Environmental Stewardship

Horace Mann recognizes that natural resources are limited and is committed to protecting the environment through the implementation of sustainability best practices. We acknowledge our relatively modest environmental footprint as an insurance and financial services company – but we also understand the importance of taking responsibility for doing our part to contribute to a larger environmental benefit.

A commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions

Horace Mann is committed to cutting our absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions — as defined by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard — in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

We began a major carbon-reduction initiative in 2019 at our headquarters facility, which included installing a new, more efficient HVAC system; installation of more than 500 solar panels; adding LED lighting and lighting motion sensors; and replacing single-pane windows at our 230,000-foot facility with double-pane insulated glass.

Due to these improvements, we have reduced our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by more than one-third in two years, well on the way to meeting our goal:

^{Carbon emissions measured from owned and operated Springfield, Ill., headquarters location}

Waste reduction measures

In addition, we also made strides in reducing waste at our Springfield, Ill. headquarters location:

• Reduced water usage: Our overall water usage was more than 20% lower in 2021 than before the pandemic in 2019 as our water conservation measures have become more effective and most employees can work remotely as part of their regular weekly schedule. In 2021, water consumption was 6,400 gallons per employee and water discharge was 3,800 gallons per employee. Notable contributors to this improvement included improved grounds irrigation and plumbing at our Springfield location and encouraging employees to conserve water on their days working in our offices.
• Decreased paper usage: Paper is the largest source of potential waste for an insurance company. We used two-thirds less paper in 2021 than in 2019 as we continued to move more of our “paperwork” and communications to digital channels. We also encourage employees to minimize unnecessary printing.
• Lowered waste sent to landfills: Our facilities generated more waste in 2021 than 2020 because more employees worked some days at the office under our hybrid workforce model as the pandemic moderated. However, we increased the percentage of waste sent to recycling facilities rather than landfills in 2021. We recycle paper, plastic, metal, cardboard, personal computers, monitors, servers, hard drives, printers and printer cartridges.
• Supporting EVs: We have eight EV charging stations at our Springfield headquarters to recharge employee-owned EVs.

Our approach to environmental stewardship

As environmental stewards, it is our responsibility to maintain and communicate comprehensive policies, programs, procedures and guidelines to govern business activities and guide employees on matters that affect the environment, while closely monitoring and addressing environmental risks that may arise. We look for ways to enhance our transparency through routine systems for measuring, monitoring and reporting our environmental performance, including:

• Monitoring waste reduction. We track various waste metrics, such as usage of water, paper and energy, as well as carbon emissions. The data tells us which areas of our operations need improvement and subsequently allows us to set reduction targets for each type of waste.
• Reviewing legal requirements. We comply with all environmental laws that apply to our facilities and industry. We annually review Horace Mann’s environmental goals and any changes to environmental policy that may affect our operations.
• Looking for energy efficiencies. We conduct ongoing facility evaluations to identify and reduce energy inefficiencies. Horace Mann’s environmentally friendly practices include recycling programs and utilization of Energy Star-certified appliances and LED light fixtures.

^{(1) GHG emissions calculations include for CO2, CH4, and N2O. Biogenic gases are not applicable to Horace Mann’s GHG inventory. The base year for our calculations is 2019, which was selected because it was prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in energy use that occurred with it. The GHG Protocol and EPA were utilized to derive emissions factors and global warming potential. We employed the operational control approach when consolidating our emissions and used the GHG Protocol calculation tool when calculating our emissions.}

^{(2) GHG emissions calculations include for CO2, CH4, and N2O. The base year for our calculations is 2019, which was selected because it was prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changes in energy use that occurred with it. The GHG Protocol and EPA were utilized to derive emissions factors and global warming potential. We employed the operational control approach when consolidating our emissions and used the GHG Protocol calculation tool when calculating our emissions.}