08 January 2026

The collaboration will focus on responsible decommissioning, resource recovery, and integrating circular economy principles into the lifecycle management of IT assets. Under this agreement, over 40,000 IT assets will be sustainably processed, helping to reduce electronic waste, recover valuable materials, and support Virgin Media O2 in reaching its energy efficiency and carbon reduction targets.

Building on its previous achievements, n2s processed more than 33.5 tonnes of equipment in 2025, which contributed to avoiding over 322 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions through reuse, refurbishment, and low-impact recycling practices. The new partnership with NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business, and technology services with a strong focus on sustainability, aims to extend these outcomes further by incorporating advanced urban mining and bioleaching technologies developed through Bioscope Technologies, n2s’s innovation sister company. These cutting-edge methods recover valuable metals such as copper and gold using environmentally friendly, low-carbon biotechnological processes, significantly reducing the environmental footprint compared to traditional extraction and refining.

Andrew Gomarsall, Executive Director of n2s, emphasized that as the company expands its bioleaching capabilities, the partnership underscores a shared vision for sustainable digital infrastructure. He highlighted that cities and buildings are becoming new sources of raw materials, and together, they are transforming how technology is retired, resources are reclaimed, and circular value is created to support the UK’s journey toward net zero emissions.

Niccolo Spataro, CEO of NTT DATA UKI, expressed his commitment to environmental sustainability, noting that the partnership demonstrates how responsible lifecycle management of technology can deliver both circularity and business value. He stated that by working with n2s’s innovative bioleaching technology and Virgin Media O2’s ambitious environmental goals, they are proving that responsible disposal and resource recovery are essential components of a sustainable future.

Virgin Media O2’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Dana Haidan, added that the partnership reinforces the company's pledge to achieve zero waste operations by ensuring legacy network equipment is responsibly processed. She emphasized the importance of recovering and reusing parts and materials, inspiring other organizations to adopt similar practices. This initiative supports Virgin Media O2’s broader goal of net zero carbon emissions across its entire value chain by 2040 and aligns with its commitment to zero waste. Both n2s and NTT DATA are dedicated to sustainability, with plans to reach net zero emissions across their respective full value chains by 2040.