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Corporate Responsibility Data

We measure and review key environmental, social and governance data to assess performance in the areas most important to our stakeholders and business. For details on our managerial and programmatic approach to leading issues, 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.

Environment

Climate Change & GHG Emissions12

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Global carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2 & 3 in MT carbon dioxide equivalent [CO2e])34 21,931,382 20,365,571 18,908,274 15,233,084
U.S. carbon footprint (Scope 1, 2 & 3 in MT CO2e)34 20,295,829 18,805,350 17,901,301 14,811,085
GHG emissions intensity (Scope 1 & 2 in MT CO2e/ billion dollars of revenue) 39,749 40,896 39,574 34,537
GHG emissions intensity (Scope 1 & 2 in MT CO2e/1,000 subscribers)5 24.94 22.18 18.20 14.79
Scope 1 GHG emissions (MT CO2e) 1,044,751 997,129 917,036 643,3462
Scope 2 market based GHG emissions (MT CO2e)6 4,743,507 4,550,580 3,861,164 3,585,0082
Scope 2 location based GHG emissions (MT CO2e) 5,635,263 5,212,703 4,962,516 4,816,5132
Scope 3 GHG emissions (MT CO2e)4 16,245,306 14,883,962 14,130,075 11,004,731

Energy Management1

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total energy consumption (megawatt-hour [MWh]) 17.3M 17.0M 16.0M 15.3M
Total energy consumption (gigajoules [GJ]) 62.1M 61.1M 57.6M 55.0M
Total electricity use (MWh) (global direct billed and leased electricity)7 14.1M 14.0M 13.2M 12.8M
Total electricity use (gigajoule [GJ]) (global direct billed and leased electricity)7 50.8M 50.3M 47.6M 46.0M
Energy intensity (MWh electricity/1,000 subscribers)8 61.9 56.5 50.4 44.7
Energy intensity (MWh electricity/$ billion revenue) 98,368 104,187 109,621 104,350
Percent total grid electricity (of total energy consumed) 80.1% 80.6% 81.1% 81.8%
Percent grid electricity (kilowatt-hour [kWh]/total electricity [kWh used in operations]) 97.9% 97.9% 98.0% 97.8%
Percent of renewable energy (of total energy consumed) 13.5% 14.0% 17.5% 25.7%
Renewable energy certificates purchased and power purchase agreements (MWh) 2.3M 2.4M 2.8M 3.3M
Total annualized energy conserved through energy savings projects (million kWh) 390 488 1,680 470
Total annualized energy cost savings from energy projects $40.0M $41.1M $144.0M $45.1M
Total energy used in data centers (MWh) 868,054 828,110 779,818 693,325
Percentage of renewable energy (of total energy used in data centers)9 13.2% 15.7% 49.5% 46.7%
Power usage effectiveness (PUE) 1.59 1.58 1.60 1.62

Product Life Cycle

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total number of consumer devices reused or recycled through AT&T10 16.5M 17.8M 14.9M 12.9M
Materials from take-back programs reused or sold11 72.0% 87.0% 89.0% 88.0%
Materials from take-back programs recycled11 28.0% 13.0% 11.0% 12.0%
Materials from take-back programs landfilled11 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%
Amount of paper used for direct mail and office paper (MT)12 3,940 3,969 6,427 3,518
Amount of paper recycled (MT)12 349 348 399 263

Waste Management1314

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total domestic waste managed by AT&T (tons)15 202,529 211,379 179,421 178,659
Total waste recycled/reused (tons)73,264 73,264 83,136 70,339 63,438
Percent total waste recycled/reused 36.2% 39.3% 39.2% 35.5%
Total waste sent to landfill (tons) 127,626 126,928 107,031 114,167
Nonhazardous Waste
Total domestic nonhazardous waste generated (tons) 202,479 211,345 179,421 178,626
Total nonhazardous waste recycled (tons) 73,231 83,111 70,339 63,438
Total nonhazardous waste sent to landfill (tons) 127,626 126,927 107,031 114,167
Total nonhazardous waste incinerated (tons) 2.29 0.57 0.00 0.00
Total nonhazardous waste composted (tons) 824 8733 638 818
Other nonhazardous waste, not specified (tons)16 796 572 1,070 204
Hazardous Waste17
Total domestic hazardous waste generated (tons) 50.01 34.73 344.50 32.43
Total hazardous waste recycled (tons) 32,66 25.43 6.35 27.80 
Total hazardous waste sent to landfill (tons) 0.15 0.20 0.08 0.33 
Total hazardous waste incinerated (tons) 0.57 0.00 0.45 0.00
Other hazardous waste, not specified (tons)18 16.62 9.10 337.62 4.30 

Water Management19

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total U.S. water consumption (million m3)20 10.13 10.15 8.63 8.27
Water intensity (gallons/$ thousand revenue)21 18.72 20.01 18.88 17.86
Water intensity (gallons/individual subscriber)22 11.75 10.85 8.58 7.65
Total water recycled (gallons) 0 619,587 370,639 426,626

People & Community

Community Engagement & Philanthropy

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total amount of corporate and AT&T Foundation giving23 $105.1M $100.1M $89.1M $77.5M
Total amount contributed or directed through corporate, employee and AT&T Foundation giving programs2324 $128.9M $119.6M $104.8M $92.3M
Total value of employee volunteerism2526 $14.5M $12.7M $11.6M $12,7M
Percentage of employees worldwide engaged in communities through grassroots volunteerism and giving initiatives2728 - 30% 31% 33%

Employee Inclusion29

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Gender Diversity
Percent women in global workforce 32% 31% 31% 30%
Percent women in global management 34% 33% 33% 30%
Percent women in global senior management positions30 31% 36% 37% 37%
Percent women in global management positions in revenue-generating functions (e.g., sales) 29% 28% 29% 30%
Percent women in global frontline management positions31 34% 33% 33% 25%
Percent women in global STEM-related positions 27% 26% 27% 27%
Percent women in U.S. workforce 32% 30% 30% 29%
Percent women in U.S. management 34% 33% 33% 32%
Percent women in U.S. frontline positions 30% 28% 27% 25%
Percent women in full-time positions 24% 26% 27% 29%
Percent women in part time positions 23% 31% 37% 44%
Racial Diversity (U.S.)32
Percent people of color in U.S. management 40.0% 43.0% 44.0% 44.9%
Percent people of color in U.S. workforce 46.1% 47.6% 48.7% 49.5%
Percent White in U.S. workforce 53.9% 52.4% 51.4% 50.5%
Percent Black or African American in U.S. workforce 19.7% 20.0% 20.1% 19.8%
Percent Hispanic or Latino in U.S. workforce 16.2% 16.9% 17.3% 17.8%
Percent Asian in U.S. workforce 6.7% 7.1% 7.5% 8.1%
Percent Multiracial or another race in U.S. workforce 2.5% 2.6% 2.8% 2.8%
Percent American Indian or Alaskan Native in U.S. workforce 0.7% 0.7% 0.7% 0.7%
Percent Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander in U.S. workforce 0.3% 0.3% 0.3% 0.3%
Age Diversity33
Average age of employees in global workforce 43 43 44 44
Percent Baby Boomers (Ages 58–76) 17% 15% 13% 11%
Percent Gen X (Ages 42–57) 44% 44% 45% 45%
Percent Gen Y (Ages 28–41) 32% 32% 32% 32%
Percent Gen Z (Ages 17–27) 7% 9% 10% 12%
Additional Diversity Groups34
Percent LGBTQ+ representation in U.S. workforce 1.9% 1.9% 2.0% 1.9%
Percent U.S. workforce with a disability 4.3% 4.6% 4.9% 4.9%
Percent veterans in U.S. workforce 7.4% 8.3% 8.4% 8.3%

Human Capital Management

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Number of global employees3536 230,760 202,600 160,700 149,900
Number of global part-time employees35 3,943 2,668 1,858 1,540
Number of U.S. employees 150,134 144,389 136,699 124,731
Percent of employees who are part of collective bargaining agreements3537 ~37% ~37% ~42% ~42%
Number of employees, retirees and eligible dependents offered healthcare and well-being benefits38 1.0M 1.0M 1.0M 1.0M
Number of hours spent on employee training3940 N/A N/A 8.0M 5.8M
Amount invested in tuition assistance for employees38 $15.8M $13.0M $10.5M $10.3M
Employee engagement 77% 84% 82% 82%

Company

Environment, Health & Safety Compliance41

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Total recordable incident rate (per 100 employees)4243 1.28 1.20 1.29 1.43
Number of employee health/safety incidents reported to OSHA44 76 61 47 56
Number of employee health/safety regulatory incidents 111 81 102 86
Total number of spills 440 552 560 410
Total weight of spills (metric tons [MT]) 86 48 27 12
Number of reportable spills45 19 9 38 23
Weight of reportable spills (MT) 22 2 7 2
Lost time incident rate (Days away, restricted or transferred) (per 100 employees)43 1.11 1.02 1.11 1.26
Number of fines paid as a result of enforcement actions resulting from government environmental inspections46 13 5 8 7

Ethics & Integrity

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Employee completion of Code of Business Conduct training47 98% 100% 99% 100%

Network Quality & Reliability

  2020 2021 2022 2023
Capital investment and acquisition of wireless spectrum48 $19.3B $45.6B $34.5B $26.5B
Network traffic on an average business day (petabytes) 436.9 484.8 553.0 680.6

Responsible Supply Chain

  2020 2021 2022 2023
On-site supplier audits (third-party and AT&T-led audits)49 76 71 79 137
  1. Data (2020–2023) is rounded and inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia.
  2. ERM CVS provided limited independent assurance of Scope 1, Scope 2 (location and market-based) and select Scope 3 GHG emissions. See our Independent Accountant’s Report for more information.
  3. Carbon emissions footprint does not include supplier emissions.
  4. AT&T expanded our Scope 3 reporting capabilities to include investments in 2023. 2022 data has also been recast to include investments and to reflect updates in Scope 3 methodologies for consistency with 2023.
  5. 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 2023 Form 10-K.
  6. 2020 and 2021 data restated due to changes in our calculation methodology.
  7. Electricity is a subset of total energy. Electrical energy represents the majority of AT&T’s total energy consumption globally. Other forms of energy include steam, chilled water and all types of fuel use.
  8. 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 2023 Form 10-K, is the denominator and is a proxy for our production.
  9. Percent of renewable energy (of total energy used in data centers) increase in 2022 is due to the allocation of RECs based on how close a property is compared to where the energy is produced.
  10. Data (2020–2023) includes mobility devices, broadband devices and internal AT&T devices. Data (2020–2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). 2020–2021 data does not include DIRECTV.
  11. Data (2020–2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only).
  12. Data (2020-2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). 2020-2021 data does not include DIRECTV.
  13. 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, 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.
  14. Data (2020-2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). Data has been restated to not include Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia. Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV.
  15. Data includes total waste recycled/reused and total waste sent to landfill, as well as total waste composted, and total waste managed through other means.
  16. This category represents nonhazardous waste for which data on the management method was unavailable. AT&T is continually updating the vendor submittal process to integrate enhanced waste reporting metrics into contracts.
  17. 2022 “total domestic hazardous waste generated” and “other hazardous waste, not specified” increased due to disposal of disinfectant.
  18. 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 report the final disposition of all AT&T hazardous waste more accurately
  19. Data (2020–2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia
  20. 2022 data restated due to changes in our reporting methodology. Water consumption increased in 2021 compared to 2020 due to employees returning to the office and several water main breaks.
  21. 2020-2022 data restated due to changes in our reporting methodology.
  22. 2021-2022 data restated due to changes in our reporting methodology. 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 2023 Form 10-K.
  23. $69.8 million of 2023 philanthropic giving was provided by AT&T and $7.7 million was provided through the AT&T Foundation.
  24. Data is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia.
  25. The 2020 value of volunteer time was calculated in coordination with True Impact. The 2021-2023 values were calculated using the Independent Sector value of a volunteer hour, which was $28.54 for 2021, $29.95 for 2022 and $31.80 for 2023.
  26. Data is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2022, data does not include AT&T Mexico.
  27. This goal was established in 2021. Reflects activity self-reported by employees via our Volunteerism and Giving portal.
  28. Data is inclusive of all AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2021, data does not include WarnerMedia. DIRECTV and Vrio are represented through the divestiture of those units in July 2021 and November 2021, respectively. Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or AT&T Mexico.
  29. All results are reported as of the end of the respective reporting year (December 31, 2023) and are global unless marked as U.S. Data does not include DIRECTV or Giga Power as well as employees whose race is unknown or undeclared.
  30. "Senior management positions" is defined as roles that are a maximum of two levels away from the CEO or comparable positions.
  31. "Frontline management positions" refers to junior management positions.
  32. Workforce racial diversity data is rounded and may not equal 100%.
  33. Please visit our Global Reporting Initiative Index for a full breakout of employee age diversity.
  34. 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.
  35. Data is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Starting in 2022, data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia.
  36. As of January 31, 2024, as reported in our Form 10-K.
  37. The AT&T Communications employee base includes union-represented employees.
  38. Inclusive of all AT&T operations (U.S. only).
  39. Inclusive of all AT&T operations (U.S. and international). Data does not include DIRECTV, Vrio, Xandr or WarnerMedia.
  40. Due to system/reporting changes, we are not able to retroactively restate 2020 and 2021 employee training hours to match 2022 and 2023.
  41. Data is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). 2020–2021 data includes DIRECTV and select Warner Bros. locations. Starting in 2022, data does not include WarnerMedia, Xandr, DIRECTV or Vrio.
  42. These incidents are employee injuries and illnesses that are required to be documented on the OSHA 300 log.
  43. Data is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. only). Data does not include WarnerMedia, Xander, DIRECTV or Vrio.
  44. These incidents are employee injuries and illnesses that are required to be promptly reported directly to OSHA.
  45. Each locality has its own regulations and thresholds for when to report a spill. Spills were addressed promptly and cleaned up in accordance with regulatory requirements.
  46. 2020-2022 data restated to account for dismissals or other status changes that occurred after the reporting period
  47. Data (2020–2023) is inclusive of AT&T operations (U.S. and international) except AT&T Mexico. Starting in 2021, data does not include DIRECTV.
  48. 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 is 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.
  49. JAC recognizes Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits carried out under the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) initiative as materially equivalent to JAC audits. JAC members, including AT&T, were not able to audit as many facilities in 2020-2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As is the guidance for all JAC members, AT&T aims to conduct audits of at least five suppliers each year by an independent auditing body. Corrective action plans are provided for any adverse findings identified during an audit. If there are no adverse findings, there are no corrective action plans.