By Dominic Chopping

STOCKHOLM--Telia Co. AB on Tuesday set new sustainable growth targets in climate and circularity, digital inclusion and privacy and security.

The Swedish telecommunications operator said it aims to empower societies in the Nordics and Baltics to achieve zero CO2 and waste by 2030, reach one million people through digital inclusion initiatives by 2025 and implement privacy and security strategies by 2023 to gain and maintain customers' trust.

It said science-based targets covering the entire value chain are targeted by 2025. Emissions in own operations will be reduced by at least 50%, and Telia will engage with suppliers to ensure that at least 72% of supply-chain emissions are covered by set science-based targets.

To reach zero waste, the company will accelerate actions to reduce, re-use and recycle materials, with 84% of materials from own and network operations to be re-used or recycled by 2025.

Telia added that it will significantly increase sales of re-used mobile phones as well as phones sold "as a service". "Device as a service" is a pay for use model prolonging lifetime through repairs, upgrades and refurbishment, and ensuring that phones are returned for reuse or recycling.

In privacy & security, Telia aims for top tier privacy positions and best in class security practices in all markets by 2023.

Write to Dominic Chopping at dominic.chopping@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 20, 2021 02:47 ET (06:47 GMT)

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