Do you apply global corporate responsibility (CR) standards throughout your operations?
CR is part of our core business strategy. Our CR management mirrors the way we manage our business, with a global team of CR managers working across the business with a presence in each local operating company. Our CR strategy, policies and Business Principles apply throughout the Group to all our operating companies. We are embedding CR in the business by managing CR issues as part of our core business processes rather than as a separate 'add-on'. We set commitments every year to improve our CR performance and report our progress in our Group CR Report. Read more on our approach.
What efforts do you make to listen to the views of the wider public and your critics?
We want to understand the views of our stakeholders - the people who can affect our business or who are affected by it - and explain our perspectives. Our stakeholder engagement takes many forms, formal and informal. It ranges from one-to-one meetings with an investor or pressure group to quantitative opinion research involving thousands of members of the public. We know that we will not satisfy everyone's demands but we believe that being open, honest and respectful of different views is the right approach to maintain good relationships. We listen to our stakeholders and respond to their concerns. Read more on our stakeholder engagement.
How does Vodafone contribute to the debate on key issues?
Our CR Dialogues are designed to stimulate debate on specific emerging issues. We commission research and consult stakeholders to contribute to the CR Dialogue report on a specific issue, and invite others to join the debate on our website. See more on our CR Dialogues.
Where can I find information about mobile phones, masts and health?
Our website explains how mobile phones work and contains links to independent authoritative research organisations. Read more on mobile phones, masts and health.
What's your advice on mobile phones and driving?
Using a mobile phone while driving can distract the driver and increase the risk of accidents. We advise people never to use a hand-held phone while driving and only to use hands-free equipment when it is safe to do so. Our operating companies produce leaflets to provide advice for customers on mobile phones and driving. Read more on driving safety.
How are you tackling the problem of mobile phone theft?
We work closely with the GSM Association and other mobile phone companies to combat mobile theft. Phones reported as stolen are identified through their unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, listed on our Equipment Identity Registers and blocked from our network. Read more on mobile theft.
How can I apply for funding for community projects?
Our priorities for social investment are to help people lead fuller lives by:
- Sharing the benefits of developments in mobile communications technology as widely as possible
- Protecting the natural environment
- Supporting the local communities in which Vodafone's customers, employees, investors and suppliers live
- Supporting disadvantaged young people and their communities through sports and music.
If your project fits one of these categories, you can apply for funding from the Vodafone Group Foundation (for multinational projects) or from your local operating company (for local or national projects). Visit About Vodafone for contact details of the Vodafone company in your country.
What do you do to support accessibility of mobile phones?
People who are blind, deaf or disabled can benefit from mobile phones but, for some, even basic functions such as turning the handset on or making a call can be difficult. By adapting existing products and services or devising new ones, we are increasing accessibility and gaining new customers. Read more on accessibility.
Do you recycle mobile handsets?
We have handset recycling programmes in all our operating companies. If you live in one of these countries you can take your handset into your nearest Vodafone shop for it to be recycled. Read more on reuse and recycling of mobile phones.
How do you minimise the visual impact of your base stations?
We work closely with local communities and planning authorities to reduce the visual impact of masts. This can be done by locating masts on existing structures (such as buildings or electricity pylons), sharing sites with other network operators or designing masts to blend in to the surroundings (for example, as street lamps or flagpoles). Careful design to minimise visual impact is particularly important at sites of historic or cultural significance and in conservation areas. Read more on visual impact.
What are you doing to reduce energy use and global warming?
Energy use contributing to climate change is one of our main environmental impacts. We have set a target to reduce CO2 emissions from our operations by 50% by 2020 from a baseline of 2006/07. We are focusing our efforts on our networks, which account for more than 80% of the CO2 emissions from our total energy use, and working with suppliers to improve energy efficiency of network equipment. We are also consolidating our data centres to cut the growth in online data storage and increasingly using videoconferencing facilities to reduce emissions from travel. Read more on energy.
How does Vodafone's sponsorship of Formula 1 fit with your commitment to combat climate change?
We recognise that Formula 1 racing is a carbon intensive sport. However, we believe Formula 1 is taking industry appropriate measures to respond to the climate challenge, and that it could be a key driver of improvements in transport energy efficiency. Formula 1 has been ‘carbon neutral’ since 1997 and purchases offset credits through the Fonfo Bioclimatico trust. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (or FIA, the governing body of world motorsport) offsets the emissions of the two world championships.
The FIA is encouraging innovation to make engines more energy efficient. For example, from 2009, hybrid engines will be allowed within motor racing. As many of the developments in engineering that take place within motor racing can be transferred to road vehicles, this could increase the pace of the development of more sustainable engine technologies.
How do I know how much it will cost when I use my phone abroad?
Vodafone Passport offers customers better value voice roaming when using Vodafone subsidiary networks and selected European affiliates. You can call home at domestic rates, with a connection fee added to each call using Vodafone operating companies and selected affiliates. You can also find out how much calls will cost through a free text service or on the industry-wide GSM website. Read more on clear pricing.
Can I be sure that my privacy will be protected when I use my mobile phone?
Our customers entrust us with their personal information and the confidentiality of their private communications. The way we handle this information is a vital part of our responsibility to customers and how we earn their trust. Our Group Privacy Policy governs how we collect, store and use customers' personal information. However, faced with increasing demands for surveillance in the fight against serious crime and terrorism, we are sometimes called upon to assist law enforcement authorities in the interests of protecting public safety or security. We have engaged with key stakeholders to seek their views on the appropriate balance between safeguarding privacy and assisting law enforcement authorities to tackle serious crime and terrorism. See more on privacy.
How do you make sure human rights are upheld in your supply chain?
Human rights issues in a company's supply chain are very important. Within an extended global supply chain there is a risk that some suppliers or subcontractors might not meet acceptable standards of working conditions and human rights. We want all the companies in our supply chain to meet acceptable labour and environmental standards, but we know some do not. We take our responsibilities in this area seriously. Our Code of Ethical Purchasing sets out the standards we expect our suppliers to meet. We assess our suppliers against the Code and CR is part of our overall supplier performance management. Read more on our supply chain.
How can I protect my child from inappropriate content on mobile phones?
Our access controls enable you to filter content which is rated as suitable only for those who are 18 years or older. The controls include internet filters so you can be confident that your child cannot access inappropriate content either via Vodafone live! or through the internet. Some of our operating companies have also launched child profiles and children's phones, designed with a narrower range of features to protect children from inappropriate content. Read more on content standards.
Are African economies better off with mobile telecommunications?
Our research on the socio-economic impact of mobile phones highlights some of benefits mobiles can bring to developing countries. These include improved economic growth and increased profits for small businesses. Read more on the socio-economic impact of mobile phones.
How can mobile technology improve access to financial transactions?
Our research on the potential of mobile to facilitate financial transactions shows that m-transactions offer great potential to boost economic development in emerging markets. Our m-transaction services enable people who previously had little or no access to banking services to deposit and transfer funds, manage accounts and pay bills via their mobile phone. We are trialling these services in Kenya, Afghanistan and Tanzania. We are also working in partnership with Citigroup to pilot international money transfers via mobile. Read more on economic empowerment through mobile.
