renewable energy use for Oracle Cloud
renewable energy use for Oracle Real Estate and Facilities
reduction in employee air travel emissions
All goals are measured against a 2015 baseline, except the goal for employee air travel emissions, which is measured against a 2019 baseline. Energy, emissions, and renewable goals apply to Scope 1 and Scope 2. Renewable energy is measured against total electricity consumption. Water and waste goals are measured for Oracle-owned facilities and data centers.
of key suppliers have an environmental program in place
of key suppliers have emissions reductions targets in place
reduction in potable water use per square foot
reduction in waste to landfill per square foot
Oracle has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and to halve the greenhouse gas emissions across our operations and supply chain by 2030, relative to a 2020 baseline. This target has been approved by the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, an accredited partner of the United Nations Race to Zero.
As a global company with more than 25 million square feet under our operational control, we recognize that how we manage our use of natural resources can have a huge impact. We’re always looking for ways to maximize energy efficiency, reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, and minimize water consumption and waste generation across our operations, including how we run Oracle Cloud.
Our approach to energy management includes a commitment to maximize efficiency and increase renewable energy use across our facilities. We regularly evaluate our energy procurement options to minimize our carbon footprint. We’ve already met our 2020 goal for 33% renewable energy use for Real Estate and Facilities, and have set a new goal to achieve 100% by 2025. We have also set a new goal to achieve 100% renewable energy use in Oracle Cloud by 2025.
We manage our facilities to the highest industry standards and are proud to have been recognized for our highly efficient, environmentally friendly buildings and operations. Oracle owns 33 buildings globally that have been awarded ENERGY STAR certifications, 28 that received BOMA certifications, and 7 that are LEED-certified.
Learn about our investment in renewablesEmissions reduction is a key component of our sustainability strategy. Since 2015, we’ve been able to reduce our carbon footprint on an absolute basis even as our energy usage has grown significantly with Oracle Cloud, particularly in 2020. Our reductions are the result of increased renewable energy use, improved energy and lighting efficiency, onsite solar installations, engagement with our suppliers, and a variety of other emissions reduction initiatives across our operations. By having a goal to use 100% renewable energy in our operations we are committed to meeting the 1.5°C Science-Based Target scenario for scope 1 and scope 2 emissions.
In FY20, we added the Oracle Austin Waterfront campus to our list of buildings with 100% renewable electricity use. We now have more than 80 offices globally with electric vehicle charging stations to help meet our employees’ needs.
Learn more about our emissions targets and reduction efforts (PDF)Water conservation is a top priority for Oracle. By leveraging a variety of water-saving strategies across our facilities and data centers—including rainwater harvesting, xeriscape gardening, and condensate reclamation—we’ve reduced our total water use against a 2015 baseline by more than 22 percent on an absolute basis, and by 29 percent on a per-square-foot intensity basis.
We continue to raise the bar on waste management. Since 2015, we’ve continuously reduced the total waste generated at our facilities both on an absolute basis as well as on a per-square-foot intensity basis (2020 data was significantly impacted by office closings). This progress can largely be attributed to our robust waste management program, which includes recycling and composting at our offices and raising employee awareness about responsible waste disposal. We’re also actively pursuing ways to eliminate single-use plastics at offices around the world. Our campus in Redwood Shores, California is a zero waste to landfill facility.
We keep the environment in mind as we design and develop our hardware products, giving careful consideration to energy efficiency, product serviceability, recyclability, upgradability, material conservation, and the management of hazardous materials. Oracle’s Design for Environment guidelines have led to continued improvements in energy efficiency, increased use of regrind plastics, and improved packaging that has doubled the number of servers shipped per pallet, resulting in lower emissions and cost savings.
We continuously work to eliminate or minimize waste generated in our global manufacturing operations, and to ensure that any such waste is disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. Oracle’s Environment, Health, and Safety Management System and programs promote a safe, healthy, and environmentally compliant workplace. Planning also plays a critical role in minimizing waste.
We recognize that our purchasing decisions can have a significant social and environmental impact. Oracle’s Supplier Code of Ethics and Business Conduct requires our suppliers to observe the law and conduct business in an ethical and responsible manner. We also have a robust program to manage our IT assets, including the recovery and recycling of office equipment and phones at the end of their useful life. Oracle’s travel and promotional items portals proactively identify sustainable alternatives for employees to consider. Our catering partners aim to source food locally where feasible.
We work closely with our logistics partners to minimize shipments, maximize consolidation, and take sustainability into account when selecting among modes of transportation, including lower emissions options such as bio-liquefied natural gas (LNG). By engaging with our logistics partners we’ve reduced logistics-related emissions by more than 40% since 2015. We expect this trend to continue with the shift to cloud computing.
As a member of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), Oracle manages and monitors our direct hardware supply chain in accordance with the RBA Code of Conduct. In FY21, 20 audits based on the RBA Code of Conduct were completed at direct hardware supplier factory locations. Each year, we engage with our strategic suppliers to report data on their carbon, water, and waste footprints via the RBA platform, a process that helps us evaluate and manage potential risks in our supply chain. Oracle is also an active member of the RBA Environmental Sustainability working group, helping develop strategies and tools to improve environmental impact measurement, drive resource efficiency, and build industry capacity and performance.