Kohl’s strengthens sustainability commitment

Menomonee Falls, Wis. Kohl’s Department Stores has become the first retailer to announce a commitment to reach net zero U.S. greenhouse gas emissions as part of its ongoing partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program.

To achieve this goal of being carbon neutral, Kohl’s will continue to invest in projects to reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions that the company emits into the atmosphere.

The goal accounts for U.S. emissions at all Kohl’s facilities, including stores, distribution centers and corporate offices, as well as emissions resulting from business travel.

“We want to demonstrate that it is possible for a large company to have a successful business model and operate in a sustainable way,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive VP store planning and logistics. “By pledging to neutralize our carbon footprint, we are taking significant steps to ensure that our operations are environmentally responsible -- from waste reduction to our energy programs to our building standards.”

In 2007, Kohl’s joined EPA Climate Leaders, a group of companies committed to reducing their impact on the global environment by analyzing and reporting aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals. The company has committed to achieving net zero emissions by the end of 2010 and maintaining carbon neutrality through 2012, at which point the company will work with the EPA on continued goal setting.