Bold claim: ESG isn’t a checkbox—it’s the compass guiding Vodafone toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and trusted digital world. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a global telecom business truly balance rapid growth with deep, measurable ESG impact? Our approach to ESG builds from a clear purpose and scales across every layer of the company, translating lofty ideals into concrete actions that stakeholders can see and hold us accountable for.
Purpose
Our purpose is to connect everyone. We address Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) topics through our purpose strategy, aiming to enable an inclusive, sustainable, and trusted digital society. We are continuously evolving and embedding this purpose across the business, with a focus on protecting the planet, empowering people, and maintaining trust in a digital world.
We empower people
We’re shaping an inclusive society by giving opportunities to individuals and communities through innovative technology. This involves expanding access to affordable connectivity, enabling digital skills, and supporting the growth of communities through our products and services.
We protect the planet
We’re committed to protecting the planet by pursuing net zero ambitions, driving a circular economy, and helping customers reduce their environmental footprint. Our actions include reducing emissions, designing sustainable products, and promoting responsible consumption and disposal of devices.
We maintain trust
We strive to earn and sustain the confidence of customers, colleagues, and communities by acting ethically, lawfully, and with integrity in everything we do.
Materiality assessment
To identify material and emerging issues aligned with external and internal stakeholder expectations, we conduct a materiality assessment. This process helps Vodafone pinpoint topics that matter most for our business and for society, ensuring our ESG efforts reflect real-impact priorities.
Over recent years, we have undertaken a transformation to strengthen our ESG approach, aligning it with commercial strategy and building governance at the highest levels. This framework is designed to support future reporting under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the European directive requiring disclosure of material environmental and societal impacts.
We have performed an in-depth materiality assessment in line with CSRD requirements at the time of publishing our FY25 Annual Report. We continue to refine our processes and plan to publish results in forthcoming reporting. The assessment was conducted at Group level to align with the top reporting entity, with deep dives into operating companies to capture a comprehensive Group-wide view. Input was gathered from multiple internal and external stakeholder groups and scored against predefined criteria to determine key material topics for Vodafone. The work to date identifies a range of material topics across ESG areas, summarized in the “Our material topics” table.
Accountability for each material topic is embedded throughout the business. Each topic is sponsored by a member of the Executive Committee (ExCo), who is ultimately accountable for its development and for monitoring progress and delivery against commitments. The Board receives regular updates on progress across material topics through Vodafone’s ESG governance structure.
Leaders within the ExCo sponsor’s function are responsible for developing and implementing the strategy to manage each material topic. Senior leaders collaborate with relevant teams and subject-matter experts, cross-functionally as needed, to drive activities in line with the ExCo-approved strategy. Delivery teams are supported by our reporting function, which provides a compliance-oriented perspective on activities. Updates on programmes in these areas are available in our Annual Report.
Governance
The ESG Committee holds overall board-level accountability for Vodafone’s sustainable business strategy and regularly reviews progress. We continuously enhance this framework to drive effective delivery of ESG initiatives while meeting evolving regulatory and reporting requirements.
Governance structure
ESG is integral to Vodafone’s operations, reinforced by our governance framework. The Board ESG Committee oversees the strategy, which is implemented through the ESG and Reputation Committee (ESGR). Actions and initiatives under the ESG strategy are assigned to senior managers across functions such as networks and technology operations, commercial and enterprise units, procurement, external affairs, and property teams. Delivery functions report quarterly to the ESGR, with risks escalated as needed to ensure progress toward our strategy.
Our impact by country
We embed our ESG pillars and goals wherever Vodafone operates. Explore how local markets are contributing to our goals by selecting a country.
OUR IMPACT
[Interactive content placeholder: country-by-country ESG progress]
Advancing the SDGs through Digital Transformation
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) call for action to address climate change, conflict, and economic disparity. Digital connectivity and technology can bridge gaps, unlocking education, employment, and sustainable growth opportunities.
Vodafone commits to using our technology, services, and partnerships to accelerate progress toward the SDGs. From expanding mobile connectivity in underserved areas to pioneering digital financial services, we aim to shape a more inclusive and sustainable world.
Partnering for scale and impact
Progress toward the SDGs requires collaboration. Vodafone works with governments, businesses, and NGOs to create scalable, high-impact solutions. Initiatives such as the UN ITU Partner2Connect and our collaboration with WWF to promote a circular economy for mobile devices illustrate our commitment to sustainable innovation.
Vodafone is a founding member of ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition (P2C), launched in September 2021. P2C seeks to bridge the digital divide and accelerate SDG progress by fostering meaningful connectivity and digital transformation.
Vodafone has donated over 250,000 phones through its partnership with WWF in support of the “We Need the Phones You Don’t” campaign. This effort aims to reduce e-waste by refurbishing old phones for people in need, particularly those without access to affordable smartphones, while advancing environmental sustainability and a circular economy.
Discover more
Link to ESG for Investors
ESG for Investors
Vodafone has sharpened its focus on fast-growing sectors in Europe and Africa to generate value. The impacts of these efforts are taking shape across our operations.
Link to ESG reporting centre
ESG reporting centre
We are committed to responsible and ethical operation wherever we operate, underpinned by a robust corporate transparency program.
