Sky has published its annual social and environmental impact report highlighting the progress it has made in 2019 and setting out its ‘Bigger Picture’ ambitions for 2020 and beyond.

The publication of the report comes as Sky announces a commitment toward its ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030, with all its Sky Originals from 2019 on, now certified ‘Carbon Neutral’ in the UK

Sky says it is the first broadcaster in the albert Consortium to make this commitment, marking its determination to be the most sustainable media and entertainment company in Europe.

Earlier this year, Sky announced its plan to be net zero carbon across its entire value chain by 2030, and launched Sky Zero, a campaign encouraging others to #GoZero by spreading the word to its millions of customers every day.

Jeremy Darroch, Sky Group Chief Executive, said: “We are entering a critical decade on the long road to climate recovery, and all businesses have the opportunity to accelerate progress and become part of the solution. In February 2020, we confirmed our most ambitious commitment yet on climate action by setting a 2030 target for Sky Zero. And already in 2019, we became the first broadcaster to offset the emissions to of all our UK-commissioned Sky Originals – an important milestone on our path to net zero carbon, in addition to already being carbon neutral for our operations since 2006.”

In 2019 Sky launched volunteering programme, Sky Cares, with every one of their 33,000 employees across Europe, able to give back to the community on company time.

Last year over 15,000 hours were volunteered across four good causes: helping the homeless, alleviating loneliness, supporting young people and caring for the environment. The work can involve anything from spending time with older people, to mentoring school children or taking part in a beach clean.

Sky now has the aim of having 250,000 employee volunteered hours across Europe by 2025.

Better Lives

• Sky Arts brings some of the world’s best theatre, art and music to our audiences and last year had over 1,700 hours of Arts-programming available.
• According to Ofcom research, 80 per cent of people agree that Sky News helps them understand the world better is at the heart of the story providing accurate independent news available free-to-air across Europe.
• The development of Sky Studios Elstree will lead to the creation of 2,000 new creative jobs when it opens in 2022. It will attract £3 billion in production spend over its first five years, boosting the creative industries in the UK and beyond.

Better World

• Sky is on the journey to be net zero carbon by 2030 and last year reduced its carbon emissions by a further 7 per cent, cutting 5,000 tonnes of CO2e from its operations, achieving a 4 per cent increase in renewable energy generated on its own sites and a 15 per cent reduction in total waste.
• Since its launch in 2017, the Sky Ocean Rescue campaign has reached 47 million people across Europe and all Sky products and front-of-house operations are now single use plastic free, saving more than 300 tonnes across the business to date.
• Since its launch in 2018 Sky Ocean Ventures has invested £10 million in 21 start-ups committed to finding solutions that enable millions of people to use less plastic and recycle more.

Better Communities

• Sky employees have volunteered over 15,000 hours for the 60 charity partners of Sky Cares.
• The MAMA Youth Project addresses the lack of diversity in the creative industries, and each year Sky financially supports 24 trainees with a programme to help them get their first break.
• In the UK and Italy over 163,000 children have now experienced the Sky Academy Studios since the studios first opened in 2012 and have got their first taster of what a career in the media industry might look like.