Ecaterina Galer – Moldcell: Investment in sustainability – a strategic and necessary investment for every company
The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) goes beyond profit, and investments in measures that are friendly to employees, communities, and the environment are a strategic necessity for any company. This is the opinion of Ecaterina Galer, Sustainability Officer at Moldcell Moldova, who is responsible for quantifying and aligning the company’s actions with the highest international sustainability reporting standards. Ecaterina Galer talks about Moldcell’s solutions to environmental challenges, efforts to reduce the digital gap between generations, and the involvement of employees in various projects aimed at making a change in society:
– How important are sustainability goals for Moldcell, and to what extent does the company contribute to the sustainable development of the Republic of Moldova?
Moldcell was founded in 2000, and over its 24 years of activity, we have consistently demonstrated our civic commitment through numerous social projects, benefiting hundreds of thousands of citizens in Moldova. However, from my point of view, the most important contribution is that with the establishment of Moldcell, mobile telephony became accessible not only to the elites of the country but to all citizens of Moldova, ensuring true digital inclusion. Our investment amounts to 10 billion lei, expressed through investments and taxes to the state budget.
Studies show that consumers are already leaning towards sustainable products and services and are willing to invest more in them. In the next decade, 85% of consumers will consider sustainability actions before making a purchase. Therefore, the investment we make today is not only a moral obligation but a strategic and necessary investment for any company in the long term. That is why we are more than just an operator, and our vision goes beyond telecommunications. In addition to the partnerships and social projects we have in the area of digital inclusion for people from various vulnerable categories, economic empowerment of women, online safety for children and the elderly, supporting social entrepreneurship schools, and supporting creative industries, I believe our competitive advantage lies in the diverse ecosystem of digital and financial solutions we offer to our customers.
– What is the foundation of the company’s policy in contributing to the achievement of SDGs?
At Moldcell, we look beyond telecommunications. Sustainable development is a commitment that we turn into concrete actions every day. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and the Sustainable Development Goals guide us in everything we do, from employee care to community impact. By implementing practices that engage and support our team, we have been recognized globally, winning the People and Culture Award at the World Communication Awards. We are committed to creating a safe, diverse, and inclusive work environment. The safety of our people is a priority, with every employee integrated into our health and safety management system. Our commitment to the team is reflected in the results of the 2023 Employee Engagement Survey, where we achieved a score of 84%. Diversity is another central pillar of our success. 44% of our extended leadership team and 52% of the entire company are women – an example of equality and inclusion. We continuously invest in the development of our team. With over 46 hours of training per employee and over 1.5 million lei allocated to professional development, we are dedicated to long-term success. Through the activities of the Moldcell Foundation, we have changed the lives of over 22,000 people, equipping them with essential digital skills and opening up new opportunities and perspectives for a better future. Moldcell is more than just a telecommunications operator – we are a trusted partner in building a sustainable future, beyond Telco.
– How does the company respond to environmental challenges in the industry?
Adopting the GRI standard brought the greatest challenges in the environmental dimension, where we discovered a multitude of indicators and requirements to be met. These are essential to truly demonstrate concrete and measurable progress. For example, the carbon footprint forces you to look beyond your own operations and consider the impact of suppliers and consumers using your services. Calculating our carbon footprint has significantly broadened our perspectives, realizing that many of our projects focused on reducing operational costs or improving service quality have had a considerable impact on energy efficiency. A clear example is our fiber optic network, which is expanded annually. In addition to providing ultra-fast internet speeds, this infrastructure is 85% more energy-efficient compared to traditional copper networks.
Another example is the partnership with the Swedish company Ericsson, which helps us modernize the network with energy-efficient equipment and disconnect outdated equipment. Moldcell has built its infrastructure exclusively with Ericsson equipment for 24 years. In 2023, Ericsson was named the global leader in sustainability in a study by ABI Research, which involved over 80 telecom technology suppliers. We fully benefit from this partnership and look confidently toward the future with the aim of achieving our common goal of energy efficiency.
In another partnership, Moldcell began using artificial intelligence-based applications to optimize energy consumption by adjusting equipment and eliminating anomalies that lead to unnecessary electricity consumption. Last but not least, Moldcell’s aspiration to be associated with the latest technologies led to the launch of 5G technology for the first time in April 2024. In addition to providing much higher data transfer speeds than the previous 4G technology, 5G connections also have a lower energy consumption, with studies in the field showing efficiency of up to 90%, not taking into account the increased traffic generated by consumers using 5G technology.
Moldcell is also committed to promoting the principles of a circular economy. In this regard, we already recycle all the electronic waste generated by our activities and have launched an e-waste collection program from consumers at our network of stores. To inspire our employees, we have also initiated a selective waste collection program at our administrative headquarters. We also collaborate with two partners to refurbish old phones and give them a second life. However, we believe that preventing the generation of waste is the most effective approach. The concept behind Moldcell’s strategy—being the #DigitallyHuman operator—is focused on digitalizing processes and promoting innovative technological solutions that enable efficient resource usage, reduce waste, and contribute to the main goal of digital inclusion.
– What is the company doing in terms of digitalization, a field that encompasses all aspects of modern human life?
– Moldcell is the first and only operator that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of all citizens of Moldova. Every quarter, within the Sustainability Committee, we closely monitor the impact of digital and financial services on our financial indicators and on society as a whole. We have a rich and diverse ecosystem that addresses various consumer demands.
One of our achievements that we are proud of is reducing paper consumption through the implementation of M-Doc and E-contract applications. We have also significantly increased the adoption of M2M technologies by our customers, which has a substantial impact on reducing emissions. In 2023, we launched the e-Health online service for the first time, providing online access to hundreds of physical and psycho-emotional health specialists from Moldova and Romania.
We have also focused on optimizing our network of stores by encouraging the adoption of digital services, the My Moldcell self-management apps, and transitioning to the online store. We continue to focus on developing services that do not require additional physical equipment, thus reducing our ecological footprint. Another achievement is the new Moldcell Money service, which, in its first year of operation, demonstrated encouraging popularity, with over 30,000 app downloads and more than 100 services available.
We do not limit ourselves to developing digital services; we also emphasize reducing the digital gap between generations. Studies show that in Moldova, one in five people is over 60 years old, and according to a 2020 UNFPA study, only one-third of the population aged 60-80 has used the internet. Moldcell is firmly committed to bridging the digital divide between generations because we believe that it is every person’s right, regardless of age or social status, to live a dignified and healthy life.
In 2020, Moldcell became the first company in Moldova to officially commit to supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the UN. As part of this Memorandum, we launched the first joint project aimed at supporting the elderly population in terms of digital inclusion, in partnership with UNFPA Moldova, a member of the UN family. Moldcell Foundation volunteers and young volunteers from each community teach elderly residents how to use mobile phones, navigate the web, create social media accounts, and access online social and medical services.
We presented this project, in its first year of operation, at the International Conference organized by the UN in Geneva, and we were applauded by representatives from 56 countries for the merits of this digital inclusion project. This encouragement gave us the impetus to continue in this direction, and that’s exactly what we did. We supported the launch of the Third Age University, and we already have 60 graduates in Chișinău. Recently, this project was expanded to other regions: Bălți and Cahul. Honestly, the emotions are overwhelming when grandchildren greet their grandparents, who have gained new digital skills.
When you manage to touch the heart of the customer, you create lasting relationships that bring benefits to everyone: the company, the community, and the environment.
– To what extent are the company’s employees actively involved in Moldcell’s SDG projects?
We are aware of the impact we have on the community and the environment, and we are always receptive to the initiatives launched by the company. For example, in 2023, as part of the National Forest Extension and Rehabilitation Program, in collaboration with the Moldcell Foundation and Moldsilva Agency, employees contributed to a greener Moldova. Around 250 employees participated in a planting session in Tomai village, Leova district, and later in another session in Măcărești, Ungheni district. Furthermore, some employees brought their children along to set an example and demonstrate that changing the environment we live in starts with each of us. We strongly believe that through such activities, we not only improve the environment but also inspire our employees to become more responsible toward nature. Thus, we are planting not just trees but also an organizational culture focused on responsible consumption.
We also support and participate in all relevant activities of the Moldcell Foundation, where, either as experts or volunteers, we contribute to the Foundation’s goals of helping Moldova become a better place to live.
Our employees are also actively involved in the Moldcell internship program, the Moldcell Academy, where we offer the younger generation the opportunity to combine studies with practical experience, ensuring the sustainable continuity of careers in the communications technology sector.
Source: newsmaker.md
