Big praise for broadband aims
NBN Co has been praised for its efforts in sustainability.
NBN Co has been named Australia’s most sustainable public sector company and ranked 16th globally in the 2025 Corporate Knights Global 25 Most Sustainable Public Sector Corporations index.
The ranking – based on 12 indicators including sustainable investment, diversity and emissions disclosures – placed NBN Co as the highest-rated public sector company in the southern hemisphere.
This is the first time the broadband infrastructure operator has appeared on the list.
NBN Co scored 85.7 per cent for sustainable investment, 91.6 per cent for gender diversity in its executive team, and 99.8 per cent for gender diversity on its board.
All companies assessed for the ranking were required to report greenhouse gas emissions and have annual revenues over US$1 billion.
The index, compiled by Canadian firm Corporate Knights, measures global performance across both environmental and social metrics.
NBN Co’s inclusion reflects increasing investor and public scrutiny of emissions performance and workplace diversity in infrastructure organisations.
NBN Co has committed to sourcing 100 per cent renewable electricity from December 2025. Two of three signed Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are already in operation, supporting this target through large-scale renewable generation. The company is a member of the global RE100 initiative, which brings together major companies committed to 100 per cent renewable energy.
The company is also the largest Australian corporate issuer of Green Bonds, with around A$7.4 billion outstanding in domestic and international markets. All proceeds have been fully allocated to eligible green projects aligned with its Sustainability Bond Framework.
“The nbn network is critical digital infrastructure which carries over 80 per cent of the nation’s data and supports the needs of more than 20 million people every day,” said Stephen Smith, NBN Co’s Executive General Manager, Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability.
“This is a positive endorsement of our efforts to expand the use of renewable energy sources, invest in energy efficiency and focus on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.”
NBN Co’s Board-endorsed Climate Transition Plan outlines its pathway to net zero emissions by 2050, in line with national targets.
The company has also embedded inclusive workplace policies, such as universal parental leave and flexible work arrangements, to help meet its goal of 40 per cent female representation in management.
Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights, said NBN Co’s inclusion “reflects its commitment to advancing sustainable connectivity through strategic investments in network expansion and renewable energy integration, setting a benchmark for telecom providers globally.”
