Environment

Committed to Net-Zero Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2040
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Annual Climate Report

With our journey to net-zero underway, we report on our progress annually in accordance with the IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board.

Annual Climate Report

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Our Environmental Priorities

Equifax is a global data, analytics and technology company that does not manufacture physical products. As such, we have identified carbon emissions from the operation of our offices and data centers, the purchase of goods and services (including capital goods), waste, employee commuting and business travel as the most significant areas of environmental impact generated by our company. These findings – as well as input from our investors, business partners and other stakeholders – have informed our environmental priorities and actions.

We are committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 along a science based pathway and our near-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Our environmental commitments are enabled by our Equifax Cloud™ transformation, which has reduced the footprint of our on-site technology and data centers and instead leverages the enhanced energy efficiency of our cloud service providers. 

 Through our various decarbonization efforts, which are discussed in more detail below and in our Annual Climate Report, we continue to make significant progress against our environmental commitments. We plan to continue to transparently share our progress as we proceed on our path to net-zero.


Recent Actions:

  • Made progress toward our commitment to net-zero GHG emissions by 2040, as described in our Annual Climate Report
  • Reduced combined scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions:
    • Decommissioned 10 data centers in 2024, for a total of 36 since 2019
    • Obtained sustainable building certifications for 3 additional office locations in 2024
  • Made progress toward our scope 3 supplier engagement target:
    • Initiated a scope 3 supplier engagement campaign targeting the top 86% of our suppliers by spend
  • Conducted an inaugural climate scenario analysis 
  • Expanded our CDP survey responses and made them publicly available
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Climate Commitments

Net-Zero 2040 Commitment

We are committed to reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 along a science-based pathway. In 2021, we completed the collection and analysis of our GHG emissions across our global operational footprint (scope 1 and 2), as well as across our value chain (scope 3). We used this data to develop our initial GHG inventory and inform our decarbonization strategy.   

SBTi-Approved Near-Term Emission Reduction Targets

As part of our strategy to be net zero by 2040, we developed near-term GHG emissions reduction targets, which have been validated by SBTi. Under our target ambitions, we have committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 54.6% by 2032, from a 2019 base year. We have also committed that 73% of our suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods and services and capital goods (scope 3), will have science-based targets by 2027.

Reporting Under the TCFD Framework

We are in the early stages of our journey to net-zero and the TCFD complements our efforts by providing an important tool to analyze and describe our climate-related governance, strategy, risks management, processes, and progress against
our climate-related commitments.
Read our TCFD report
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Climate Strategy

Decarbonization Strategy: Scope 1 and 2

Our scope 1 and 2 emissions primarily result from the operation of data centers and office facilities. To meet our scope 1 and 2 emissions reduction targets, Equifax has invested in a number of energy-saving initiatives, including our extensive Equifax Cloud™ transformation, ongoing workplace enhancements and space utilization initiatives.
 

Cloud Transformation and Data Center Decommissioning

We are in the final stages of migrating the vast majority of our applications and systems infrastructure from legacy on-premises systems to cloud-based solutions hosted by third parties. Our move to the Equifax Cloud™ continues to have a positive environmental impact by significantly reducing our on-site technology and data centers and leveraging the enhanced energy efficiency of our cloud service providers. As we continue to decommission data centers and on-site servers, we expect to reduce overall gross emissions and transition the corresponding GHG emissions from our scope 1 and 2 inventory to scope 3.

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Equifax is primarily partnering with Google via their cloud platform and office solutions. Google is carbon neutral today, with a goal to run on carbon-free energy, 24/7, at all of their data centers by 2030. 
Not all clouds are equal. When we were evaluating our choices, environmental efficiency was a key consideration and we wanted a partner who was leveraging renewable sources for all of their operations.

Investment in Energy Efficient Worksites

In recent years, we have enhanced the energy efficiency of a number of our workplaces and we plan to incorporate these enhancements at other sites. We also target environmentally efficient buildings for our office space to further increase efficiency. 

Facility upgrades (including those listed below) continue to increase energy efficiency.
 

Electric vehicle charging stations

Daylight & occupancy office sensors

High efficiency HVAC systems

As we near the completion of our cloud transformation, we are also taking steps to more efficiently manage our remaining onsite data centers, such as optimizing our HVAC systems and implementing cold aisle containment processes. 

Space Utilization Initiatives

As we review our physical office space requirements around the world, we have established space utilization standards and metrics and invested in technology and workspaces that help reduce our space needs while encouraging employee collaboration and productivity. Maximizing the efficiency of our office spaces and reducing our overall footprint is expected to help Equifax deliver on our decarbonization commitments.
 
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Purchase of Renewable Energy

We expect renewable energy to be an important component of our decarbonization strategy. We recently started purchasing renewable energy to reduce the emissions associated with our offices and data centers. To achieve our emission reduction goals going forward, we plan to continue to pursue opportunities to purchase high-quality renewable energy credits.
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Decarbonization Strategy: Scope 3

We performed an analysis of our value chain in line with guidance from the GHG Protocol and determined that the five significant categories of scope 3 emissions for Equifax are: (1) purchased goods and services; (2) capital goods; (3) waste generated in operations; (4) employee commuting; and (5) business travel. We used this data to develop an initial GHG inventory and inform our decarbonization strategy.

Purchased Goods & Services and Capital Goods

The Equifax decarbonization strategy related to purchased goods and services and capital goods is being driven by an engagement method. We are working to engage our key suppliers and partners to encourage their adoption of science-aligned targets and/or net-zero ambitions through education on decarbonization, advocating for their participation and leveraging our purchasing power.

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Waste

We have undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce the waste and corresponding waste-related emissions produced at our offices. We have reduced, and in many cases eliminated, personal waste bins at desks in favor of more efficient central trash and recycling bins. We shred and recycle paper documents within our offices and program all printers to print double-sided as the default setting to reduce paper usage and waste. We also responsibly dispose of electronic waste, such as laptops and monitors, through a third-party recycling organization.

 

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Employee Commuting

In 2022, we implemented a 3/2 + 2 return to office framework – open to any employee who can perform work outside of the office and whose role does not require routine weekly travel. As part of this framework, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are standard “in office days,” and employees have the option to work from home on Mondays and Fridays. Our “+2” policy enables employees to work remotely for two full weeks of their choosing each year.

In addition to other benefits, this policy reduces the number of employees commuting to our offices and the corresponding GHG emissions associated with that travel. We support our employees’ use of electric vehicles by purchasing and installing electric car charging stations at our company-owned buildings and offering similar options at our leased facilities. Additionally, access to public transportation is a factor in our building selection process.
 

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Business Travel

To reduce our business-travel related emissions, Equifax policy discourages business travel for internal, non-customer meetings and encourages the use of technology alternatives.
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GHG Emissions Data & Metrics

Emissions Summary

A summary of our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions during the past five years is set forth below.

Progress vs. Near-Term GHG Targets

We are committed to reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 along a science-based pathway. In support of that goal, we have set near-term emission reduction targets, which have been validated by SBTi. Our current progress against these near-term targets is summarized below.

Overview of Climate-Related Targets

Equifax is committed to reaching net-zero GHG emissions by 2040 along a science-based pathway. In support of that goal, we have set near-term emission reduction targets, which were validated by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) in 2023. Under our target ambitions, we have committed to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 54.6% by 2032, from a 2019 base year. We have also committed that 73% of our suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods & services and capital goods (scope 3), will have science-based targets by 2027. SBTi has determined that our global operational footprint (scope 1 and 2) target ambitions are in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5℃ goal, currently the most ambitious designation available through the SBTi process.

Progress vs. Scope 1 and 2 Target

We set an SBTi-approved target to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 54.6% by 2032, from a 2019 base year. As a result of our decarbonization efforts, we have decreased our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 52.3%, representing significant progress toward our near-term reduction target.

Progress vs. Scope 3 Target

We set an SBTi-approved scope 3 supplier engagement target that 73% of our suppliers by spend, covering purchased goods & services and capital goods, will have science-based targets by 2027. As of year end 2024, 61% of our suppliers have set science-based emission reduction targets, reflecting meaningful progress from our 2021 baseline of 20%.

Disclaimer

This webpage contains information that may constitute “forward-looking statements.” Generally, the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will,” “may” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements that address operating or environmental performance and events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to our climate strategy, reductions in our greenhouse gas emissions, improvements in our IT and data security infrastructure and similar statements about our outlook and our plans are forward-looking statements. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As a result of such risks and uncertainties, we urge you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Last updated:  March 25, 2025
You should assume that the information appearing in this webpage is accurate only as of the date it was last updated.