Ross Stores, Inc.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2019, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2019
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:265,686 MT CO2e
Scope 1 Emissions:23,175 MT CO2e
Scope 2 Emissions:242,511 MT CO2e
Scope 3 Emissions:59,662 MT CO2e
Renewable Energy Share:Not disclosed
Total Energy Consumption:782,662 MWh
Water Consumption:Not disclosed
Waste Generated:Not disclosed
Carbon Intensity:4.3 MT CO2e per 1,000 square feet in 2019
ESG Focus Areas
- GHG emissions
- Waste
Environmental Achievements
- 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per square foot versus 2017
- Nearly 100% of stores have LED lighting
- 1.8 million over-the-road miles reduced annually through distribution route optimization
- 63% of waste diverted from landfill
- 100 thousand tons of cardboard recycled
Social Achievements
- Not disclosed
Governance Achievements
- Established the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC) made up of senior leaders across the Company
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per square foot by 30% by 2025 (against a 2017 baseline)
Environmental Challenges
- Climate change impacts (extreme weather events, wildfires)
- Supply chain disruptions
Mitigation Strategies
- Increasing efficiency, building resiliency, lowering impact
- Maintaining a large supply chain with a network of over 7,500 suppliers
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Compliance with applicable environmental laws and product safety requirements
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events, wildfires
Transition Risks
- Not disclosed
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD
Certifications: LEED Gold certification (Headquarters)
Third-party Assurance: Third-party verification of 2019 GHG emissions
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:375,972 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:29,832 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:245,536 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:94,441 tCO2e/year
Total Energy Consumption:860,794 MWh/year
Carbon Intensity:14.7 tCO2e per $1 million revenue in 2022
ESG Focus Areas
- Empowering Our Associates
- Supporting Our Communities
- Operating Sustainably
- Conducting Business Ethically
Environmental Achievements
- 23% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per square foot versus 2017
- 67% of waste diverted from landfill
Social Achievements
- Recognized by Newsweek magazine as one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity” and one of “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women.”
- Received a 90 out of 100 rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index.
- 76% of managerial openings in Stores and Field Offices were filled through internal promotions
- Contributed to more than 1,700 nonprofit organizations
- Together with our Customers, donated more than $4.2M to Boys & Girls Clubs and First Book
Governance Achievements
- Established a cross-functional Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC)
- Maintained a product recall program
- Conducted over 1,000 supplier inspections and audits under the social compliance program
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce our absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030 against a 2021 baseline
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent per square foot by 2025 versus a 2017 baseline
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions
- Increased prevalence of wildfires in California and other extreme weather events across the US
- Managing Scope 3 emissions from the supply chain
Mitigation Strategies
- Maintaining a large supply chain with a broad network of suppliers for flexibility
- Investing in energy efficiency measures (LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC)
- Participating in demand response programs to support local electrical grids
- Working with transportation providers to improve shipping efficiency
- Exploring carbon reduction pathways for Scope 3 emissions
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Over 1,000 supplier inspections and audits conducted in 2022
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Conduct requiring compliance with all applicable laws, including those related to labor compensation, working conditions, child labor, environmental protection, product safety, and corruption.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Wildfires
- Hurricanes
- Floods
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Supply chain disruptions
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD
Awards & Recognition
- Newsweek’s “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity”,
- Newsweek’s “America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women”
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:369,564 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:28,694 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:238,264 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:102,606 tCO2e/year
Total Energy Consumption:859,156 MWh/year
Carbon Intensity:13.1 MT CO2e per $1 million revenue (2023)
ESG Focus Areas
- Empowering Our Associates
- Supporting Our Communities
- Operating Sustainably
- Conducting Business Ethically
Environmental Achievements
- 28% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions per total square foot versus 2017
- 67% of waste diverted from landfill
Social Achievements
- Received a 100 rating on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index
- 72% of managerial openings in Stores and Field Offices were filled through internal promotions
- Contributed to over 1,750 nonprofit organizations
- Raised more than $4 million for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Raised more than $930,000 for First Book
Governance Achievements
- Participated in the Carbon Disclosure Project Climate Change Questionnaire, receiving a B score
- Established the cross-functional Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC)
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner
Medium-term Goals:
- Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42 percent by 2030 against a 2021 baseline
Short-term Goals:
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 30 percent per total square foot by 2025 versus a 2017 baseline
Environmental Challenges
- Increased frequency and severity of wildfires in California and other extreme weather events impacting Stores and operations
- Measurement of Scope 3 emissions is challenging due to the off-price business model and variable purchasing strategy
- Managing waste from packaging due to lack of control over packaging types from suppliers
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in energy efficiency measures (LED lighting, high-efficiency HVAC)
- Participating in demand response programs to support local electrical grids
- Exploring strategies and partnerships for on-site and off-site renewable energy
- Developing and executing programs to reuse and recycle packaging
- Implementing technology to optimize trash compactor servicing
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Over 1,700 supplier inspections and audits conducted in 2023
Responsible Procurement
- Vendor Code of Conduct requiring compliance with all applicable laws (labor compensation, working conditions, environmental protection, product safety, etc.)
- Social compliance program with inspections and audits by buying agents and third-party auditors
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Wildfires
- Extreme weather events
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Supply chain disruptions
Opportunities
- Energy efficiency improvements
- Renewable energy adoption
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB, TCFD