TPG Telecom, one of Australia's largest telecommunications companies, launched a new mobile phone service in Australia in late 2020. felix mobile is certified carbon neutral by Climate Active, powered by 100% renewable electricity and they even plant a tree every month for each active customer.
"Felix's single plan, app-first approach is part of our goal to deliver a digital mobile brand that starts conversations — through simplicity, outstanding customer experience and by having a positive impact on our planet. We are giving customers the option of a mobile plan that not only offers great value but also helps to reduce their carbon footprint, through our commitments to renewable electricity and reforestation initiatives with the goal to plant one million trees."
— Paul Tierney, General Manager of Business Development, felix mobile
South Pole worked with felix to become certified carbon neutral under the Climate Active program, the Australian Government initiative driving voluntary climate action. South Pole supported felix through the rigorous Climate Active process including:
South Pole also supported felix with their ambition to be the first telecommunications service in Australia to be powered by 100% renewable electricity. South Pole enabled felix to purchase Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) from solar projects in Victoria equal to the total electricity (MWh) that felix consumes in a year.
"Working with felix has been fantastic — they had a really clear vision and understanding of how important climate action is to their target audience. Mobile phone and data services have an increasingly large carbon footprint so it's great to see companies stepping up to reduce and offset emissions."
— Thomas Schroder, Head of Climate Action, South Pole
felix offsets its emissions by supporting a savanna burning project in Australia as well as a renewable electricity project in New Caledonia:
Overseen by Indigenous-led not-for-profit, Aak Puul Ngantam (APN Cape York), this project engages local Wik and Kugu Traditional Owners as project rangers in traditional Indigenous fire management practices, carrying out strategic 'cool' burns in the tropical winter to reduce emissions from larger, late-season bushfires.
Small island nations like New Caledonia are often described as 'the canary in the coal mine' of climate change, with many already experiencing the impact of rising tides and damaging storms. These wind farms use world class technology to provide New Caledonia with sustainable energy to combat climate change whilst also addressing various social issues.
"The South Pole team were great to work with — from helping us in developing our strategy to documenting our footprint and achieving our certification, they made the process clear and efficient throughout"