Operating Sustainably

Sustainability is ingrained in Ross’ culture. For decades we have worked hard to drive out waste and inefficiency from our operations, which, in turn, has reduced our impact on the environment. As our Company continues to grow, we recognize the need to advance our sustainability ambitions to help create a sustainable future for all.

In 2021, we continued our commitment to transparency by participating in the CDP 2021 Climate Change Questionnaire, receiving a B on our disclosure.*

We also made progress towards our target to reduce Scope 1 & 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent per square foot by 2025 versus a 2017 baseline, and you can read more about our progress in the “Emissions and Energy” section. We have organized our GHG emissions to align with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol’s scope definitions.

• Scope 1 emissions are direct GHG emissions from sources that are owned or controlled by Ross.
• Scope 2 emissions are from the generation of energy and electricity purchased by Ross.
• Scope 3 emissions are from sources not owned or controlled by Ross.

This year we are building on the momentum of our climate strategy and have set an ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner, in alignment with the Paris Climate Agreement.

We remain committed to taking actions that drive environmental sustainability while also creating business value, and we look forward to continuing to share our progress.

*CDP, formerly Carbon Disclosure Project, is a nonprofit that runs the global disclosure system for investors, companies, cities, states, and regions to manage their environmental impacts.

Our Focus

We understand that the health of our environment is directly linked to the health of our Company. Environmental sustainability is an important issue for all businesses to consider when conducting operations, and the specific nature of our operations has informed our sustainability policies and programs.

We conducted an assessment to determine which environmental sustainability issues are most important to our Associates, stakeholders, and communities. We concluded that the most critical environmental areas of opportunity in our operations are GHG emissions and waste. While water is not a significant area of impact for Ross, we are aware of the importance of water conservation and have programs in place to be efficient in our water usage.

Program Oversight

To ensure that our environmental sustainability strategy is aligned with our business strategy and has the leadership support and guidance to be successful, we have established robust program governance.

At the top of our sustainability program governance is our Board of Directors. The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors assists the Board with oversight of the sustainability program and climate risks and receives annual reports on the Company’s environmental sustainability efforts.

Ross has also established the Environmental Sustainability Steering Committee (ESSC), which is comprised of senior leaders from across the Company, including those from Store Operations, Supply Chain, Property Development, Finance, Indirect Procurement, and Legal. The ESSC is responsible for identifying and managing risks and opportunities associated with climate change, informing and endorsing GHG emissions and waste reduction strategies, and identifying and supporting projects in pursuit of achieving those strategies. The ESSC also provides input to a dedicated Sustainability team and helps align the program with the overall business strategy.

Business unit leaders who implement and oversee energy efficiency, energy management, and waste minimization efforts across the Company are critical members of our sustainability program. Our management provides regular updates to the Audit Committee regarding the Company’s environmental and sustainability efforts and the status of our initiatives.

2021 Environmental Sustainability Achievements