As an insurance and financial services company, Horace Mann has a modest environmental footprint. Nonetheless, we recognize reducing paper usage, electronic waste and GHG emissions is a shared responsibility and the right thing to do. We are committed to protecting the environment through the implementation of sustainability best practices at our Springfield, Ill., headquarters location to reduce our carbon footprint and protect our surrounding communities. In 2021, we plan to install solar electric (PV) panels at our headquarters to further reduce our overall carbon footprint.
As environmental stewards, it is our responsibility to maintain and communicate comprehensive policies, programs, procedures and guidelines to govern all business activities and guide employees, while also closely monitoring and addressing those environmental risks that may arise. As such, we assess ways to enhance our transparency through our routine systems for measuring, monitoring and reporting our environmental performance, including:
- Monitoring waste reduction. We track various waste metrics, such as water, paper, energy and carbon emissions. The data tells us which areas of our operation 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 review the organization’s environmental goals on an annual basis, as well as any changes to environmental policy that may affect our operations.
- Ongoing office evaluations. We conduct ongoing facility evaluations to locate and eliminate energy inefficiencies. Horace Mann enforces environmentally friendly practices across its offices through recycling programs, the utilization of Energy Star-certified appliances and LED light fixtures.