ESG Data
We measure and review key environmental, social and governance (ESG) data to assess performance in the areas most important to our stakeholders and business. For details on our managerial and programmatic approach to priority ESG topics, view our collection of issue briefs here. Footnotes below indicate the scope of data coverage by segment.
In July 2021, we completed a transaction with TPG Capital involving our North America video business—including DIRECTV, AT&T TV and U-verse—to form a new company called DIRECTV. In November 2021, we completed the sale of our Latin America video operations, Vrio, to Grupo Werthein. In April 2022, we completed a transaction to combine our WarnerMedia segment, subject to certain exceptions, with a subsidiary of Discovery Inc. In June 2022, we completed the sale of the programmatic advertising marketplace of Xandr Inc to Microsoft.
Environmental
Energy Management1
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total energy consumption (megawatt-hour [MWh]) | 18.7M | 17.9M | 17.5M | 17.0M | 16.4M |
Total electricity use (MWh) (global direct billed and leased electricity)2 | 14.3M | 14.1M | 14.1M | 14.0M | 13.6M |
Total electricity use (gigajoule [GJ]) (global direct billed and leased electricity)2 | 51.4M | 50.6M | 50.8M | 50.3M | 49.0M |
Energy intensity (MWh electricity/1,000 subscribers)3 | 72.83 | 65.88 | 61.89 | 56.50 | 51.81 |
Energy intensity (MWh electricity/$ billion revenue)4 | 85,803 | 77,557 | 98,631 | 104,179 | 112,656 |
Percent total grid electricity/total energy | 76.4% | 77.7% | 79.1% | 80.6% | 81.0% |
Percent grid electricity (kilowatt-hour [kWh]/total electricity [kWh used in operations]) | 96.9% | 97.4% | 97.6% | 97.9% | 97.9% |
Total on-site renewable energy capacity (kilowatt [kW]) | 4,611 | 4,478 | 4,478 | 4,478 | 4,034 |
Renewable energy certificates purchased and power purchase agreements (MWh) | 0 | 1.99M | 2.26M | 2.38M | 2.88M |
Total annualized energy conserved through energy savings projects (million kWh) | 571 | 471 | 390 | 488 | 1,680 |
Total annualized energy cost savings from energy projects5 | $51.1M | $39.8M | $40.0M | $41.1M | $143M |
Total energy used in data centers (MWh)6 | 1,316,392 | 718,112 | 868,054 | 828,110 | Pending |
Percentage of renewable energy (of total energy) | 0.18% | 0.7% | 13.2% | 16.7% | 17.5% |
Environment, Health & Safety Compliance7
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total recordable incident rate (per 100 employees)8 | - | 1.77 | 1.28 | 1.2 | 1.29 |
Number of employee health/safety incidents reported to OSHA9 | 104 | 114 | 76 | 61 | 47 |
Number of employee health/safety regulatory incidents | 105 | 77 | 111 | 81 | 102 |
Total number of spills | 436 | 404 | 440 | 552 | 560 |
Total weight of spills (metric tons [MT]) | 164 | 64 | 86 | 48 | 27 |
Number of reportable spills1011 | 17 | 25 | 19 | 9 | 38 |
Weight of reportable spills (MT) | 6 | 14 | 22 | 2 | 7 |
Lost time incident rate (Days away, restricted or transferred) (per 100 employees)12 | - | 1.48 | 1.11 | 1.02 | 1.11 |
Number of fines paid as a result of enforcement actions resulting from government environmental inspections | 6 | 8 | 16 | 3 | 7 |
Climate Change & GHG Emissions1
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.S. carbon footprint (Scopes 1, 2 & 3 in MT carbon dioxide equivalent [CO₂e])1314 | 11,100,000 | 9,400,000 | 7,900,000 | 6,700,000 | 17,300,000 |
Global carbon footprint (Scopes 1, 2 & 3 in MT CO₂e)1314 | 12,000,000 | 10,400,000 | 8,600,000 | 7,400,000 | 18,300,000 |
GHG emissions intensity (Scopes 1 & 2 in MT CO₂e/ billion dollars of revenue)4 | 45,400 | 36,000 | 40,600 | 41,400 | 43,000 |
GHG emissions intensity (Scopes 1 & 2 in MT CO₂e/1,000 subscribers)15 | 38 | 31 | 25 | 22 | 20 |
Scope 1 GHG emissions (MT CO₂e) | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 930,000 |
Scope 2 GHG emissions (MT CO₂e) | 6,700,000 | 5,400,000 | 4,700,000 | 4,600,000 | 4,300,000 |
Scope 3 GHG emissions (MT CO₂e) | 6,700,000 | 6,000,000 | 4,900,000 | 1,800,000 | 13,100,000 |
Product Life Cycle
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total number of consumer devices reused or recycled through AT&T16 | 13.9M | 11.3M | 16.5M | 17.8M | ~15M |
Materials from take-back programs reused or sold17 | 74.3% | 79.2% | 72.0% | 87% | 89.0% |
Materials from take-back programs recycled17 | 25.7% | 20.8% | 28.0% | 13% | 11.0% |
Materials from take-back programs landfilled17 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Amount of paper used for direct mail and office paper (MT)18 | 13,762 | 16,353 | 12,588 | 10,624 | 6,427 |
Amount of paper recycled (MT)18 | 1,345 | 1,661 | 1,137 | 931 | 399 |
Waste Management 1920
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total domestic waste managed by AT&T (MT)2122 | 191,865 | 245,645 | 199,749 | 190,223 | 180,614 |
Total waste recycled/reused21 | 72,412 | 91,995 | 80,008 | 76,626 | 68,217 |
Percent total waste recycled/reused21 | 37.74% | 37.45% | 40.05% | 40.30% | 37.80% |
Total waste sent to landfill (MT)21 | 116,081 | 152,707 | 117,698 | 112,182 | 110,064 |
Nonhazardous Waste | |||||
Total domestic nonhazardous waste generated (MT) | 191,703 | 245,620 | 199,714 | 190,054 | 180,301 |
Total nonhazardous waste recycled (MT) | 72,323 | 91,958 | 78,995 | 76,209 | 67,828 |
Total nonhazardous waste sent to landfill (MT) | 116,024 | 152,707 | 117,698 | 112,166 | 110,064 |
Total nonhazardous waste incinerated (MT) | 9.80 | 2.49 | 2.10 | 0.50 | 0.00 |
Total nonhazardous waste composted (MT)23 | - | - | 1,296 | 874 | 1,054 |
Total nonhazardous waste reused (MT)2324 | - | - | 999 | 285 | 383 |
Other nonhazardous waste, not specified (MT)2425 | - | 952.51 | 724 | 519 | 972 |
Hazardous Waste | |||||
Total domestic hazardous waste generated (MT) | 162.30 | 24.89 | 35.51 | 168.81 | 313.18 |
Total hazardous waste recycled (MT) | 79.96 | 4.84 | 13.90 | 132.01 | 5.77 |
Total hazardous waste sent to landfill (MT) | 57.23 | 0.00 | 0.10 | 15.93 | 0.07 |
Total hazardous waste incinerated (MT) | 2.37 | 1.54 | 0.50 | 1.32 | 0.41 |
Other hazardous waste, not specified (MT)26 | 22.70 | 18.50 | 21.01 | 19.55 | 306.93 |
Water Management27
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total U.S. water consumption (million m3)2829 | 9.65 | 11.40 | 10.13 | 10.15 | 10.13 |
Water intensity (gallons/$ thousand revenue) | 19.02 | 16.63 | 15.59 | 15.87 | 15.82 |
Water intensity (gallons/individual subscriber)15 | 12.69 | 14.12 | 11.75 | 11.80 | 11.73 |
Social
Community Engagement & Philanthropy
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total amount of corporate and AT&T Foundation giving3031 | $95.9M | $95.4M | $105.1M | $100.1M | $89.1M |
Total amount contributed or directed through corporate, employee and AT&T Foundation giving programs30 | $127.2M | $123.0M | $128.9M | $119.6M | $104.8M |
Total value of employee volunteerism3233 | $35.0M | $37.4M | $14.5M | $12.7M | $11.6M |
Percentage of employees worldwide engaged in communities through grassroots volunteerism and giving initiatives3435 | - | - | - | 30% | 31% |
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion36
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gender Diversity | |||||
Percent women in global management | 34% | 34% | 34% | 33% | 33% |
Percent women in global senior management positions37 | 30% | 32% | 31% | 36% | 37% |
Percent women in global management positions in revenue-generating functions (e.g., sales) | 30% | 30% | 29% | 28% | 29% |
Percent women in global frontline management positions38 | 34% | 34% | 34% | 33% | 33% |
Percent women in U.S. workforce | 32% | 32% | 32% | 30% | 30% |
Total women in U.S. management | 35% | 35% | 34% | 33% | 33% |
Percent women in global STEM-related positions | 30% | 27% | 27% | 26% | 27% |
Racial Diversity (U.S.) | |||||
Total people of color in U.S. management | 31,641 | 29,802 | 27,924 | 29,347 | 29,294 |
Percent people of color in U.S. workforce | 44% | 45% | 46% | 48% | 49% |
Percent people of color in U.S. management | 38% | 39% | 40% | 43% | 44% |
Percent Asian in U.S. workforce | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% | 7% |
Percent Black or African American in U.S. workforce | 19% | 19% | 20% | 20% | 20% |
Percent Hispanic or Latino in U.S. workforce | 16% | 16% | 16% | 17% | 17% |
Percent American Indian or Alaskan Native in U.S. workforce | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
Percent Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander in U.S. workforce | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Percent White in U.S. workforce | 56% | 55% | 54% | 52% | 51% |
Percent Multiracial or another race in U.S. workforce | 2% | 3% | 2% | 3% | 3% |
Age Diversity39 | |||||
Average age of employees in global workforce | 43 | 43 | 43 | 43 | 44 |
Percent Baby Boomers (Ages 58–76) | 21% | 20% | 17% | 15% | 13% |
Percent Gen X (Ages 42–57) | 42% | 43% | 44% | 44% | 45% |
Percent Gen Y (Ages 28–41) | 32% | 31% | 32% | 32% | 32% |
Percent Gen Z (Ages 17–27) | 4% | 5% | 7% | 9% | 10% |
Additional Diversity Groups40 | |||||
Percent LGBTQ+ representation in U.S. workforce | 1.0% | 1.2% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 2.0% |
Percent U.S. workforce with a disability | 1.9% | 2.2% | 4.3% | 4.6% | 4.9% |
Percent veterans in U.S. workforce | 5.5% | 6.9% | 7.4% | 8.3% | 8.4% |
Human Capital Management
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of employees worldwide4142 | 268,220 | 247,800 | 230,760 | 202,600 | 160,700 |
Number of global part-time employees41 | 11,766 | 10,692 | 3,943 | 2,668 | 1,858 |
Percent of employees who are part of collective bargaining agreements4143 | ~40% | ~40% | ~37% | ~37% | ~42% |
Number of employees, retirees and eligible dependents offered healthcare and well-being benefits44 | 1.1M | 1.0M | 1.0M | 1.0M | 1.0M |
Number of hours spent on employee training4546 | 16M | 16M | 16M | 15M | 8M |
Amount invested in tuition assistance for employees44 | $24.0M | $18.0M | $15.8M | $13.0M | $10.5M |
Governance
Ethics & Integrity
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Employee completion of Code of Business Conduct training47 | 99% | 99% | 98% | 100% | 99% |
Network Quality & Reliability
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital investment and acquisition of wireless spectrum48 | $22.3B | $24.3B | $19.3B | $45.6B | $34.5B |
Network traffic on an average business day (petabytes) | 262.8 | 335.1 | 436.9 | 484.8 | 553.0 |
System average interruption frequency (disruptions per customer) | 0.000765058 | 0.000710391 | 0.000641026 | 0.000627294 | 0.000521984 |
Customer average interruption duration (hours per customer) | 0.033005565 | 0.033198749 | 0.060255178 | 0.055291054 | 0.044249477 |
Responsible Supply Chain
2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
On-site supplier audits (third-party and AT&T-led audits)49 | 89 | 84 | 76 | 71 | 79 |
Individuals reviewed for human rights adequacy (third-party and AT&T-led audits) | 178,372 | 304,703 | 128,590 | 107,151 | 133,118 |
Percent suppliers with external social certification | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
- 2022 data is estimated; final values will be available in Q2 2023. Data (2018–2022) is inclusive of all AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia.
- Electricity is a subset of total energy. Electrical energy represents approximately 82% of total AT&T energy consumption globally. Other forms of energy include steam, chilled water and all types of fuel use.
- Electricity use is the numerator and is a proxy for total energy use. Total number of subscribers, including North America wireless, wireline voice and domestic broadband subscribers, as identified in our fiscal year 2022 Form 10-K is the denominator and is a proxy for our production.
- 2020 and 2021 data is restated to align with adjustments in our Form 10-K.
- 2022 increase in annualized energy costs savings was driven by large-scale renewable energy and decommissioning projects.
- 2022 data will be available in Q2 2023.
- Data does not include AT&T operations in Latin America or WarnerMedia, except that 2020–2021 data includes select Warner Bros. locations. DIRECTV data is included through July 31, 2021.
- These incidents are employee injuries and illnesses that are required to be documented on the OSHA 300 log. Data does not include DIRECTV. 2018-2021 data was restated from last year to reflect the divestiture of DIRECTV.
- These incidents are employee injuries and illnesses that are required to be promptly reported directly to OSHA.
- Each locality has its own regulations and thresholds for when to report a spill. All spills were addressed promptly and cleaned up in accordance with regulatory requirements. In 2018, 2 incidents were converted to long-term remediation events. In 2019, 3 incidents were converted to long-term remediation events. In 2020, 1 incident was converted to a long-term remediation event. In 2021, no incidents were converted to a long-term remediation event. In 2022, 3 incidents were converted to long-term remediation events.
- We continuously review our data collection systems and processes for improvements. This data was restated from last year as part of this review.
- Data does not include DIRECTV.
- Carbon emissions footprint does not include supplier emissions.
- AT&T expanded our Scope 3 reporting capabilities from 6 Scope 3 categories in 2021 to 10 Scope 3 categories in 2022.
- Intensity metrics relative to our total number of subscribers include North America wireless, wireline voice and domestic broadband subscribers, as identified in our fiscal year 2022 Form 10-K.
- Consumer devices reused or recycled data is estimated; final values will be available in Q2 2023. 2018–2022 data includes mobility devices, broadband devices and internal AT&T devices. Data (2018–2022) covers AT&T’s U.S. operations. 2018–2021 data has been restated to exclude DIRECTV.
- Product take-back program data is estimated; final values will be available in Q2 2023. 2018–2022 data includes AT&T’s U.S. operations.
- 2022 data includes AT&T Communications. 2018–2021 data includes AT&T Communications and DIRECTV.
- AT&T’s total waste and recycling figures represent cumulative waste from AT&T’s U.S. e-waste, general solid waste, furniture recycling, paper shredding, pallet recycling, asset recovery and regulated (hazardous and nonhazardous) waste programs. Please note that waste data may not be complete due to the challenge of getting all business unit (BU) direct vendor hires to upload final shipping documents to the central waste tracking system. Our EHS team is continually working with BUs to ensure vendors submit all final shipping documents to the central tracking system for reporting.
- 2022 data is inclusive of AT&T Communications, U.S. operations. 2019–2021 data is inclusive of AT&T Communications and select WarnerMedia and Xandr locations. 2018 data does not include WarnerMedia or Xandr. DIRECTV is included in all data through the end of 2021. Vrio is not included.
- 2018 data for waste generation and management represent all waste accounted for through AT&T Inc.’s domestic U.S. general solid waste and hazardous waste programs. The 2019–2021 data for waste generation and management represent all waste accounted for through AT&T Inc.’s domestic U.S. general solid waste, asset recovery, e-waste, furniture recycling, paper shredding and regulated (hazardous and nonhazardous) waste programs, unless otherwise noted. 2022 data inclusive of AT&T Communications, U.S. operations.
- 2022 includes total waste recycled/reused and total waste sent to landfill, as well as total waste composted and total waste managed through other means.
- Due to improved reporting, total nonhazardous waste composted and reused was included in distinct categories for the first time in 2020.
- This category does not include WarnerMedia donations to local community partners, as donated materials are tracked by number of pieces donated, not weight.
- This category represents nonhazardous waste for which data on the management method were unavailable. AT&T is continually updating the vendor submittal process to integrate enhanced waste reporting metrics into contracts.
- This category consists of hazardous waste for which the waste management vendors did not report the final disposal method, primarily because they were consolidated with wastes from other companies at the treatment, storage and disposal facilities prior to final disposition. Our EHS Waste team is continually working with those vendors to more accurately report the final disposition of all AT&T hazardous waste.
- 2018–2020 data is inclusive of AT&T Communications. 2021 data is inclusive of AT&T Communications and WarnerMedia’s U.S. operations. DIRECTV and Vrio data are not included. 2022 data is inclusive of AT&T Communications. 2018–2022 data does not include water consumption from AT&T sites that use well water, as well water consumption metrics are not tracked. Fewer than 0.03% of AT&T’s sites use well water.
- Water consumption increased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to employees returning to the office and several water main breaks.
- This figure is equivalent to our water use for domestic operations from municipal sources.
- All corporate and AT&T Foundation giving represents AT&T only, as 2018–2021 data has been restated to exclude WarnerMedia, DIRECTV, Vrio and Xandr.
- $67.5 million of 2022 philanthropic giving was provided by AT&T and $21.6 million was provided through the AT&T Foundation.
- From 2018 to 2020, the value of volunteer time was calculated in coordination with True Impact. The 2021 and 2022 values were calculated using the Independent Sector value of a volunteer hour, which was $28.54 for 2021 and $29.95 for 2022.
- 2018 data does not include AT&T operations in Latin America or WarnerMedia. 2019–2021 data is representative of all AT&T operations, including DIRECTV and Vrio through December 31, 2021. 2022 data does not include AT&T Mexico.
- This goal was established in 2021.
- 2021 data does not include WarnerMedia. DIRECTV and Vrio are represented through the divestiture of those units in July 2021 and November 2021, respectively. 2022 data does not include AT&T Mexico.
- All results reported as of the end of the respective reporting year (December 31) and are global unless marked as U.S. Data do not include WarnerMedia, DIRECTV or Vrio.
- "Senior management positions" is defined as roles that are a maximum of 2 levels away from the CEO or comparable positions.
- "Frontline management positions" refers to junior management positions.
- Please visit our GRI Index for a full breakout of employee age diversity.
- Data is voluntarily self-identified by employees. These metrics are only tracked in the U.S. Employees in other countries do not have the ability to identify in any of these areas. This data is voluntarily self-reported, which means there may be a discrepancy between employees who are part of these groups and employees willing to report that they are part of these groups.
- 2018–2021 data includes AT&T Communications, AT&T Corporate and AT&T International, as well as DIRECTV and WarnerMedia. 2022 data includes AT&T Communications, AT&T Corporate and AT&T International; does not include DIRECTV or WarnerMedia.
- All data is sourced from our annual Form 10-K and reflects January 31 of the following year (i.e., the 2022 number is reported as of January 31, 2023).
- The AT&T Communications employee base includes union-represented employees.
- Inclusive of AT&T Communications and AT&T Corporate.
- Inclusive of AT&T Communications, AT&T Corporate and AT&T International and does not include WarnerMedia or DIRECTV.
- 2018–2021 data includes AT&T employees and contractors. 2022 data only includes AT&T employees.
- 2018–2022 is inclusive of global employees except AT&T Mexico. Starting in 2021, data does not include DIRECTV.
- Capital investment from continuing operations is a non-GAAP financial measure that provides an additional view of cash paid for capital investment to provide a comprehensive view of cash used to invest in our networks, product developments and support systems. In connection with capital improvements, we negotiate with some of our vendors to obtain favorable payment terms of 120 days or more, referred to as vendor financing, which are excluded from capital expenditures and reported in accordance with GAAP as financing activities. Click here to see our capital investment and acquisition of wireless spectrum calculation. The years ended December 31, 2020 through 2022 present results from continuing operations, while the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2019 also include results from our former WarnerMedia, Vrio, Xandr and Playdemic Ltd. businesses (businesses that met the criteria for discontinued operations).
- This number reflects Joint Alliance for CSR (JAC) and Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits. JAC members, including AT&T, were not able to audit as many facilities in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.