Kohl’s to increase use of renewable energy
Kohl’s unveiled a number of initiatives focused on long-term sustainability.
The initiatives, part of the retailer’s corporate social responsibility platform, fall into three key areas: climate action, waste and recycling, and sustainable sourcing. Kohl’s said that its sustainability strategy is guided by leveraging business practices and decisions that enhance the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Climate Action: Kohl’s climate action goals are focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increase of renewable energy use. The goals are outlined below.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Kohl’s-owned operations by 50% versus 2014 baseline by 2025.
• Further reduce energy consumption by 10% at Kohl’s facilities by 2025, building off of the company’s existing 20% reduction against 2008 baseline.
• Expand renewable energy platforms by building off the company’s existing 161 solar and wind locations.
• Support the transition to a low-carbon transportation system, building off of the company’s existing 96 locations offering electrical vehicle charging.
Waste/recycling: Kohl’s waste and recycling goals are focused on the management of all wastes, reducing waste generation and promoting relevant recycling information to customers. The goals include diverting 85% of Kohl’s U.S. operational waste from landfills by the end of 2025, labeling 100% of Kohl’s-owned branded packaging with the How2Recycle® label by 2025, and reducing the amount of plastic and cardboard in Kohl’s-owned branded packaging.
Sustainable sourcing: The retailer’s sustainable sourcing goals are focused on the efficient use of natural resources and environmentally sound management of chemicals within the company’s owned branded products. They include achieving 100% sustainably sourced cotton in Kohl’s proprietary brands by 2025, achieving 50% of products containing polyester to be made with recycled materials in Kohl’s proprietary brands by 2025 and emphasizing the elimination and reduction of chemicals in Kohl’s-owned brand products and strive for a zero-discharge supply chain of hazardous chemicals, building off of the company’s existing chemical sustainability program.
The company said it is committed to monitoring and reporting performance and progress against these goals within the company’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
“At Kohl's we are committed to being a responsible corporate citizen, making our communities stronger by supporting initiatives and organizations that focus on health-and-wellness, sustainability, and environmental efforts that benefit all families,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s CEO. “We are proud to share our sustainability goals that support Kohl’s efforts to enhance our standing as a retailer of purpose.”
Kohl’s has been recognized in 2019 with the following awards and recognitions for significant progress implementing its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives:
• 2019 Barron’s Top 100 Sustainable Companies
• 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index
• 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute
• U.S. Department of Energy Better Building Challenge Achiever, surpassing the company’s 2018 goal to reduce energy consumption by 20%
• 2019 EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award, for the eighth consecutive year
• 2018 EPA Smartway Shipper
To learn more about Kohl’s commitment to sustainability, visit Kohls.com/Sustainability.
The initiatives, part of the retailer’s corporate social responsibility platform, fall into three key areas: climate action, waste and recycling, and sustainable sourcing. Kohl’s said that its sustainability strategy is guided by leveraging business practices and decisions that enhance the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
Climate Action: Kohl’s climate action goals are focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increase of renewable energy use. The goals are outlined below.
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Kohl’s-owned operations by 50% versus 2014 baseline by 2025.
• Further reduce energy consumption by 10% at Kohl’s facilities by 2025, building off of the company’s existing 20% reduction against 2008 baseline.
• Expand renewable energy platforms by building off the company’s existing 161 solar and wind locations.
• Support the transition to a low-carbon transportation system, building off of the company’s existing 96 locations offering electrical vehicle charging.
Waste/recycling: Kohl’s waste and recycling goals are focused on the management of all wastes, reducing waste generation and promoting relevant recycling information to customers. The goals include diverting 85% of Kohl’s U.S. operational waste from landfills by the end of 2025, labeling 100% of Kohl’s-owned branded packaging with the How2Recycle® label by 2025, and reducing the amount of plastic and cardboard in Kohl’s-owned branded packaging.
Sustainable sourcing: The retailer’s sustainable sourcing goals are focused on the efficient use of natural resources and environmentally sound management of chemicals within the company’s owned branded products. They include achieving 100% sustainably sourced cotton in Kohl’s proprietary brands by 2025, achieving 50% of products containing polyester to be made with recycled materials in Kohl’s proprietary brands by 2025 and emphasizing the elimination and reduction of chemicals in Kohl’s-owned brand products and strive for a zero-discharge supply chain of hazardous chemicals, building off of the company’s existing chemical sustainability program.
The company said it is committed to monitoring and reporting performance and progress against these goals within the company’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report.
“At Kohl's we are committed to being a responsible corporate citizen, making our communities stronger by supporting initiatives and organizations that focus on health-and-wellness, sustainability, and environmental efforts that benefit all families,” said Michelle Gass, Kohl’s CEO. “We are proud to share our sustainability goals that support Kohl’s efforts to enhance our standing as a retailer of purpose.”
Kohl’s has been recognized in 2019 with the following awards and recognitions for significant progress implementing its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives:
• 2019 Barron’s Top 100 Sustainable Companies
• 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index
• 2019 World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute
• U.S. Department of Energy Better Building Challenge Achiever, surpassing the company’s 2018 goal to reduce energy consumption by 20%
• 2019 EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award, for the eighth consecutive year
• 2018 EPA Smartway Shipper
To learn more about Kohl’s commitment to sustainability, visit Kohls.com/Sustainability.