Bread Financial is committed to protecting our planet and doing our part to address the impact of climate change by promoting environmentally responsible practices throughout the organization. Our priorities focus on addressing climate-related risks and opportunities, reducing our carbon footprint, conserving natural resources and supporting associate-led environmental initiatives.
Protecting our planet is not a choice, it is a necessity. Every action we take, no matter how small, can make a difference. At Bread Financial, we’re committed to leading the way toward a greener tomorrow, embracing environmentally responsible practices and fostering a sustainable future for all.
| Performance Category | 2023 | 2022* | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHG emissions - Total (in MTCO₂e) | 164,414 | 160,981 | 159,925 |
| Total energy consumed (in gigajoules) | 71,301 | 91,405 | 144,864 |
| Electricity from renewable sources | 48% | 64% | 15% |
Our GHG inventory has been verified by an independent third party, certifying the reliability of our data and reinforcing the credibility of our commitment to reducing emissions and mitigating climate risk.
We continually evaluate our operations to be more energy efficient (our Columbus, Ohio, office is both Energy Star and LEED-certified).
In 2023, we were proud to have nearly half of our electricity usage powered by renewable energy.
Our paperless adoption efforts significantly reduce waste created from consumer marketing materials and cardmember statements. As part of Earth Month 2023, we donated $2 to The Nature Conversancy for each of our cardholders who opted to go paperless. Through this and other initiatives, our donations supported the planting of more than 200,000 trees (the equivalent of 1,000+ acres of forest).
We've worked to optimize our U.S. real estate portfolio in response to our associates’ desire for workplace flexibility and to streamline operations. We have dispositioned approximately 869,000 square feet since 2020, which has helped us to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions and resource consumption.
We have adopted a carbon offset strategy for our Bread Cashback® and Bread Rewards™ American Express® Cards*, using the Thales Gemalto Carbon Offset Program to make each Card certified carbon neutral. Both Cards are produced with polylactic acid (PLA), a bioplastic derived from renewable, organic sources. In 2023, we issued approximately 685,000 PLA Cards and have added sustainable plastics for new and existing brand partners to utilize in their card program.
* Credit Card offers are subject to credit approval. American Express is a registered trademark of American Express. This Card is issued by Comenity Bank pursuant to a license from American Express.
Our Environmental Committee is a team of associates who work closely with the Office of Sustainability to actively promote environmental education and energy reduction strategies. The associate committee produces events and distributes content on sustainability best practices and works with management across the company to help implement positive environmental practices. Most recently, the committee: