Blog April 24, 2023

Zayo Celebrates Sustainability Month with Environmental Community Service

April is Earth Month and here at Zayo, our team’s been focusing on our impact on the environment in a number of ways. We’ve recently released our 2022 Sustainability Report which details our commitment to a sustainable future, including a goal to reach net zero emissions by 2030.

Aside from taking a stance and making changes at the corporate level, Zayo offers employees to get involved at an individual level. Zayo’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) give employees an outlet to meet like-minded colleagues and make an impact. The Sustainability@Zayo ERG is comprised of passionate company leaders seeking to make a positive impact on the environment.

We asked some of our sustainability ERG leaders to share what sustainability means to them and their experiences in Zayo’s sustainability ERG.

Sara Haney, Fiber Network Inventory Specialist

Every organization and individual has an impact on the environment. Now more than ever, it is critical we all take responsibility for the part we play in global warming and Earth’s degradation. Raising corporate environmental sustainability awareness not only benefits the planet, but can also allow corporations to save money on resources, provide an exemplary image to other businesses, and highlight their values to stakeholders and employees.

My experience with Zayo’s Sustainability ERG has positively changed my experience as a Zayo employee in general. My background is in urban planning and environmental policy and the Sustainability ERG has provided me with an outlet to continue to exercise my interests and education – something that I missed as a newcomer to the telecommunications field. Through the ERG, I have been afforded the opportunity to meet many incredible, hardworking people who are creative and collaborative, and who challenge me in ways that are unique to my day-to-day responsibilities.

There are so many effective and creative ways Zayo employees can practice sustainability in the workplace and personally. I believe the first and most important step is to always stay informed. Stay educated on the local and national environmental news and talk about it. Have conversations with your coworkers, friends, and family members about what’s happening at home and around the world, how we/you are contributing to these events, and then make plans to do something about it! Volunteer with your friends at a local nonprofit, hold your partner and kids accountable for taking long showers or leaving lights on around the house, choose to carpool or bike to work once a week, watch that environmental documentary tonight instead of Love Is Blind (*cough cough*… @ myself).

You have to make the choice to be more conscientious and keep such issues at the forefront of your mind and the people in your life that you care about. We in the United States are extremely fortunate to live in a country where most of us do not have to directly experience the adverse effects of climate change. It’s easy to turn a blind eye to the unfortunate reality, which is why I think action and education is a choice you have to consciously make for yourself. Although, it’s not just for you, but for everyone else you share this planet with, and for the generations yet to come.

Meghan Radelet, Director, Product Marketing

Corporations should care about their environmental impact because it is their social responsibility to minimize adverse environmental effects, protect their brand reputation and image by meeting consumer expectations, and ensure business resilience by managing risks associated with climate change and environmental degradation. By integrating sustainability into Zayo’s operations, the company can contribute to a more sustainable future by reducing its ecological footprint and promoting environmentally responsible practices throughout its offices and operations.

I have been a part of the Sustainability ERG since I started at Zayo in 2017, and it has been nothing short of a wonderful experience. The team revolves around collaborating with fellow employees who share a passion for sustainability, organizing sustainability-related events, creating awareness campaigns, engaging in volunteer efforts in the local community, and working with Zayo’s leadership to integrate sustainable practices into our culture.

Sustainability matters to me because it is all about creating a better world. Sustainability is essential for maintaining a healthy planet, promoting social well-being, and creating a sustainable future for current and future generations. Additionally, It is closely tied to social responsibility and involves promoting social equity and addressing social issues.

Employees play a crucial role in driving sustainability efforts within Zayo. Employees can help by adopting environmentally responsible practices such as reducing waste, recycling and composting, conserving resources, and using sustainable transportation options. Educating others about the importance of sustainability, sharing best practices, and promoting a culture of sustainability at Zayo can also have a positive impact.

Joanna Bunbury, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Europe

Corporations are made up of people and people need clean green environments to thrive, so it’s the people in the corporations that care about the company’s environmental impact.

It’s made me feel happy that it’s so easy to discuss ESG topics with my colleagues in our European head office as part of the sustainability ERG at Zayo. In fact, it’s a hot topic and I’ve learned a lot from speaking with my colleagues about clean innovation, green society, and how we build huge capacity networks undersea and over land using sustainable practices. Recently, I’ve helped organise volunteering opportunities for Earth Day. Sustainability is so important to people that all our ERGs supported this. Women@Zayo in Paris for example is cleaning up the park by the Eiffel Tower.

Sustainability matters to me, firstly, because I have a conscience. On a personal level, I love being in nature and so do my dogs – over time I’ve come to know that this is essential to my well-being, happiness, and good health. I’m incredibly grateful I live in a place that has clean green spaces and beaches we can enjoy.

My advice to anyone at Zayo looking to get more involved is to take an interest and join the discussion at our Sustainability ERG. This helps you to become more aware and start making sustainably-responsible decisions in everyday life, like considering your carbon footprint for work travel, minimising waste in the office, and going paperless.

A Global Effort to Protect Our Planet

This month, employees in our sustainability ERGs in both the U.S. and Europe participated in community service events focused on bettering the environment in their local communities. Read on for more information about these initiatives.

Planting trees in Colorado with DAR

On April 16, Colorado-based Zayo employees participated in a tree planting event with Drylands Agroecology Research (DAR) at Yellow Barn Farm, a regenerative farm in Northern Colorado. Zayo volunteers planted dozens of various types of trees and learned about the indigenous agricultural techniques DAR employs in their farming practices. It was an honor for the team to give back to nature in such a meaningful way.

Cleaning up plastic pollution in Europe

To participate in the global Earth Day movement #InvestInOurPlanet Big Clean Up, Zayo employees in France and the UK spent volunteer hours over the past week cleaning up local parks and waterways.

Zayo’s Commitment to Sustainability

Aside from the community efforts among our team members, Zayo puts sustainability at the forefront of our decisions as an organization. Our 2022 Sustainability Report details our commitment to the environment among other socially responsible priorities.