Cox Enterprises
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2021-2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2021-2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:302,474 short tons CO2e (2022)
Scope 1 Emissions:77,445 short tons CO2e (2022)
Scope 2 Emissions:225,029 short tons CO2e (2022)
Renewable Energy Share:30% (2022)
Total Energy Consumption:831 million kWh (2022)
Water Consumption:190,071 kgal (2022)
Waste Generated:49,575 tons (2022)
ESG Focus Areas
- Caring for People
- Protecting the Planet
- Innovating for Impact
Environmental Achievements
- Reached 87.8% waste diversion rate (97.6% towards 2024 Zero Waste to Landfill goal)
- Signed renewable electricity supply agreements for >60% renewable energy by 2025
- Annualized water reduction/replenishment of ~181 million gallons per year since 2014
Social Achievements
- Empowered 4.7 million people through 34 by 34 initiative (2020-2022)
- Unveiled ID&E strategy with centralized framework, long-term ambitions, and measurable goals
- Implemented Flex Forward, a flexible-working initiative
Governance Achievements
- Implemented enterprisewide Code of Conduct (2020)
- Established ESG data management system
- ESG subcommittee of the Board of Directors oversees ESG impact
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Empower 34 million people by 2034
Medium-term Goals:
- 60% renewable energy by 2025
- Carbon neutral by 2034
- Water neutral by 2034
- $1 billion spent with diverse suppliers by 2026
Short-term Goals:
- Zero waste to landfill by 2024
Environmental Challenges
- Competition for talent
- Social issues affecting prosperity
- Accelerating sustainability commitments
- Transparency on greenhouse gas emissions
- Rise in renewable energy demand
- Supply chain issues, inflation, and customer competition
Mitigation Strategies
- Improving development opportunities for employees
- Expanding 34 by 34 initiative
- Enhancing strategic partnerships and scaling innovation
- Tracking and reporting Scope 1 and 2 emissions, developing plans for Scope 3
- Building renewable energy projects, power purchase agreements, and piloting innovative technologies
- Strategically diversifying and growing core business, investing in transformative industries
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 126 suppliers screened using social criteria (2022)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Quarterly reporting of supplier diversity spend
- Certification Assistance Program
- Small Business Leadership Academy
- EcoVadis platform for ESG performance insights
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards, SASB
Third-party Assurance: Underwriter’s Laboratories (limited assurance for Zero Waste data)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 4
- SDG 5
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
- SDG 10
- SDG 11
- SDG 12
- SDG 13
- SDG 16
Alignment with Cox's strategy, initiatives, and long-term goals
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- BrightFarms (indoor farming)
- Mucci Farms (indoor farming)
- Nexus Circular (plastic recycling)
Awards & Recognition
- Atlanta Business Chronicle Best Places to Work
- DiversityInc Top Companies for Diversity
- Forbes America’s Best Large Employers
- Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For
- Great Place to Work
- HRC Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:747,648 MT CO2e (Scope 1+2 location based)
Scope 1 Emissions:287,891 MT CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:459,757 MT CO2e (location-based)
Scope 3 Emissions:1,826,411 MT CO2e
Renewable Energy Share:3.43% of total energy use
Total Energy Consumption:2,840,696,990.31 kWh
Water Consumption:2394 ML
Waste Generated:48,664 tons
ESG Focus Areas
- Caring for People
- Protecting the Planet
- Innovating for Impact
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved zero waste to landfill in 2024 with a 92% diversion rate.
- 71 domestic locations achieved Zero Waste to Landfill status.
Social Achievements
- Empowered 8.9 million people from 2020-2023 through the 34 by 34 initiative.
- Achieved $1B diverse supplier goal by the end of 2023 (two years ahead of schedule).
- Executive POC representation improved by nearly 45% since 2020.
- Director+ women representation increased by 2%.
Governance Achievements
- Independent limited assurance for GHG statement and specified indicators (GRI 303-1 and 303-3 metrics) for the year ended December 31, 2023.
- Zero Waste to Landfill data assured through GreenCircle Certified.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Empower 34 million people to live more prosperous lives by 2034
- Make investments to create a large and impactful cleantech business for a more sustainable future
Medium-term Goals:
- Expand Cox Communications footprint to reach residential customers in underserved and rural communities adjacent to our network, providing reliable internet service to more than 250,000 homes and businesses in nearby communities within five years.
Short-term Goals:
- Improve executive POC representation by 50% by the end of 2026
- Spend $1 billion with diverse suppliers by the end of 2026
Environmental Challenges
- Evolving carbon neutral goal and exploring science-based targets.
- Managing water scarcity in water-stressed locations.
- Integrating best practices and ensuring compliance across acquired entities.
Mitigation Strategies
- Partnered with third-party consultants to examine options for evolving climate goals and identifying climate-related risks and opportunities.
- Implementing water-saving strategies tailored to the needs of water-stressed locations.
- Developing Safety and Environmental Management Systems to document, investigate, and track workplace incidents.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 151 suppliers screened in 2023 (nearly 40% of spend)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI
Certifications: GreenCircle Certified (Zero Waste to Landfill)
Third-party Assurance: Independent limited assurance for select ESG data