NTT DATA Targets Net Zero with IT plan for UK Data Centres

Virgin Media O2 agrees a three-year partnership with technology services provider NTT DATA and IT lifecycle specialist n2s to reduce the environmental impact of its data centre infrastructure across the UK. 

The project targets responsible decommissioning, material recovery and circular economy outcomes.

The agreement will see more than 40,000 IT assets sustainably processed, with a focus on reducing waste and recovering critical materials.

The work supports Virgin Media O2’s energy efficiency and carbon reduction goals.

In 2025, n2s processed more than 33.5 tonnes of equipment. This results in the avoidance of over 322 tonnes of CO₂e emissions, achieved through reuse, refurbishment and low-impact recycling.

The partnership now aims to build on those results using more advanced technologies.

Bioleaching tech extends data centre lifecycle

Through its innovation sister company Bioscope Technologies, n2s introduces bioleaching and urban mining techniques to recover valuable metals such as copper and gold from decommissioned assets.

These methods use natural, low-carbon processes rather than traditional high-emission refining and extraction.

NTT DATA contributes its global sustainability capability and digital infrastructure expertise.

Together, the organisations aim to show how circular thinking can be applied to large-scale data centre and network infrastructure.

Andrew Gomarsall MBE, Executive Director at n2s, says: “As n2s continues to scale its bioleaching capabilities, this partnership with NTT DATA and Virgin Media O2 reinforces a shared vision for sustainable digital infrastructure – proving that our cities and buildings are the new mines. 

“Together, we’re evolving how technology is retired, resources are reclaimed and circular value is created – supporting the UK’s journey to net zero.”

Instead of treating retired technology as waste, the process extracts valuable components and reuses or recycles them with lower environmental impact.

This extends the lifecycle of hardware and reduces the need for raw materials.

Shared sustainability goals to 2040

Virgin Media O2 and NTT DATA both aim to achieve net zero carbon emissions across their full value chains by 2040. 

The current work is part of Virgin Media O2’s broader commitment to zero waste operations, where all legacy equipment is reused or processed sustainably.

The collaboration reflects Virgin Media O2’s strategy to reduce waste and increase reuse within its own data centre and network estate.

The operator wants to ensure that the materials inside legacy technology are given further use wherever possible.

Dana Haidan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Virgin Media O2, says: “This partnership builds on Virgin Media O2’s commitment to achieving zero waste operations by ensuring our legacy network equipment is responsibly processed, so parts can be recovered and reused or sustainably disposed of. 

“We’re proud to lead the way by extending the life of hardware within our own operations and aim to inspire other organisations to do the same so tech and precious materials can be used again and again. This will support the circular economy and help protect the planet, too.”

By scaling responsible lifecycle management, the partnership aims to deliver carbon and resource savings while proving that sustainable infrastructure operations are possible at enterprise scale.