Deere & Company
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 19% since 2017
- Increased renewable energy share to 32% of global electricity
- Recycled 78% of waste
- 67% of new product programs had lower environmental impacts compared to prior models.
Social Achievements
- Delivered over 400,000 face shields to healthcare workers and communities
- Invested over $4 million in research and development
- Invested $36.7 million in community investment efforts
- Improved youth educational attainment in Nigeria by 60% and 77% in letter and number recognition respectively.
- Reduced Total Recordable Incident Rate by 20% from 2019 to 2020
Governance Achievements
- 27% females on the Board of Directors
- 45% female or ethnically diverse directors on the Board
- 27% ethnically diverse directors on the Board
- 13 times recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the world’s most ethical businesses
Climate Goals & Targets
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15% through 50% renewable electricity by 2022
- Reduce environmental impact on 90% of new products by 2022
- Recycle 85% of total waste by 2022
- Implement water best management practices in 100% of water-scarce locations by 2022
- Increase remanufactured and rebuild sales by 30% by 2022
Environmental Challenges
- COVID-19 pandemic impacting operations and supply chains
- Water scarcity in some manufacturing locations
- Global market shifts affecting recycling
- Decreased remanufacturing activity due to the pandemic
Mitigation Strategies
- Implemented safety measures in factories and offered remote work arrangements
- Implemented water best management practices in water-scarce locations
- Exploring opportunities for increased avenues for recycling
- Focusing on continuous improvement and future growth in remanufacturing
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 402/year
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- EcoVadis assessment of key suppliers
- Conflict Minerals review
- RoHS and REACH surveys
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001
Third-party Assurance: Apex Companies, LLC
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 4: Quality Education
- Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals
John Deere's citizenship programs such as Rayuwa and Samruddhi contribute to these goals.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- 8RX four-track tractors with eIVT technology
- X9 Combine
- ExactEmerge™ planter
- ExactApply™ spraying technology
Awards & Recognition
- America’s Most JUST Companies
- JUST 100 Best Place to Work
- Agritechnica Gold Medal Award
- Tech For a Better World, Innovation Award Honoree
- Best of CES Sustainability Award
- Best Global Brands
- World’s Most Ethical Companies
- Top Employer
- Best Workplaces for Innovators
- 50 Sustainability & Climate Leader
- Red Dot Award
- iF Design Award
- Sustainability Product of the Year
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Greenhouse gas emissions reduction
- Sustainable materials and recyclable content
- Water conservation
- Waste reduction
- Employee safety
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Food security
- Supply chain sustainability
- Cybersecurity and data privacy
- Human rights
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 29 percent from 2017 to 2022.
- Achieved nearly 59 percent renewable electricity by the end of 2022.
- Recycled 84 percent of total waste generated in 2022.
- Implemented water best management practices at 100 percent of water-scarce manufacturing sites.
Social Achievements
- Expanded paid parental leave to eight weeks for all parents.
- Expanded infertility coverage and fertility solutions for salaried employees.
- Expanded healthcare benefits to same-sex and different-sex domestic partners of salaried employees.
- Increased free counseling visits through the Employee Assistance Program.
- Donated over $2.3M USD in 2022 to food banks worldwide, providing nearly 13.6 million meals.
- Made a five-year, $5M USD commitment to One Acre Fund.
Governance Achievements
- Issued $600M USD of sustainability-linked medium-term notes.
- Created a Corporate Sustainability department.
- Updated Supplier Code of Conduct to incorporate sustainability.
- Expanded Supplier Achieving Excellence program to include sustainability criteria.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Reduce freshwater consumption intensity by 10% at water-stressed manufacturing locations by 2030.
- Reduce waste intensity by 15% by 2030.
- Reduce Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions by 50% by 2030.
- Reduce upstream and downstream CO2e emissions (Scope 3) by 30% by 2030.
- Ensure 75% of engaged acres are sustainably engaged acres by 2030.
- Grow enterprise recurring revenue to 10% by 2030.
- Achieve 95% recyclable product content by 2030.
- Ensure 65% of product content is sustainable material by 2030.
- Grow 50% in remanufacturing revenue by 2030.
- Improve Total Recordable Incident Rate by 20% by 2026.
- Reach 500 million engaged acres with 50% highly engaged by 2026.
- Ensure 100% of new Small Ag equipment is connectivity enabled by 2026.
- Offer an electric option in each Turf and Compact Utility Tractor product family by 2026.
- Deliver a fully autonomous, battery-powered electric ag tractor to the market by 2026.
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions impacting remanufacturing goals.
- Increased total recordable incidents due to increased production workforce.
- Limited availability of renewable fuels.
- Challenges in achieving 100% waste recycling due to market headwinds.
Mitigation Strategies
- Set higher targets for remanufacturing revenue growth in Leap Ambitions.
- Prioritizing risk and injury-reduction strategies, improved ergonomic programs, and prevention through design to improve TRIR.
- Partnering with industry leaders to advance renewable fuel production and infrastructure.
- Focusing on reducing waste generation from operations and engaging with supply management to reduce packaging materials.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 936 in 2022
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- EcoVadis assessments
- Supplier Achieving Excellence program
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes
- Market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Renewable fuels
- Electrification
- Hybridization
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, TCFD, GRI, UN SDGs, CDP
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 9001
Third-party Assurance: Apex Companies, LLC
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
See report for details on how initiatives contribute to these goals.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- See & Spray™ Ultimate
- ExactShot™
- Electric and hybrid-electric equipment
- Remanufactured parts
Awards & Recognition
- See Awards section in report.
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Financial and Sustainable Outcomes
- Customer Outcomes
- Sustainable Product Development
- Operational Sustainability
- People & Communities
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 15% from 2021 baseline.
- Implemented projects to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by nearly 1,200 metric tons of CO2e annually.
- Reduced nearly 30,000 cubic meters in water consumption at Dewas and Pune Works compared to 2021.
- Reused over 2 million pounds of wood.
- ExactShot™ reduces starter fertilizer by more than 60%.
Social Achievements
- Launched a multiyear people-focused strategy.
- Continued to build a global talent pipeline through upskilling, apprenticeship programs, and leadership development.
- John Deere Foundation made three of the largest grants in its 75-year history, directing $19 million toward initiatives focused on eliminating hunger.
- Served more than 113,000 youth across 35 company locations in eight countries through John Deere Inspire program.
- African American representation in Senior Management grew from 11.3% to 13.9%.
Governance Achievements
- Recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the 16th time.
- Matured compliance disclosures with hotline report metrics.
- Incorporated sustainability components through qualitative assessments in executive compensation programs.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Achieve 95% recyclable product content by 2030.
- Ensure 65% of product content is sustainable material by 2030.
- Grow remanufacturing revenue by 50% by 2030.
- Reach 500 million engaged acres with 50% highly engaged by 2026.
- Ensure 75% of engaged acres are sustainably engaged acres by 2030.
- Deliver 20+ electric and hybrid-electric product models by 2026.
- Reduce operational CO2e emissions (Scope 1 & 2) by 50% by 2030.
- Reduce upstream and downstream CO2e emissions (Scope 3) by 30% by 2030.
- Reduce waste intensity by 15% by 2030.
- Reduce freshwater consumption intensity by 10% at water-stressed manufacturing locations by 2030.
- Grow enterprise recurring revenue to 10% by 2030.
- Ensure 100% of new Small Ag equipment is connectivity enabled by 2026.
- Offer an electric option in each Turf and Compact Utility Tractor product family by 2026.
- Deliver a fully autonomous, battery-powered electric ag tractor to the market by 2026.
- Improve Total Recordable Incident Rate by 20% by 2026.
Environmental Challenges
- Ongoing inflationary pressures.
- Global economic uncertainties, geopolitical instability, and weather variability.
- Reducing upstream and downstream (Scope 3) CO2e emissions.
- Reducing Scope 1 and 2 CO2e emissions.
- Reducing waste intensity.
- Reducing freshwater consumption intensity at water-stressed manufacturing locations.
Mitigation Strategies
- Strategic investments that advanced the Smart Industrial Operating Model and reinforced the achievement of Leap Ambitions.
- Implementing a Solutions as a Service business model.
- Investing in engine efficiency, hybridization, electrification, and renewable fuels.
- Engaging global teams to identify opportunities for efficiency.
- Implementing projects to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions.
- Optimizing water reuse, developing process efficiencies, and improving infrastructure maintenance.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 1,650+ supplier locations completed sustainability scorecards (65% of Tier 1 supplier spend)
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- EcoVadis assessments
- Sustainability scorecards
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Weather conditions and natural calamities
Transition Risks
- Compliance with and changes to greenhouse gas emissions and other standards related to climate change.
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Renewable fuels and alternative power
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, UN SDGs, GRI, TCFD
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- ExactShot™
- See & Spray™ technologies
- Electric and hybrid-electric products (turf care, construction & forestry)
- Remanufactured components
Awards & Recognition
- Fortune’s Most Admired
- Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies
- Points of Light Civic 50
- Axios Harris Poll
- Fortune ReturnOnLeadership (ROL100)
- TIME100 Most Influential Companies
- Barron’s Top CEO
- TIME World’s Best Companies
- NASSCOM John Deere Operations Center™ Named CES® 2024 Innovation Awards Honoree
Reporting Period: 2024
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Human Rights
- Supply Chain
- Workforce Diversity & Development
- Safety
- Compliance
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 1 & 2 CO2e emissions by 29% from 2021 baseline
- Reduced Scope 3 (Categories 1 & 11) CO2e emissions by 19% from 2021 baseline
- Increased renewable energy share to 65% of total electricity use
Social Achievements
- Improved Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) by 15% from 2023
- Increased charitable contributions to $61.7 million
- Increased volunteer hours to 342,015
Governance Achievements
- 100% of salaried employees completed Code of Business Conduct training and certified compliance
- Implemented processes for responsible use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Reduce 50% operational CO2e emissions (Scope 1 & 2) by 2030
- Reduce 30% in upstream and downstream CO2e emissions (Scope 3 Categories 1 and 11) by 2030
- Reduce 15% of Ag customer CO2e emissions per unit of output by 2030
- Improve nitrogen use efficiency by 20% by 2030
- Increase crop protection efficiency by 20% by 2030
- Ensure 75% of engaged acres are sustainably engaged acres by 2030
- Connect 1.5 million machines by 2026
- Offer an electric option in each Turf and Compact Utility Tractor product family by 2026
- Deliver a fully autonomous, battery-powered electric ag tractor to the market by 2026
- Deliver 20+ electric and hybrid-electric product models (C&F) by 2026
- Demonstrate viable low/no carbon alternative power solutions by 2026
Environmental Challenges
- Transition to lower emissions technology
- Carbon pricing mechanisms impacting Deere's operations and customers
- Increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events
- Changes in precipitation patterns
- Supply chain disruptions due to climate events and geopolitical uncertainty
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in new technologies (electrification, hybridization, renewable fuels)
- Engaging with policymakers to advocate for favorable policies
- Developing alternative sourcing strategies
- Implementing robust supply chain risk management processes
- Improving efficiency in operations and facilities
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 1,902 audits in 2024
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- EcoVadis assessments
- Supplier Achieving Excellence program
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Increased severity and frequency of extreme weather events
- Changes in precipitation patterns
Transition Risks
- Transition to lower emissions technology
- Carbon pricing mechanisms
Opportunities
- Development and/or expansion of goods and services – agricultural practices
- Development and/or expansion of goods and services – alternative fuels
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: TCFD, SASB, UN SDGs, GRI
Certifications: ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018, ISO 9001:2015
Third-party Assurance: Apex Companies, LLC
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Electric and hybrid-electric product models
- Precision agriculture technologies