Elena Valderrábano Wins CSO Sustainable Supply Chain Award

Telefónica's Chief Sustainability Officer, Elena Valderrábano, has received the CSO Sustainable Supply Chain Award at the Futur/io CSO Awards Europe for spearheading sustainable business strategies. The award recognizes her work in responsible sourcing, carbon emissions reduction, and ethical supply chain management within the telecom sector, making Telefónica a reference for sustainability in the industry.

The Futur/io award, one of the highest honors in its class, was handed out at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, an international conference where businesspeople, politicians, and thought leaders meet to exchange ideas about sustainability, economic renewal, and industry futures. The award given to Valderrábano reflects the increased focus on corporate social responsibility and the position of Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) in leading companies toward sustainability and social improvement. The CSO Awards Europe 2025 was held on 20 January 2025 at the Berghotel Schatzalp, Davos, honoring exceptional leaders in sustainability who have contributed positively to corporate sustainability. The evening, which was curated by the Futur/io Institute, honored influential individuals representing different sectors that have been central to driving purposeful change across their organizations and beyond.

In her role as Chief Sustainability Officer at Telefónica, Valderrábano has guided the company's international sustainability strategy with a clear emphasis on ESG integration, responsible business, and digital inclusion. With extensive experience in corporate ethics, social responsibility, and stakeholder engagement, she has been a key enabler in the alignment of the operations of Telefónica with climate action, circular economy, and sustainable supply chain management. Through her leadership, the firm not only deepened its commitment to reaching net-zero emissions but also strengthened its ESG reporting mechanisms and encouraged sustainable innovation throughout its business ecosystem. Her sustainability strategy has gained global acclaim, cementing Telefónica as a leader in sustainable business transformation further.

Telefónica, the world's second-largest telecommunications company, has shown time and again that it has a strong focus on sustainability. Its headquarters is in Spain, and it offers connectivity and digital services throughout Europe and Latin America under strong brands like Movistar, O2, and Vivo. It has been pioneering technology, and its solutions have been at the forefront of developments in fiber optics, mobile networks, cloud computing, and Internet of Things (IoT). Aside from its technical advancement, Telefónica has actively incorporated ESG values into business strategy with the keen eye toward carbon neutrality, sustainable supply chain, and connecting the digital gap.

One of Telefónica's main sustainability initiatives has been its effort towards having net-zero emissions by 2040. The organization has been continually striving to minimize its carbon footprint through measures such as energy efficiency, greater use of renewable resources, and the adoption of circular economy strategies. Valderrábano's efforts have been crucial in the implementation of these steps, making sure that sustainability is a top pillar of corporate strategy at Telefónica. Through her advocacy of responsible sourcing and ethical supply chain, she has enabled the company to establish a more open and sustainable business environment.

In addition to its environmental efforts, Telefónica has also made social sustainability a priority, specifically in terms of digital inclusion. Seeing the crucial impact that connectivity has on contemporary society, the company has invested in building its digital infrastructure out to unconnected communities in order to close the digital divide. This social responsibility effort is part of Valderrábano's larger vision for sustainability, which includes not just the protection of the environment but also fair access to technology and economic opportunity.

Her award at the CSO Awards Europe 2025 is indicative of the wider movement in corporate leadership whereby sustainability ceases to be treated as a secondary issue but becomes an essential business agenda. The function of CSOs has become more and more crucial in determining the future of businesses, as organizations are subjected to increased pressure from stakeholders, regulators, and consumers to embrace more responsible business approaches. Valderrábano's success is a testament to the change-making potential of sustainability leadership, raising the bar for other companies seeking to embed ESG in their ways of working.

As the telecom sector keeps developing, Telefónica's sustainability programs will surely have a long-term effect on the industry. As a leader with its aggressive climate objectives, ethical supply chain tactics, and commitment to digital inclusiveness, the organization is best positioned to take the lead in sustainable innovation. Valderrábano's leadership has not only consolidated Telefónica's position as a sustainability champion but has also showcased how companies can cause positive change without compromising long-term growth and competitiveness.

The award to leaders such as Elena Valderrábano at the Futur/io CSO Awards Europe reflects the growing significance of sustainability in business. As businesses grapple with the fallout from climate change, resource limitation, and inequality, the work of sustainability executives will remain central to developing strategies that reconcile profitability and responsibility. Thanks to Telefónica's ongoing work on ESG, the organization is a poster child for putting sustainability into decision-making at the corporate level and demonstrating that profit and environmental and social responsibility go hand in hand.