Sprint Sets Its Green Goals

Sprint Nextel will be expanding its environmental programs and is seeking to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions 15% by 2017.

To achieve this, the wireless company will be reducing overall energy demands as well as increasing the use of renewable energy. The company pledged to have at least 10% of its energy come from renewable sources by 2017. Sprint said efforts are already under way to achieve this goal, as a Kansas corporate campus already gets 75% of its energy from a wind farm.

"These targets help demonstrate Sprint's environmental leadership by clearly articulating what Sprint is doing to help meet today's environmental challenges," Sprint CEO Dan Hesse said in a statement.

Sprint is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program, an industry-government partnership aimed at developing climate change strategies. The third-largest U.S. wireless provider will also be recognized by the EPA as a "GHG Reduction Goal Setter" during the upcoming 2008 Climate Leaders Climate Conference.

"Our company is much more than the products and services it sells," said Ralph Reid, Sprint's VP of corporate responsibility, in a statement. "The effect a company has on the environment, the people, and the communities it serves reflects its dedication to being not only a great business -- but to being a great corporate citizen."

In addition to the green house gas emission goals, Sprint said it also has a 10-year goal of increasing its cell-phone recycling rate to 90%. The company said it currently has a 16% reuse and recycle rate through its Sprint Project Connect and Sprint Buyback programs.

As IT teams scramble to figure out a green strategy, InformationWeek has produced a list of 10 ideas to fuel the brainstorming. Download the report here (registration required).