We use various internal communications platforms to share information with Associates about our environmental sustainability initiatives, whether they are global corporate efforts or regional success stories. Across all of our regions, our internal communications channels regularly share environmental achievements and announcements on our digital screens and through regularly published materials.
In the U.S., we have hosted events at our home offices in which local vendors and TJX experts educate Associates on the Company’s environmental sustainability initiatives, as well as with regard to what they personally could do to help the environment. In 2019, we celebrated Earth Week and raised awareness around TJX’s environmental sustainability programs by developing engagement strategies for both the Home Office and field Associates. Our cross-functional planning team collaborated on a variety of activities designed to educate, excite and engage TJX Associates on environmental sustainability issues. For example, in our home offices we:
- Hosted a game on how to better sort recycling, composting and trash waste
- Sponsored electronic waste recycling, a free event that enabled Associates to dispose of any broken or obsolete home electronic equipment
- Set a goal to encourage Associates to sign up for paperless pay stubs
- Made a donation to American Forests, a national non-profit group focused on protecting and restoring U.S. forests
In our stores we provided an “Earth Day Activity Kit” comprised of fun and easy activities for store Associates to complete at their own discretion during Earth Week. Our goals were to educate Associates on what can be done to support the environment within their stores and at home; share some of the great things that TJX is doing as a responsible company; and recognize Associates for their participation in Earth Week activities.
Also, in our U.S. home offices, we have been working to reduce paper where we can. The Associates who signed up for paperless paycheck program in 2019 have helped avoid the paper consumption equal to about 24,000 trees annually. We are continuously looking at ways that we can reduce the Company’s consumption of paper, more efficiently deliver information to our Associates, and ultimately reduce our environmental impacts.
In Europe, our Associates can support our environmental initiatives in a variety of ways. We have a Plastics Reduction Working Group and an Environment and Energy Team comprised of Associates from across the business who are committed to helping ensure the success of both our single use plastics and our carbon emission reduction plans. We regularly share up dates with Associates on the impact of our programs through internal communications.
In 2019, store Associates also got involved in local charity projects focused on the environment. These included beach clean-ups and litter collection days through our partnership with Neighbourly. T.K. Maxx and Homesense store Associates in the U.K. voted for their favorite local environmental charity, which resulted in the support of approximately 2,000 environmental and clean-up programs in which about 43,000 people participated, 103 tons of litter and waste were removed, and 18,000 bags of rubbish were collected.