Environmental Leader

Kohl’s Department Stores is the first retailer to commit to net zero emissions as part of its partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Leaders program. Kohl’s pledges to achieve net zero emissions by 2010 and maintain carbon neutrality through 2012. The retailer said its goal is equivalent to offsetting the annual emissions from electricity used by more than 99,084 homes or removing 130,842 vehicles from the road for a year.

Kohl’s is using 2007 as its baseline reporting year and a 714,395 metric ton carbon dioxide equivalent as its starting point. The goal accounts for U.S. emissions at all Kohl’s facilities, including stores, distribution centers and corporate offices, as well as emissions resulting from business travel.

Here are several other Kohl’s environmental highlights for 2009:

Over the past year, Kohl’s was named one of EPA’s 2009 Green Power Partners of the Year by purchasing 851 million kilowatt-hours in renewable energy credits, which meets 71 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. Kohl’s plans to reach 100 percent green power by the end of 2010.

Kohl’s also claims to hold the world’s largest retailer of solar power installations at 79 store locations in six states. The company has plans to expand the program into additional states in 2010 to reach more than 100 solar locations.

More than 350 Kohl’s stores have earned the EPA ENERGY STAR label. Click here for more information about Kohl’s green initiatives.