Home Depot focuses on people, environment

The Home Depot reported it has reduced its combined Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by approximately 172,000 metric tons in 2021, equivalent to taking more than 37,000 cars off the road for a year.

The company said it reduced its electricity consumption by approximately 11% year-over-year in U.S. stores – while at the same time opening five new stores – and cut U.S. store electricity usage by 50% since 2010.

These and other highlights are included in The Home Depot’s 2022 ESG Report, which provides updates on the company’s progress centered around three environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars: focusing on our people, operating sustainably, and strengthening our communities.

The Home Depot said it paid record fiscal 2021 success sharing bonuses to non-management associates of approximately $739 million.

“Our team knows that an effective ESG strategy works best when we all work together – our associates, nonprofit partners and supplier partners – to generate the most positive impact possible,” said Ted Decker, CEO and president of The Home Depot.

The company said its U.S. associate base was once again more ethnically diverse than the U.S. working population; approximately 36% of its new hires were women, and more than 57% were ethnically diverse in 2021.

“The progress we’ve made in focusing on our people, operating sustainably and strengthening our communities is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our associates,” said Decker.

The Home Depot Foundation crossed a milestone of more than $400 million contributed to veterans’ causes since 2011, it noted, while also making meaningful progress on its skilled trades training initiatives and responding to communities struck by natural disasters during the year.