We have a duty to operate responsibly by minimizing our environmental footprint. By doing so, we can reduce energy consumption and waste generation across our business. By operating in an environmentally responsible manner, we can move toward a lower carbon and climate-resilient future — one that safeguards our communities as well as our planet.

ENTERPRISE SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

We have been working to minimize our environmental footprint and integrate sustainable business practices throughout our Customer Service Support Center (CSC), stores, and distribution centers (DCs).
To keep us accountable, we announced the following goal in our 2019 Playbook:
Eliminate single-use, point-of-sale plastic bags in all stores by 2025.
This year, we are announcing our new climate action goal:
30 %
Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for DICK’S operations by 30% by 2030 (versus 2016 baseline).

Reducing Our GHG Emissions

We reported our first GHG inventory in our 2018 Purpose Playbook, and we’ve since acquired more data about our environmental footprint. Based on our analysis in 2020, our Scope 1 emissions represent about 6%, mostly from natural gas use. Scope 2 makes up 55% of GHG emissions, mainly from electricity. And 39% of Scope 3 emissions can be attributed to transportation and distribution of products. As our efforts to track and manage GHG emissions evolve, we will also include emissions from other categories, including e-commerce logistics, fugitive emissions from refrigerant leakage, and additional material Scope 3 emissions.

To achieve greater environmental impact reductions and join those in the retail industry and beyond who are also seeking opportunities to reduce emissions and protect our planet, we have joined the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Climate Action Corps and supported the Paris Climate Agreement as a signatory of the “We Are Still In” coalition. This year, we have set Scopes 1+ 2 emission reduction goals — an important step in our journey to protect the planet and also the future of sports, which is also impacted by climate change.

Reducing PLASTIC AND PACKAGING

Single-use plastic bag usage is detrimental to the environment. That is why we announced two significant actions to combat single-use plastic bag usage. First, we committed to removing all single-use, point-of-sale plastic bags from our stores by 2025. Second, we joined the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag as the lead Sports & Outdoors sector partner. Through a regional rollout, we converted 15% of our stores from single-use plastic to paper at the end of 2020. With the conversion of an additional 15% of our stores a year, we are on track to meet our commitment.

Additionally, we recognize our responsibility to reduce the number of materials used to package our products, in store and in our internal operations. We have instituted financial penalties for vendors who deliver their goods to us with excessive packaging. This penalty is a tangible incentive for our vendor partners to join us in our environmental commitment to reduce packaging and its associated waste.

Reducing Waste
AND INCREASING RECYCLING

We continue to reduce our waste generation while increasing recycling efforts across our facilities. For example, we have a policy to reuse hangers in stores, return them to vendors for reuse, or recycle them at our distribution centers. We frequently evaluate opportunities to use fewer materials in our packaging and shipping and reduce the negative environmental impact of the materials we do use.

Recycling Stream Tonnage % of Total
Cardboard & Paper 11,014 61%
Wood 3,607 20%
Metal 2,114 12%
Plastic 638 4%
Miscellaneous 641 4%
Plastic Hangers 177 1%
Total 18,192 100%

Managing Water

Each year, we strive to reduce water consumption across our stores, DCs, and CSC. Since 2019, these efforts have included incorporating low-flow technologies, xeriscaping, and stormwater recapture for exterior usage, where permitted. These changes led to a 2% decline between 2019 and 2016, resulting in water consumption stabilizing at 104,000,000 in 2020. As we return to a new normal, we will continue our efforts to achieve further reductions.

We have a 20,000-gallon cistern at our CSC that holds captured and recycled stormwater runoff. It is used as the water source for the exterior water feature. The use of native vegetation and xeriscaping requires less water.

The consistent measurement and verification of our water consumption and end use allow us to assess our progress and seek further reduction opportunities.

Introducing OUR NEW RETAIL CONCEPT

As a leading business in the sports and outdoor industry, DICK’S has a responsibility to invest in protecting and preserving outdoor places across the country. Land and water conservation will be also be central to the DNA of Public Lands, our new retail concept that launches in September 2021. Public Lands is designed to make experiencing the outdoors more accessible for all. Focusing on conservation, sustainability, and inclusion and access, Public Lands seeks to enable every community to get outside, explore, push boundaries, and protect public lands. This unique retail experience will be targeted toward all explorers, whether they are beginner-level adventurers or advanced explorers looking to blaze new trails. Learn more.