The commitment of Telefónica O2 to keep the footprint of its operations on the environment minimal in 2009 was anchored in the Company’s Environmental Policy. It focuses on the elimination, or at least the mitigation, of damage to or degradation of the environment – in its whole or in part; In doing so, the company uses the latest research. Telefónica O2’s fundamental principles of environmental protection were coordinated across the Telefónica Group and helped to deliver on both the group and local objectives and meet the statutory and other conditions.

Telefónica O2 continually worked with its suppliers, gradually raising the bar they have to meet, in order to promote the ideas of environmental protection in its external environment. The company itself was on the vanguard – its Green Company programme involved employees in protecting the environment

The Company continued in its successful campaign to reduce its negative footprint on the environment. In providing for its operations, Telefónica O2 in 2009 consumed more than 3% less electricity, more than one third of natural gas and water compared to 2008. Also compared to 2008, the total volume of polluting emissions released into air from heat and power generating sources and from vehicles was also reduced; for instance the consumption of heating oils dropped by more than 21% year on year, of distributed heat by more than 37% and the number of kilometres driven in company cars by more than 7%. At the same time, the Company succeeded in further reducing the amount of waste it produces – by 24% on the previous year. Of communal waste alone, the waste production was 26% lower, and of hazardous waste it was down 66%.

The way the Company cares for the environment showed also in other areas – for instance, recycled materials and environmentally friendly materials were being used for packaging.

The Company’s activities in the environmental area were regularly audited, both internally and with respect to suppliers. The standard of environmental protection is certified according to ISO 14001 international standard. Telefónica O2 is the only telecommunications operator in the Czech Republic to have this certificate.

In 2009, Telefónica O2 again focused on the social sphere, in which it actively tried to promote the principles of environmental responsibility. The social project Nechte svůj starý mobil pomáhat (Let Your Old Mobile Help), the proceeds of which were donated to Safety Line, was among key activities of this kind. The project generated CZK 44,801 for Safety Line in 2009. The Company also donated prizes in the value of CZK 60,000 to the 16th Grand Recyclable Waste Collection Competition which was organised under the auspices of the Czech Ministry of Environment for kindergartens and elementary schools in the Czech Republic.