We have environmental programs at all CDW facilities. All our distribution centers (two in the US and one in the UK) and two of our UK offices hold ISO 14001 certifications, the international standard for Environmental Management Systems. Additionally, our largest office locations globally, as well as our UK distribution center, have energy certifications – LEED in the US and Canada, BOMA in Canada and BREEAM/REGO in the UK. Our remote deployment services promote efficiency and productivity while reducing our environmental impact.

CDW is committed to doing our part to address climate change, including ongoing efforts to improve the energy efficiency of our business. However, given the non-manufacturing nature of our operations, our facilities do not represent a significant climate footprint. In fact, our Scope 3 (value chain) greenhouse gas emissions represent the vast majority of our total GHG emissions. The table below summarizes our greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.

In 2022, we created a cross-functional, geographically diverse Climate Task Force to drive greater climate awareness and lead the development of a global climate strategy. As a result, we have now implemented targets set with a science-based approach.  These targets include:

Reduce impact in our own operations: CDW commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and scope 2 (operational) GHG emissions 42% by 2030 from a 2022 base year.

Engage our supply chain: CDW commits that suppliers representing 80% of purchased goods and services emissions will have science-based targets by 2028.

Collaborate to reduce impact in our value chain: CDW commits to reduce total scope 3 GHG emissions from remaining categories 25% by 2030 from a 2022 base year.

Our approach to climate action is to be a connector of ideas in collaboration with key partners and customers and in the technology industry overall. As a result, we currently have dozens of active engagements globally – often working directly with many of the top brands in the industry.

¹ The emissions of Sirius Computer Solutions are not included in the emissions totals. The acquisition of Sirius was reported in October 2021 (10/19/2021) and completed in December 2021 (12/02/2021).

² A location-based method reflects the average emissions intensity of grids on which energy consumption occurs. Calculated using the 2021 US EPA eGRID emission factors for US-based locations and the 2021 IEA Country Emission Factors for international locations with active energy consumption data. Where consumption data was not available, CDW utilized the 2012 Commercial Building Energy and Consumption Survey (CBECS) to estimate location consumption using average emission factor values that are based on location and size of each site location.

³ A market-based method reflects emissions from electricity that companies have purposefully chosen. Calculated using an emission factor of zero for all applicable sites which procured verified Renewable Energy Certificates equal to the corresponding amount of energy consumed at each site.

⁴ CDW follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Technical Guidance for Calculating Scope 3 Emissions (version 1.0) and Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard. Scope 3 emissions are calculated using the operational control approach.                               

⁵ Includes emissions from CDW’s US and Canada value chains for calendar year 2021 (January 1, 2021, through December 31, 2021). 

⁶ Emissions were evaluated across 19 categories of CDW’s purchased products, which included direct and indirect procurement. Emissions were calculated by determining the amount spent per category and multiplying by spend-based emissions factors from US Monetary EPA and ADEME. 

We track our energy usage and continue to seek ways to drive further efficiency. As part of our ISO 14001 environmental management certification, we identify, assess and plan for implementation of additional energy efficiency improvements.

Our energy efficiency measures include:

• Indoor and outdoor LED lighting
• Motion sensor lighting and conveyor systems in our distribution centers that turn off in response to inactivity
• “Smart” HVAC systems that adjust according to business hours and seasonal temperatures

We are also working with our third-party shipping and logistics partners to develop transportation management systems and delivery schedules that help them increase their own energy efficiency, which helps to reduce our transportation-related emissions.

CDW is committed to supporting the circular economy and responsible consumption through materials efficiency and a reduction in waste to landfill. While we have a wide variety of recycling and reuse programs across our office and warehouse facilities, our largest impact is in two areas: reducing distribution center waste from packaging and other materials and managing electronic waste.

Our other efforts include:

• Use of digital documentation when possible and recycling shredded paper documents if they are used
• Recycling and composting of cafeteria waste
• Elimination of plastic bottles from vending machines in our offices and warehouses
• Elimination of single-use plastic cups
• Company-wide internal toner cartridge recycling program
• Recycling centers on each floor of our office locations
• Recycling chutes for certain materials at our distribution centers
• Collaboration across procurement functions to reduce the need for consumable supplies and increase recycling possibilities across our offices