Sustainability Report
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2020 Sustainability Report 2020 Sustainability Report | 1 Republic Services is proud to present our 2020 Sustainability Report Our company has long been a leader in environmental services and sustainability. We introduced our Elements of Sustainability, the foundation of our sustainability platform, in 2014. Our first sustainability goals were achieved in 2018, and in 2019 we announced a set of ambitious 2030 goals. These include the industry’s first greenhouse gas reduction goal approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Republic continued our industry-leading sustainability practices in 2020 with the release of our inaugural report aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures. It is our industry’s first comprehensive TCFD reporting and identifies our climate-related risks and opportunities. Our commitment to transparency and disclosure continues with this sustainability report, which tracks our progress toward our 2030 goals. We’ve enhanced our approach to climate leadership and invite you to explore our path to a low-carbon future. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This report contains certain forward-looking information about us that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “guidance,” “expect,” “will,” “may,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “should,” “can,” “likely,” “could,” “outlook” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include information about our sustainability targets, goals and programs in addition to our plans, strategies, expectations of future financial performance and prospects. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risk and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the expectations will prove to be correct. The inclusion of information in this report should not be construed as a characterization regarding the materiality or financial impact of that information. More information on factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated is included from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, particularly under Part I, Item 1A - Risk Factors, and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Additionally, new risk factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, or to assess the impact such risk factors might have on our business or sustainability programs and goals. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. 2020 Sustainability Report | 2 ABOUT US | OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLATFORM | SAFETY | HUMAN CAPITAL | CLIMATE LEADERSHIP | COMMUNITIES | APPENDIX Table of Contents WHO WE ARE Safety ..................................17 Human Capital ......................23 Message from our President and CEO ....................... 05 Our 2030 Goals .................................................06 About Us ........................................................ 07 Awards ..........................................................08 Facts & Figures .................................................08 Committed to Serve ........................................... 10 Social & Environmental Justice ................................ 11 OUR APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY Climate Leadership ................29 Communities ........................40 Elements of Sustainability ....................................13 Appendix. .46 Our Approach ..................................................14 Governance .....................................................15 2020 Sustainability Report | 3 ABOUT US | OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLATFORM | SAFETY | HUMAN CAPITAL | CLIMATE LEADERSHIP | COMMUNITIES | APPENDIX As a leader in the environmental services industry, we are committed Who We Are to delivering services and solutions for a more sustainable world. 2020 Sustainability Report | 4 ABOUT US | OUR SUSTAINABILITY PLATFORM | SAFETY | HUMAN CAPITAL | CLIMATE LEADERSHIP | COMMUNITIES | APPENDIX MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT AND CEO A Commitment to Our Customers, Our Communities and Our Team History will remember 2020 for the COVID-19 I’d like to highlight some key accomplishments Our Path Forward pandemic and society’s calls for social justice in all four elements over the past year: As we manage our Elements of Sustainability, we’ve and equal opportunity for people of all races. enhanced our focus on environmental, social and corporate In addition to these challenges, what I’ll SAFETY – Safety drives every decision we make. Amid governance issues to drive value for all stakeholders. remember is the relentless commitment of a global pandemic, 2020 was our safest year on record. Republic Services’ 35,000 team members: a In fact, our team recorded an extraordinary 21 percent We continue to make steady progress toward commitment demonstrated to our customers, reduction in safety incidents during this time while our 2030 goals and are excited about innovations operating uninterrupted. We emphasize safety in and technologies under development that will our communities and our team. everything we do – from our drivers’ morning safety help accelerate our impact. huddles to hours of training to seasonal safety initiatives. I am tremendously proud of the efforts of all I am grateful to our 28,000 frontline workers for their We also recognize that we are uniquely positioned to help of our employees throughout 2020. Together, outstanding safety performance during the past year. our customers meet their sustainability goals by providing they helped drive the social and environmental environmentally responsible solutions. We’re investing results highlighted in this report and exemplified HUMAN CAPITAL – We remain focused on being in advanced recycling technology and expanding our what it means to be essential service providers. the place where the best people come to work and organics operations to help customers meet diversion goals. can achieve their goals. We are making steady progress We’ve partnered on renewable energy projects that help on employee engagement through talent programs, customers decarbonize their operations. And there’s much Elements of Sustainability leadership development and driving an even more more to come. inclusive culture. We are proud of our highly diverse Republic is a leader in the environmental services workforce, and we have created even more opportunities Throughout it all, we lead by example, holding ourselves industry, and we’re dedicated to being a leader in providing for open and authentic conversations among our teams. to the highest ethical standards and practices in all that sustainable solutions for customers across our operations. Every voice matters, and by better understanding our we do. Our company operates within a comprehensive That commitment begins with our Elements of Sustainability, employees’ perspectives we continue to support our team corporate governance framework that sets expectations for which are deeply integrated into our business and anchor members effectively. professional and personal conduct, defines responsibilities our ambitious 2030 sustainability goals. and helps ensure compliance with these responsibilities. We introduced our sustainability platform in 2014, and this CLIMATE LEADERSHIP – We play a vital role in year it’s evolved to reflect the intensity of our focus. Our keeping our communities clean and making the planet a As I begin my tenure as CEO, I feel an urgency to accelerate People element has expanded into Human Capital, and better place for future generations. To do that, we’ve made our transition to a low-carbon economy. It’s imperative for we’ve aligned our three climate-related goals under a new a commitment to fleet electrification, and in 2020, our first us to reduce emissions and achieve greater circularity with Climate Leadership element. electric collection truck pilot hit the road. A zero-emissions the materials we handle to help preserve the environment fleet is essential to achieving our greenhouse gas reduction now and for future generations. And I am committed to I’m pleased to report that we made positive strides toward goal, and is just one of the ways we’re working to embed making Republic Services a model for inclusiveness and our climate goals in 2020: We reduced our operational sustainability in all areas of our business. equal opportunity. We need a broad range of ideas and greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent, and we increased our perspectives to allow our team members to grow and thrive recovery of key materials to support the circular economy. COMMUNITIES – Through the Republic Services and to best meet our customers’ needs. New renewable energy projects are scheduled