. KPN has hundreds of back-up batteries distributed throughout the country. When the trial is scaled-up, a real impact can be made and the transition to green energy can be accelerated.

About the study
The study will take six months and is being carried out using a Nilar branded lithium ion battery with a capacity of 230 kWh. The battery has been installed at a single location in Amersfoort. The test will determine whether flexible storage and feed-in can usefully be applied at KPN. If the results are positive, studies will be carried out in the future on whether the neighborhood around the telephone exchange can benefit from them. This research is in collaboration with partners: Allinq, Indutecc Renewable Solutions, ICT Group, Dexter, Eneco, Nilar and Ferroamp.

Laying the cable is more sustainable because of the innovative 4.5 mm cable in a 10 mm sleeve instead of the conventional 6 mm cable in a 14 mm sleeve. This reduces the volume of plastic used by around 50%. The cable and sleeve are thinner too, so a reel can accommodate more, thereby reducing the number of wooden reels required by 70%. This means that roughly six fewer trucks are needed to deliver the materials for the selected 11,000 connections. The total saving for each connection equates to 760 plastic carrier bags.

“KPN has been championing sustainability for many years and we and our partners are studying how we can lay fiber-optic cables more quickly, more sustainably and with less disruption,” says Joost Steltenpool, who is responsible for the KPN fiber optic network. “Our aim is not only to provide top-speed internet to as many people as possible but also to do so as sustainably as possible. That’s what our customers want as well. This new development is yet another contribution towards it.”

“Using smaller, more flexible cables and sleeves puts less of a strain on the generally full cable routes,” says Erik van den Oever, who is in charge of the commercial development of the concept at Prysmian Group. “They are also easier to install and spare sleeves can be reused.”

This innovation has been developed and is being tested in collaboration with KPN partners Allinq, Van Gelder Telecom, Prysmian Group and VolkerWessels Telecom. The pilots are to take place in Buitenpost (Friesland) and Nijmegen Dukenburg. If the results are positive, the innovation will be released for more KPN fiber-optic cable projects.

Fiber rollout target

KPN’s target is to equip more than 40% of Dutch households with fiber optics by the end of 2021. Currently, around 2.6 million households (32%) are connected to the KPN fiber-optic network. KPN is doing this through the large-scale installation of fiber-optic networks and, where possible, cooperating with parties who also want to participate in that installation.

Fiber optics delivers the best quality network. It is the most stable technology because it makes use of light signals rather than power signals. As a result, the signal loses barely, if any speed. Fiber optics also uses energy more efficiently.

Data growth will continue to grow enormously in the coming years, not only due to the ever more intensive internet use and the increasing number of devices, but also due to gaming, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. These developments are made possible with fiber optics.

KPN is one of the world’s greenest companies and is always on the lookout for ways of realizing its far-reaching environmental goals.

“In our search for increasingly renewable energy we have investigated the possibilities of storage for our network,” says Paul Slot, responsible for KPN’s infrastructure. “Up to now we have become accustomed to using batteries as a back-up source of emergency power. Never before have solutions for the use of flexible capacity in a telecom environment been sought. This has enabled us to fulfill our wish to play a role in the sustainable energy transition.”

The Netherlands is undergoing an energy transition. On days when the sun is shining brightly or when there is a strong wind, more green energy is produced than consumed. The back-up batteries in KPN’s telephone exchanges can store some of that energy and that green energy can then be used when the sun is not shining or when there is no wind. In this way KPN wants to contribute towards speeding up the energy transition in the Netherlands.

KPN has batteries in telephone exchanges across the country for use in the event of a power cut, but power failures occur very rarely in the Netherlands. This means that those batteries are not used very often. By using the batteries locally to store surplus solar and wind energy KPN ensures that green power can be deployed more frequently, thereby substantially reducing the use of gray power in emergencies.

About the study
The study will take six months and is being carried out using a lithium ion battery of the brand Nilar with a capacity of 230 kWh. The battery has been installed at a single location in Amersfoort. The test will determine whether flexible storage and feed-in can usefully be applied at KPN. If the results are positive, studies will be carried out in the future on whether the neighborhood around the telephone exchange could benefit from them. This study is being carried out in partnership with Allinq, Indutecc Renewable Solutions, ICT Group, Dexter, Eneco, Nilar and Ferroamp.

Sustainability has been an integral part of KPN’s strategy for over ten years. For instance, KPN has been using exclusively green power since 2011, has been climate neutral since 2015 and aims to be virtually circular by 2025.

“It’s a great boost that customers recognize and acknowledge our efforts in terms of sustainability,” says Brechtje Spoorenberg, Manager Corporate Social Responsibility at KPN. “Sustainability is important at KPN and we believe that in the long run, sustainable companies can guarantee continuity and still be profitable. Customers can always have confidence that choosing KPN means choosing sustainability. Take our 100% recycled remote control – it’s something we are immensely proud of.”

The Sustainable Brand Index is the biggest and most authoritative survey in Europe in the field of sustainability and consumer brands. It conducts an annual survey among 6,600 consumers In the Netherlands about their perception of the sustainability of 175 brands that are well known in the country. Brands are selected impartially on the basis of market share, sales and overall brand recognition.

Joost Farwerck, CEO of KPN, “Of course, this is great recognition for our sustainability policy, which is KPN’s contribution to making our society more sustainable. And that goes beyond our company: we’re making every effort to make the entire chain more sustainable, from our suppliers to the services and products that we provide to our customers.”

In 2019, 8,400 companies disclosed data about environmental effects, risks, and opportunities to more than 525 investors with more than US $ 96 trillion in assets, via the CDP platform. Of this 2%, this year a total of 179 companies including KPN are on the CDP A-list, the highest possible score. Alongside KPN are eight other telecom companies and four other Dutch companies on the A list.

The CDP annual evaluation and ranking is widely recognized as the industry standard in terms of companies’ transparency about their environmental efforts. The results in the report are based on energy consumption, reduction targets and strategy. Also measured is how organizations are combating CO2 emissions and climate change, what opportunities companies see for customers to develop products and services and how transparent their reporting of this is.

The cooperation agreement between KPN and the National AI course has been signed. In anticipation of the launch in October, Stolze has started a conversation with Hilde Garssen, responsible for HR at KPN. How does she see the future for young people who are currently at school? Are we still training them for the right jobs? When asked whether the digital skills of young people are overestimated, Hilde responds: ‘I think that this is partly true. I think that there is a group that naturally finds everything to do with innovation, development, and digital innovation incredibly interesting and they engage with it. But there is also a large group that does not have this and is not offered this subject as standard at school. What’s needed when it comes to AI is factual information. The National AI course makes this very accessible. This collaboration is a fantastic opportunity: to inspire young people for AI and to prepare them better for the future. We think it’s important to make people aware.’

The world of work is changing rapidly. Research predicts that a large majority of the jobs that will be available in 2030 don’t exist yet.* How can young people train for work that isn’t there yet? Hilde Garssen: ‘The role of HR is crucial in this. On the one hand because current work will be further automated or will disappear, and on the other hand because many new opportunities are being created in almost every profession that we want our employees to move towards.’

YOU&AI
KPN frequently holds "future-of-work sessions" and has a YOU&AI booth where people can sit and, based on their position, see what percentage of their work could be taken over by robots in the future. Garssen explains: ‘We think it’s important to raise awareness among our own people. What does this automation and digitalization have to do with me as an employee?’ In addition to informing its own staff about automation and digitalization, as a partner in the National AI course KPN also contributes to informing high school students. The National AI course and the National AI Junior course can already be downloaded via app stores. On Friday, October 11 the lessons will be made available specifically for high school students.

The Greatest AI lesson with Enzo Knol
Friday, October 11 will be the national launch of the AI course for secondary education with De Grootste AI-les (The Greatest AI lesson) in Hilversum. There is space for 180 students and anyone who can’t attend can follow the lesson digitally via ai-cursus.nl. The Grootste AI-les will be given by Jim Stolze and YouTuber Enzo Knol. Hilde Garssen (HR, KPN) will talk about "professions of the future".

*source: http://www.iftf.org/humanmachinepartnerships/

Video: Jim Stolze and Hilde Garssen in conversation

Permanently sustainable
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index is an important indicator for the sustainability objectives and performance of companies. Due to the growing importance of sustainability in the world, the criteria are also being tightened by RobecoSam. KPN also took extra initiatives last year. Firstly, we used last year's feedback to do even better, which has led to more transparency in our annual report on our performance in the field of human rights, supply chain and security. The Supplier Code of Conduct has also been improved, which all our suppliers have to sign, for example in the area of living wages. Another initiative that is being deployed is the collection of old smartphones for recycling purposes. Also for smartphones that were not purchased from KPN. For this, KPN is actively seeking cooperation with international telecom players and manufacturers.

CO2 emissions further down
A reduction in CO2 emissions has been KPN's spearhead for years, with the result that KPN has been operating climate neutral since 2015. In addition, the company also helps its customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by providing smart services in areas such as Smart Cities or Healthcare. From 2025 the company wants to be virtually circular and new company cars are no longer allowed to emit CO2 . In 2040, CO2 emissions must have been reduced by half in the entire chain compared to 2010 .

Economy, society and environment
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index, which was introduced in 1999, shows the sustainability scores of approximately 10,000 listed companies in the world and is divided into sectors. The ranking is based on economic, social and environmental performance. Click here for the DJSI overview that Dow Jones published on Friday 13 September. Read more about KPN Sustainability policy.

'We have ambitious goals regarding circularity at KPN. We’re trying to use less materials, to improve the lifespan of products, and we’re taking measures to reduce our waste production to zero', says Hans Koeleman, Chief Corporate Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility at KPN. 'The collaboration between Apple and KPN fits in perfectly with our sustainability strategy.'

KPN announced last month that customers can hand in their mobile phones to KPN. Both customers and non-customers can hand in their phone at one of the KPN stores. They are partly reimbursed for it, depending on the age and condition of the phone. They can put this amount towards the purchase of a new device or accessories.

The process employed by KPN when phones are handed in is a very thorough one. For instance, KPN checks whether the device has been stolen or if a loan agreement has been taken out on it. Additionally, every device is wiped clean, removing all the data of previous users.

Consumers who are interested in handing in their old mobile phone to KPN can get an indication of its value. The transaction itself can be made at any KPN store.

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Note: You could use this service until February 29, 2020. It is currently no longer possible to exchange your old device for money in the store. You can still have your device recycled for free.

Manufacturers Nokia, Cisco, Dell EMC, Rittal, Arcadyan and VDL Groep, network infrastructure providers VolkerWessels Telecom and Allinq, and logistics service providers CEVA Logistics, PostNL and Coolrec have all recently signed the KPN Circular Manifesto. They supply amongst others network equipment, logistics solutions, recycling services, or services for the installation and maintenance of network infrastructure.

In October 2017, KPN and seven suppliers signed the KPN Circular Manifesto. These agreements cover around 20% of the annual KPN expenditure on network equipment and hardware for the provision of services to customers. With another eleven suppliers joining, this percentage will rise to around 70% of the expenditure. This percentage is expected to continue to grow as other suppliers of KPN agree to cooperate with KPN in the pursuit of its circular ambitions.

Maximo Ibarra, KPN CEO: “Cooperation is key to realizing our circular ambitions. We are pleased that once again important partners have taken on the challenge together with KPN to innovate in a circular manner so as to reduce the consumption of new raw materials and speed up the transition to a circular economy.”

The KPN Circular Manifesto outlines KPN’s goal of minimizing its CO2 and environmental footprint as much as possible even as the volume of data traffic is expected to continue to grow exponentially. In addition to the manifesto, KPN has signed individual agreements with each of the suppliers, outlining the focus areas of collaboration between the individual companies and KPN.

Interested to learn more about KPN’s comprehensive sustainability policy?

Maximo Ibarra, CEO of KPN: "We firmly believe that doing business in a sustainable manner is in the long-term interests of all our stakeholders. We are therefore pleased that our efforts in this field have again received international recognition through this DJSI ranking.”

KPN has been working for years to reduce its CO₂-emissions. The company has been climate neutral since 2015 and is well on its way to halving its energy consumption by 2030 compared to 2010, despite the expected exponential growth of data traffic due to the further digitalization of society and the expected growth from the Internet of Things. KPN is responsible for approximately 0.8% of Dutch electricity consumption. The company helps customers reduce their own CO₂-emissions and also contributes through its products and services in areas such as Smart Cities or healthcare in other ways to tackling societal challenges.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index, introduced in 1999, reflects the sustainability scores of the 2500 largest listed companies in the world and is divided into sectors. The ranking is based on economic, social and environmental performance.

Click here for the DJSI overview that Dow Jones published this morning. Want to know more about KPN's climate policy?

“Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges in our society and it’s time for action, not words. As the Netherland’s largest ICT-provider, we recognize that we have a leading role to play to enable the necessary transition towards a sustainable and increasingly circular economy. That’s why we’re implementing our own circular economy target with a demanding timeline,” said Eelco Blok, CEO of KPN. “We’re very pleased that such important partners have accepted this challenge and share our determination. After all, it’s only by working together that we can realize the innovation necessary to become circular. Their support is key and the knowledge we develop together can also benefit other stakeholders who seek to reduce their own environmental impact.”

The KPN Circular Manifesto outlines KPN’s goal of minimizing its carbon and environmental footprint even as the volume of data traffic is expected to continue to grow exponentially. In addition to the manifesto, KPN has signed individual agreements with each of the suppliers outlining the focus areas of collaboration between the individual company and KPN. The suppliers signing the manifesto deliver network equipment, conferencing solutions, set-top boxes, modems and/or supply chains solutions such as refurbishing and recycling services.

“This circular manifesto sets a trend in the industry. Ericsson has integrated sustainability in its long-term strategy and in the daily work. We are proud about this collaboration with KPN as only by working together in the value chain we can maximize the impact, thus the circular manifesto will also help to accelerate our own circular goals.” says Rob Wolters, managing director of Ericsson in the Netherlands.

Steven Cai, CEO Huawei Netherlands, says: “For years Huawei and KPN have been working together successfully to improve KPN’s energy efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Now we need to transition from a linear to a circular way of working. It is very commendable that KPN is taking a lead and involving partners in the process. Together with KPN, we’ll take joint responsibility to proactively drive an energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon society.”

KPN has been climate neutral since 2015 and has lowered its annual energy consumption for six consecutive years through to 2016 while absorbing an eight-fold increase in data volume during that same time. Recently recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) as the world’s most sustainable telecommunications company, KPN is on track to reduce its energy consumption by 50% by 2030, compared with 2010. This target takes into account the expected continued exponential growth in data traffic amid the increased digitization of society and the expected growth of the Internet of Things. KPN currently accounts for approximately 0.8% of Dutch electricity consumption.

KPN believes in the potential of smart ICT solutions to significantly reduce energy consumption, CO2 emissions and the use of natural resources. The company continuously seeks to further reduce both its own carbon footprint and that of its customers through KPN products and services while at the same time enabling the delivery of better service. KPN’s mission is to make life more fun, free and easy by connecting in an innovative, simple, reliable and sustainable manner.

Interested to learn more about KPN’s comprehensive sustainability policy?

NOTE TO THE EDITORS:

Press inquiries: Victorina de Boer, KPN Mediarelations, 070-4466300, press@KPN.com.

ARRIS International plc. (NASDAQ: ARRS) is a world leader in entertainment and communications technology. Our innovations combine hardware, software, and services across the cloud, network, and home to power TV and internet for millions of people around the globe. The people of ARRIS collaborate with the world's top service providers, content providers, and retailers to advance the state of our industry and pioneer tomorrow's connected world. www.arris.com

Minimizing waste and maximizing re-use - Drake & Farrell is a leading provider of supply chain solutions focused upon customer specific reverse processes, including functional screening, repair and refurbishing. Drake & Farrell delivers end to end green and profitable results for clients in various industries such as telecoms, online retail, healthcare and FMCG, supporting their transition from a linear to a circular business model. Find us at www.drakeandfarrell.com and contact Thijs Bender at t.bender@drakeandfarrell.nl or +31 610533900.

Ericsson is a world leader in communications technology and services with headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. Our organization consists of more than 111,000 experts who provide customers in 180 countries with innovative solutions and services. Together we are building a more connected future where anyone and any industry is empowered to reach their full potential. The Ericsson stock is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and on NASDAQ in New York. Read more on www.ericsson.com.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is an industry leading technology company that enables customers to go further, faster. With the industry's most comprehensive portfolio, spanning the cloud to the data center to workplace applications, our technology and services help customers around the world make IT more efficient, more productive and more secure.

Huawei (www.huawei.com/en/sustainabili...) is a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider which aim it is to enrich life and improve efficiency through a better connected world, acting as a responsible corporate citizen, innovative enabler for the information society, and collaborative contributor to the industry.

Teleplan International N.V. is an industry leader in lifecycle care solutions for technology products including Mobile, Customer Premises Equipment and Value Recovery Solutions. Focusing on Customer Care, Managed Logistics, Parts Management, Screening & Testing, Repair/Refurbish and Resell/Recycle. Headquartered in Amsterdam/Schiphol, the Netherlands, Teleplan’s service centers have a global reach of over 120 countries and employ over 5000 people. For further information: www.teleplan.com

ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, carriers, companies and public sector customers. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE’s products and services are sold to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn.

KPN CEO Eelco Blok on sustainable growth: "Reducing CO₂ emissions and energy consumption have been top priorities for KPN since 2008. As a result KPN became carbon neutral for its own operations in 2015 and we also managed to decrease our total energy consumption for the past five consecutive years. Quite an achievement when you consider that data communication has increased exponentially during that period. With the experiences gained from our own energy efficiency program we are now able to help our customers reduce their energy consumption. By 2020, we want to ensure that our customers are able to save as much energy using our products and services as KPN consumes itself. But with the help of smart ICT solutions, such as remote monitoring and other Internet of Things applications, we can collectively do much more to transition to sustainable economic growth. This offers KPN, our customers and partners many possibilities to fulfil the promise of the #SMARTer2030 Netherlands report."

Main conclusions from the report:

• Innovative ICT applications can enable a structural saving of approximately 74 million tons CO₂e in the Netherlands by 2030. In 2014, total emissions in the Netherlands amounted to 187 million tonnes of CO₂e, according to the Dutch Statistics Bureau (CBS).
• The biggest CO₂ emission reduction can be realised in manufacturing, logistics, smart building applications and energy.
• Using smart ICT applications the Netherlands can structurally reduce annual energy consumption by 123 million MWh (gas and electricity) and annual water consumption by 870 billion litres.
• The yearly consumption of fossil fuels can structurally come down by 5.6 billion litres.
• Agricultural yield can increase by ca. 1 ton/hectare.
• In the Netherlands, ICT solutions with sustainability benefits can in 2030 deliver a total of € 74 billion of economic benefits: € 25 billion savings, € 37 billion in new revenue for stakeholders outside the ICT sector and € 12 billion within the sector.

Especially Internet of Things - communication between devices - can contribute significantly to these savings. For example, preventive maintenance will be unnecessary if equipment can indicate itself when a part needs to be replaced. This saves costs, travel and therefore CO₂.

Anwar Osseyran, board member Sustainability at Netherlands ICT (Dutch trade association for the ICT-industry): "This report emphasizes the great enabling potential of ICT to achieve the necessary transition towards a sustainable Dutch society while contributing to economic growth."

Less, cleaner, helping customers Energy consumption and CO₂ emissions reduction are top priorities for KPN, as well as helping customers to reduce their CO₂ footprint. KPN’s climate policy and performance has won recognition. In 2015, KPN was listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the fourth consecutive year as one of the nine most sustainable telecoms companies in the world. In addition, in 2015 the CDP labelled KPN climate leader in the telecom sector. KPN, responsible for 0.8% of Dutch electricity consumption, is carbon neutral for its own operation since 2015. The company does so by only using green electricity generated in the Netherlands (88% of KPN’s energy consumption), and compensating greenhouse gas (3%) and motor fuels (9%) through forest compensation projects and Gold Standard certificates. In this way KPN does not contribute to the CO₂ emissions of the Netherlands.

About the report The # SMARTer2030 report was launched in 2015 by GeSI (Global e-Sustainability Initiative) and international management consulting organization Accenture. On behalf of KPN, Accenture calculated the opportunities for the Netherlands. GeSI is an international cooperation in the ICT sector seeking a sustainable world through responsible, ICT-driven transformation.

Download # SMARTer2030 Netherlands report here:

Additional information:

· #SMARTer2030 Global Report

· Read more on KPN Sustainability policy in the KPN Annual Report 2015