Sprint has announced its goal to reduce its total greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by 2017, along with a set of environmental priorities, as part of its expanded environmental program.

The Environmental Protection Agency will recognize Sprint as a "GHG Reduction Goal Setter" during the 2008 Climate Leaders Conference Oct. 6-8 in Chicago. Climate Leaders is an EPA industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop comprehensive climate change strategies.

"Sprint has a strong commitment to the environment and we are therefore proud to participate in the EPA Climate Leaders Program," said Dan Hesse, CEO of Sprint, Overland Park, KS, in a written statement. "Our goal to decrease Sprint's total greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by 2017, along with the other targets that we are announcing as part of our robust environmental program, reflect that commitment.

"These targets help demonstrate Sprint's environmental leadership by clearly articulating what Sprint is doing to help meet today's environmental challenges," he said.

Partner companies at the Climate Leaders Conference commit to reducing their impact on the global environment by completing a corporate-wide inventory of their greenhouse gas emissions based on a quality management system, setting aggressive reduction goals and annually reporting their progress to the EPA.

Through program participation, companies create a credible record of their accomplishments and receive EPA recognition as corporate environmental leaders.

Sprint became the first and only wireless telecom company in this partnership when it joined the EPA Climate Leaders Program in 2007.

Sprint's efforts to further reduce its GHG emissions will be two-fold: reducing overall energy demand, and increasing the use of renewable energy by having at least 10 percent of the company's energy come from renewable sources by 2017.

Sprint claims that efforts are already underway to achieve these goals.

In addition to using and experimenting with renewable energy in its networks, approximately 75 percent of the power for Sprint's 200-acre Overland Park, KS, campus is sourced from a Spearville, KS, wind-power farm.

Sprint's GHG reduction target is just one element of its ongoing environmental program.

Sprint has established six environmental priorities:

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Minimize waste and reduce use of natural resources.

Promote an environmentally-sound supply chain.

Reduce the environmental impact of Sprint products and services.

Promote and support environmental stewardship by Sprint employees.

Continue to comply with environmental regulations.

Sprint claims that is has adopted robust measures and goals to support each of these priorities, which together compose Sprint's environmental sustainability program.

In addition to its GHG-reduction goal, these 10-year goals include increasing its wireless recycling take-back rates to 90 percent and increasing supplier compliance with Sprint's environmental requirements to 90 percent.

One of the key areas which Sprint will be targeting to reduce GHG emissions is through its mobile networks and the energy associated with operating them.

Sprint has already taken significant steps to reduce its energy use and to incorporate alternative energy sources.

It will be taking these efforts further, both by moving forward with steps to achieve its GHG reduction target and by examining all network design and procurement processes, to ensure energy use and environmental impact are key considerations.

Sprint is currently a leader in hydrogen fuel cell deployment within the U.S. communications arena, with more than 250 hydrogen fuel cells in its core network -- and with more planned.

In addition, Sprint's XOHM network, launched in Baltimore in September, was designed to be green, relying on hydrogen fuel cells as the primary backup power source.

Cleaner and quieter than traditional backup power sources, the only by-products of hydrogen fuel cells are emissions-free: water and heat.

Sprint continues to lead in wireless recycling rates, and plans to significantly increase those rates through its two wireless recycling programs, Sprint Project Connect and Sprint Buyback.

The company's current recycling and reuse rate is about 16 percent. These two programs alone have already kept more than 13 million wireless phones out of the waste stream while generating more than $5 million in charitable contributions.

Sprint has committed to increase that rate to 90 percent of the devices it sells by 2017.

It plans to expand these recycling programs and to increase its customers' participation in phone take-back efforts.

All wireless phones recycled are either refurbished and resold or recycled, with 100 percent of the net proceeds of Project Connect directed toward keeping kids safer online through Sprint's 4NetSafetySM program in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the NEA Health Information Network.

Sprint is also working toward expanding its green choices for its customers, both consumers and businesses.

For example, the packaging for Sprint's green Rumor by LG is the first device from Sprint and LG to use environmentally friendly packaging.

The non-bleached, recyclable box is approximately 70 percent post-consumer content, and has an eco-friendly aqueous coating.

Sprint will continue to offer a portfolio of products, services and packaging that allow its customers to make greener choices in their own lives and businesses.

"Sprint and its environmental commitments are here for the long term," said Ralph Reid, vice president of corporate social responsibility for Sprint, in a written statement. "Our company is much more than the products and services it sells.

"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," he said.