BT 2001 Annual Report Download - page 26

Our commitment to society
26 BT Annual report and Form 20-F
Introduction
BT takes seriously the responsibility
that comes with being a company that
has the potential to improve people’s
lives through better communications.
We aim to discharge this
responsibility:
&through our community programme;
&by minimising the environmental
impact of our activities;
&through ethical sourcing policies and
practices;
&by respecting di¡erent cultures and
those who are disadvantaged or
disabled; and
&by encouraging our people to act with
integrity.
This is covered in more detail in our
independently veri¢ed, environmental
and social report.
BT in the community
We commit a minimum of 0.5% of our
UK pre-tax pro¢ts to direct activities in
support of society. This has grown from
»10 million in 1987 to »16 million
(including »1.2 million to charities) in
the 2001 ¢nancial year.
The Community Support Committee
oversees this social investment
expenditure and establishes the strategy
for maximising BT’s contribution to
society. The committee is made up of
representatives from BT businesses and
external non-executives who have a
reputation for excellence in this ¢eld.
Our aim is to help create a better
world by tackling big issues where
better communication can make a real
di¡erence.
For example, BT has continued to
make a commitment to education in the
UK. More than 3,400 schools and 850,000
young people have had direct experience
of the BT FutureTalk in Education
programme, a drama-based campaign
helping children to improve their
communications skills.
The internet is now playing a much
greater role in schools. A new BT teacher
resource, www.bt.com/futuretalk/
education/ published in September 2000,
o¡ers information and communications
technology teaching solutions and has
attracted more than four million hits. It
has been formally endorsed by the
National Grid for Learning.
Our contribution to charitable
causes is extensive and uses a range of
communications tools, such as telethons
for Comic Relief, Children in Need and
GMTV’s Get Up and Give, plus disaster
appeals, including that for the Indian
earthquake crisis. We also provide
helplines and websites. In this way,
every year, we help charities raise tens of
millions of pounds for vital projects
which can make a real di¡erence to
people’s lives.
In addition, during the 2001
¢nancial year, BT people gave »1.8
million directly to charities through
Give-as-you-Earn, to which BT added a
direct contribution of »1 million.
Environment
Sir Peter Bon¢eld has Board level
responsibility for environmental matters.
The Environmental Policy Steering
Group has operational management
responsibility and delivers an annual
report to the Board and the Executive
Committee.
This report advises the Board of
the extent to which the company is
meeting its obligations arising from its
stated environmental policy. In
particular, it reports on the manner in
which BT:
&manages its operations in ways that
meet relevant legal regulations;
&derives ¢nancial bene¢t from energy,
road transport and waste
minimisation programmes; and
&minimises its exposure to any
potential environmental liabilities.
Our certi¢cation to ISO 14001, the
international standard for environmental
management systems, provides an
additional level of risk management
assurance and opportunities for
enhancing marketing and sales
propositions, as well as enhancing our
wider corporate reputation by
demonstrating sustainable and socially-
responsible business practices.
As a result of these risk assessment
processes, which are part of our
approach to meeting the requirements of
theCombinedCodeonCorporate
Governance, the bulk storage of diesel
fuel for use in back-up generators at
telephone exchanges has been identi¢ed
as BT’s most signi¢cant environmental
risk.
Although there are a small number
of BT sites where ground remediation is
taking place, the cost is not material and
so the company declares no material
contingent environmental liability in its
¢nancial statements. In order to
minimise any future liability in this area,
we have commenced an »18 million
programme to cover tank testing,
enhanced maintenance schedule and
remedial works.
Some components from old exchange
equipment contain polychlorinated
napthalenes. When they require disposal,
we exceed our legal obligations and
ensure their safe destruction as
hazardous waste.
During the 2001 ¢nancial year, we
have made no purchase of any tangible
¢xed assets solely on the basis of
environmental requirements. We often
take environmental considerations into
account when purchasing new
equipment, but do not account for these
considerations separately.
The main areas of environmental
impact associated with BT’s operations
include energy consumption, waste
disposal, transportation, and the use of
ozone-depleting chemicals.