National Vision Holdings, Inc.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2020, 2021-01-02 to 2022-01-01, 2022, 2023)
Reporting Period: 2020
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Social
- Employees
- Environment
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Completed first GHG Inventory
- Received “Leadership in Greener Purchasing” award from Office Depot
- Updated environmental standards for retail facilities
Social Achievements
- Donated > $2.3 million to strategic nonprofit partners to alleviate the global vision crisis
- Provided > 1,900 vouchers to people in need of free eye care or eyewear through National Vision Cares program
- Launched new DEI strategy and goals
- Increased amount of paid parental leave for associates
- Provided personal finance management resource to assist all associates with budgeting and short and long term savings goals
Governance Achievements
- Established “SEE + G” framework and focus areas
- Added oversight responsibility for environmental sustainability, social justice, and corporate responsibility included in the charter for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
- Stockholder approval of management proposals to declassify board and removal of supermajority voting provisions
Climate Goals & Targets
- Help 500,000 vulnerable people see better by 2023 (through partnership with Americares and RestoringVision)
- Double philanthropic contributions and reach in two years
Environmental Challenges
- COVID-19 pandemic impacted operations and associate well-being
- Supply chain disruptions (implied)
Mitigation Strategies
- Temporarily closed retail locations, shifted to remote work, implemented safety protocols, provided additional leave and financial support to associates and doctors
- Developed safety manuals, provided PPE, implemented physical distancing, cleaning protocols etc.
- Reduced compensation across the organization (temporarily)
- Implemented temporary furloughs for some of the workforce
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Annual social compliance audits of key merchandising suppliers
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Social Compliance Audit Program
- Conflict Minerals policy
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3
- Goal 5
- Goal 8
Initiatives contribute to improved health, gender equality, and economic growth.
Awards & Recognition
- Leadership in Greener Purchasing award from Office Depot
- Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity
- Forbes’ Best Employers for Women
- Award from 50/50 Women on Boards
Reporting Period: 2021-01-02 to 2022-01-01
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Product affordability and accessibility
- Employee wellness, benefits and development
- Employee diversity, equity and inclusion
- Governance, ethics and compliance
- Product impact and innovation
- Product quality and safety
- Data privacy and cybersecurity
- Philanthropy and community giving
- Socially responsible supply chain
- Transparency and disclosure
- GHG emissions and energy use
- Resource use and waste
Environmental Achievements
- Completed second greenhouse gas emissions inventory
- Launched LED energy efficiency upgrade program
- Reduced paper waste through electronic health records
- Recycled more than 100,000 pounds of plastics from landfills (St. Cloud lab)
Social Achievements
- Launched remote medicine program
- Launched register donation program
- National Vision Cares reached 10x more people than in 2020 (over 21,000 people)
- 76% associate engagement score
- Established values-based competency framework
- CEO Reade Fahs signed CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion Pledge™
- Approved proposal to declassify board structure
- Recognized by 50/50 Women on Boards
Governance Achievements
- Enhanced disclosure on how ESG approach links to stakeholder impact and business success
- Introduced a consistent structure for SEE+G sections of the report
- Added new sections to Code of Conduct (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Information Privacy and Security)
- Phased out classified Board structure
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Help 5 million people to see in the next 5 years through our philanthropic programs
- Deliver inclusive leader training to 1,500 leaders by end of 2023
- Help 500,000 of the country’s most vulnerable to see better by 2023
- Provide 30,000 vouchers per year for a free exam and glasses through National Vision Cares by the end of 2022
- Double 20/20 Quest philanthropic giving and reach in terms of lives impacted by the end of 2022
- Remote medicine enabled in up to 300 stores by end of 2022
- >150 targeted store lighting upgrades in 2022
Environmental Challenges
- Securing quality data from locations and partners across the country for GHG inventory
- Managing waste from lens manufacturing (swarf)
- Maintaining affordability of products and services while managing rising costs
- Ensuring data security and privacy
Mitigation Strategies
- Added an additional level of internal controls when compiling GHG inventory
- Experimenting with swarf recycling and using briquetters
- Implementing cost-saving measures such as energy-efficient lighting and HVAC systems
- Providing additional data security training to associates and implementing robust security controls
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 14 third-party social compliance audits completed in 2021
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Security assessments
- Privacy program requirements
- On-site visits with potential suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Not disclosed
Transition Risks
- Policy and legal risks, technology risks, market risks, reputational risks
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 5
- SDG 8
Initiatives contribute to these goals through improved access to healthcare, gender equality, and sustainable economic growth
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Net plastic neutral contact lenses
Awards & Recognition
- 50/50 Women on Boards
- America’s Best Employers for Diversity (Forbes)
- America’s Best Employers for Women (Forbes)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Societal Impact
- Employees
- Environment
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Completed 153 energy-efficient lighting upgrades in stores.
- Completed third GHG emissions inventory.
Social Achievements
- Provided more than 37,000 vouchers for free eye care or eyewear through National Vision Cares.
- Associate engagement score of 74%.
Governance Achievements
- Completed first TCFD-aligned review of business activities.
- Six directors stood for re-election as part of Board declassification.
- Updated Code of Conduct and Board governance documents.
Climate Goals & Targets
- Help 5 million people to see by the end of 2025 through philanthropic programs
- Help 500,000 of the country’s most vulnerable to see better by 2023
- Complete energy efficient lighting upgrade program in 2023
- Enable remote care in 300 stores by end of 2022 (achieved)
Environmental Challenges
- Challenging macroeconomic environment impacting budget-conscious customers.
- Persistent pandemic-related supply chain disruptions leading to cost inflation and a challenging labor market.
Mitigation Strategies
- Rollout of remote care and electronic health record capabilities to over 300 locations.
- Opening of 80 new stores in 2022.
- Investment in various digitalization efforts to improve customer offerings and create cost efficiencies.
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 14 supplier sites audited in 2022
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather
Transition Risks
- Policy and market shifts to a lower-carbon economy
Opportunities
- Improving resource efficiency
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI, TCFD
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- 3
- 5
- 8
See SDG Index on page 71
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Green Love frames (Eastman Acetate Renew)
- Net plastic neutral contact lenses
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Societal Impact
- Employees
- Environment
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- Completed energy efficient lighting program in 389 locations
- Installed automated systems at warehouse and lab facilities
- Enabled electronic health records (EHR) at 232 locations
Social Achievements
- Served over 8.5 million patients and customers
- Helped over 1.4 million people see better through philanthropic initiatives
- Provided more than 40,000 vouchers for free eye care or eyewear through National Vision Cares
- Promoted over 1,900 associates
- Donated over $4.1 million to strategic nonprofit partners
Governance Achievements
- Reviewed and updated Board committee composition
- Completed phase out of classified Board structure
- Continued robust off-season stockholder engagement program
- Mature enterprise risk management program
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
- Help 5 million people see by the end of 2025 through philanthropic programs
Environmental Challenges
- Supply chain disruptions (implied)
- Waste management in labs (44% diversion rate)
Mitigation Strategies
- Improved data quality procedures for GHG emissions inventory
- Waste audit at Lawrenceville lab to identify opportunities for improvement
- Implementing improvements in waste handling processes to increase recycling rate
- Implementing cost-saving measures throughout operations after Walmart partnership termination
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 14 third-party social compliance audits/year
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
- Improving resource efficiency
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB, GRI, TCFD
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3
- SDG 5
- SDG 8
Initiatives contributing to health, gender equality, and economic growth
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- SeeGreen Eco Lens Care Kits
- Green Love frames collection
- Net plastic neutral contact lenses
Awards & Recognition
- Salus University Presidential Medal of Honor (Walt Fleming)
- National Optometric Association’s 2023 Founder’s Award