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| Issue | Opportunities | Risks |
|---|---|---|
| Extending access to communications | Extending access to communications offers enormous opportunities to expand our business in emerging markets through increased coverage and services designed specifically for people who previously had little or no access to communications. Increasing accessibility for people who have difficulty using mobile phones in developed markets also provides an opportunity to increase our customer base. | Awareness of potential new challenges is essential when entering new markets and developing new services to avoid reputational risk. Extending access to communications in emerging markets also raises issues around how to achieve this sustainably. |
| Climate change | Climate change is widely recognised as the greatest global sustainability challenge. Vodafone provides services that can help its customers tackle climate change, for example by helping them reduce travel through tele- and video-conferencing, and through more energy efficient machine-to-machine applications such as remote monitoring of metering equipment. | We use primarily fossil fuel-based energy to run our networks. Our business could suffer from any economic impacts climate change may have, such as increasing insurance premiums or carbon taxes. Our network infrastructure is vulnerable in severe weather conditions, which are predicted to increase. Our reputation as a responsible company depends on showing our stakeholders that we are reducing our climate impact. |
| Responsibility to our customers | Responsibility to our customers is essential to maintain their trust and sustain the long-term success of our business. Enabling customers to control how they use the wide range of services available on their mobile phones – by offering protection from inappropriate content or contact – is an important part of this. | Clear pricing, content standards, responsible marketing and the protection of user privacy are essential to avoid risks to our reputation. |
| Reuse and recycling of mobile phones | Used mobile phones can be refurbished and sold at reduced cost for reuse in lower-income countries, increasing access to communications – and to Vodafone services – by making handsets more affordable. | The rapid development of mobile technology means handsets quickly become obsolete as customers in high-income countries replace frequently their phones with the latest model. Handset waste must be disposed of responsibly to avoid potentially hazardous substances entering the environment. Our handset recycling programmes minimise the risk of legal non-compliances. |
| Ethics in our business and our supply chain | Strong business principles and effective management of ethical issues in our supply chain enhance our reputation. | Any unethical conduct by our employees or within our supply chain poses a serious risk to the reputation of our business. |
| Mobile phones, masts and health | By profiling independent scientific research on RF fields and health on our website, we provide the information people need to make decisions about how they use their mobiles. Communicating openly about proposed mast sites helps to reassure communities and gain their consent to develop our network. | Any substantiated evidence of a link between mobile phones and masts on health would significantly impact on our business model. |
| Supply chain | Taking a proactive approach to supply chain management enables us to show leadership in this area. | Unacceptable environmental standards or labour practices in our supply chain reflect badly on Vodafone and could affect our reputation. |
The precautionary approach
Vodafone supports the application of the European Commission's framework for a precautionary approach as contained in the 2000 EC Communication on Precaution.