NTT Data and n2s Forge Partnership for Sustainable IT Decommissioning Across Virgin Media O2's UK Data Centers
January 07, 2026
As the data center industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, the sustainable end-of-life management of IT hardware has become a critical component of corporate sustainability strategies. A new multi-year partnership in the UK aims to address this challenge head-on, setting a benchmark for circular economy practices within digital infrastructure.
NTT Data UKI, the local arm of the global IT services giant, has entered into a three-year agreement with UK-based e-waste specialist Network 2 Supplies (n2s). The collaboration is focused on the sustainable decommissioning of IT equipment across the entire UK data center portfolio of telecom operator Virgin Media O2. The deal is structured to enhance resource recovery and improve circularity, directly supporting Virgin Media O2's ambitious environmental targets.
The scope of the partnership is significant, encompassing the processing of more than 40,000 IT assets. A key technological aspect involves the deployment of advanced "urban mining" solutions from n2s's sister company, Bioscope Technologies. This includes bioleaching, a low-carbon biotechnological process that uses natural microorganisms to recover valuable metals like copper and gold from electronic waste, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional, energy-intensive mining and refining.
Niccolo Spataro, CEO of NTT Data UKI, emphasized the strategic importance of the deal, stating, "As one of the world’s largest digital infrastructure and services providers, we are determined to achieve environmental sustainability – and this partnership exemplifies our commitment." He added, "Working with n2s's pioneering bioleaching technology and Virgin Media O2's own ambitious environmental goals, we're proving that responsible technology lifecycle management can deliver both circularity and business value."
For n2s, a company established in 2002 that processed over 33.5 tons of equipment in 2025 alone—avoiding an estimated 322 tons of CO2 emissions—this partnership represents a major scaling of its bioleaching capabilities. Andrew Gormarsall, an executive director at n2s, framed the initiative as part of a broader shift, saying, "Together, we’re evolving how technology is retired, resources are reclaimed, and circular value is created - supporting the UK’s journey to net zero."
The agreement holds considerable implications for the industry, demonstrating a viable model for large-scale operators to integrate circular economy principles into their asset lifecycle. For Virgin Media O2, a joint venture between Liberty Global and Telefónica SA, the partnership is a concrete step toward its stated goals of achieving net-zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040 and operating with zero waste. Dana Haidan, the company's Chief Sustainability Officer, noted that the deal ensures legacy network equipment is "responsibly processed, so parts can be recovered and reused, or sustainably disposed of."
Source: datacenterdynamics
