Environmental Sustainability

Our dedication to environmental preservation is evident through our investments in sustainable farming, renewable energy, recycling efforts, and initiatives to reduce waste and water consumption. We continually monitor our advancements toward long-term goals and implement programs to minimize our environmental footprint.

Reducing our carbon footprint

Each year, we continue to make real progress. Since we began this journey in 2010, we’ve reduced our carbon footprint through implementing building automation, upgrading to efficient heating and cooling systems, and installing LED lights.

Reduced our carbon footprint by
42% per square foot1
compared with our baseline year, 2010
Reduced our water usage by
69 million gallons2
compared with our baseline year, 2016
Increased our landfill diversion from
39% to 47%3
compared with our baseline year, 2017
Reduced our waste by
2,581 tons3
compared with our baseline year, 2017
Printed
812,0004
fewer pages than in 2022
Invested
$62 million5
in renewable energy in 2023
Invested
$399 million5
in sustainable debt instruments in 2023, which promoted environmentally sustainable outcomes and supported efforts related to climate change mitigation
Reduced our carbon footprint by
42% per square foot1
compared with our baseline year, 2010
Reduced our water usage by
69 million gallons2
compared with our baseline year, 2016
Increased our landfill diversion from
39% to 47%3
compared with our baseline year, 2017
Reduced our waste by
2,581 tons3
compared with our baseline year, 2017
Printed
812,0004
fewer pages than in 2022
Invested
$62 million5
in renewable energy in 2023
Invested
$399 million5
in sustainable debt instruments in 2023, which promoted environmentally sustainable outcomes and supported efforts related to climate change mitigation

Investing in modern building code adoption

Building codes play a crucial role in enhancing construction practices with environmental impact in mind. Our commitment to modern building codes includes research, innovation and advocacy as well as offerings that directly help our members.

We’re a founding member of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), which is committed to scientific and objective research to identify and promote achievable, affordable and effective actions that create resilience against loss.

We were instrumental in establishing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, which encourages the adoption and enforcement of disaster-resistant building codes through funding and direct technical assistance.

Through products, programs and services, we support building to codes to withstand catastrophic events; examples include our Better Roof Replacement® endorsement and wildfire support services.

We continue to call on elected officials and policymakers to require buildings to be built to IBHS FORTIFIED building standards.

Achieving building certifications

Energy-efficient improvements in our buildings continue to minimize our impact on the environment. In 2022, Grandview Yard became the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Neighborhood Certification project in Ohio and the largest in the U.S. to achieve this certification.

Nationwide has both LEED-certified and Energy Star-certified buildings.

LEED buildings include 10 West, 280 Plaza, Grandview Yard H and Grandview Yard I in central Ohio, and Cavasson East in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Energy Star buildings include 10 West, Grandview Yard H, Grandview Yard I and Plaza One in central Ohio, and Cavasson East in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Using our real estate for good

Following a successful transition to a hybrid work environment, Nationwide partnered with the United Way of Central Ohio to repurpose office space in a meaningful way that meets the unique needs of the community while contributing to the vitality of downtown.

United Way of Central Ohio and other nonprofits now occupy a 9-story, 150,000-square-foot Community Impact Center at 215 North Front Street. Along with United Way, partner tenants include the YMCA Stable Families Administrative Offices; Per Scholas; I Know I Can; Future Ready; Communities In Schools of Ohio; and the Corporation for Supportive Housing, among others.

Getting associates involved

Corporate Real Estate has created and facilitated several projects and programs that help reduce our environmental impact and increase associate engagement.

Recycling programs:

Associates can recycle their personally owned mobile devices, such as smartphones, tablets, accessories and charging cables. Money earned through this effort benefits the Mid-Ohio Food Collective.

At major locations, associates can recycle media devices such as CDs, DVDs, cassettes, USB cards, jump drives and credit cards. Additionally, Nationwide offers battery recycling stations in our buildings.

Secure shredding:

Nationwide partners with Iron Mountain to run a two-week associate shred event during which associates can safely shred and recycle their personal and business paper and media materials at no cost.

During our shred event in 2023, associates recycled and shredded approximately 8,700 pounds of paper waste.

Green Team Associate Resource Group:

Nationwide engages with our associates through our Green Team Associate Resource Group. There are more than 1,100 members across our enterprise. The Green Team provides opportunities for associates to volunteer for activities and participate in monthly informational broadcasts.

Farm-focused collaboration

In 2023, five innovative research projects were awarded funding from the new AgTech Innovation Hub, a multimillion-dollar collaboration between The Ohio State University and Nationwide. These projects were chosen after nine researchers in The Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) pitched their ideas to a judging panel:

Drought risk reduction

This project will study the effects of automating drainage tiles on farm fields using sensor technology. Researchers also plan to use sensors to consider how crops respond by measuring stress, yield and photosynthetic activity.

Precision risk management

This project studies the use of artificial intelligence and other precision and digital agriculture as a tool to predict corn and soybean yield differences as they relate to planting date to provide valuable guidance to Ohio farmers.

Mapping climate risk audiences

This project will map perceptions and experiences associated with climate risk, determine perceptions of insurance as a risk reduction and mitigation strategy and identify climate risk audience segments. The goal is to create a national map detailing climate risk perceptions to inform future campaigns related to climate risk mitigation.

Studying pathogen interactions to improve soybean crops

This project will research how spring weather conditions affect pathogen infection and seedling establishment in soybean crops. The goal is to increase the understanding of how planting date, seasonal weather and harvest date all affect seed quality and pathogen presence in soybeans.

Cell-permeable proteins

This project seeks to improve the effectiveness of an existing biopesticide for disease control and growth promotion in tomato crops, including those grown using hydroponics and those grown in farm fields.

Wildfire prevention

The Nationwide Foundation’s grant of $250,000 in 2023 to The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC’s) North American Fire program and practitioner networks benefits 90 million acres and supports 2,300 partners across 37 states. TNC’s 500+ qualified fire practitioners burn about 115,000 acres per year and help partners burn another 250,000 acres to reduce risk to the landscape.6

Sustainable procurement

Nationwide established a sustainable procurement partnership in September 2022 with our suppliers to encourage and report on their compliance with greenhouse gas (GHG) protocol. We also continue to seek out new suppliers with strong sustainability practices. These efforts reflect our commitment to making sourcing decisions that prioritize not only pricing and supplier performance but also the protection of people and the environment.

Sustainable procurement of goods and services:

  • Reduces exposure to hazardous substances such as cleaners
  • Seeks out environmental alternatives to and substitutes for waste reduction
  • Reduces carbon emissions by local sourcing to avoid long transportation routes
  • Reduces energy and water dependence
  • Eliminates waste by reusing, recycling or replacing obsolete equipment
  • Addresses important social issues such as fair labor and poverty
[1] This represents the reporting period of October 2022 to September 2023, compared with the baseline period of January 2010 to December 2010, and includes Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
[2] This represents the reporting period of October 2022 to September 2023, compared with the baseline period of January 2016 to December 2016.
[3] This represents the reporting period of October 2022 to September 2023, compared with the baseline period of January 2017 to December 2017.
[4] This represents the reporting period of January 2023 to December 2023, compared with the previous reporting period of January 2022 to December 2022.
[5] This includes general account assets for the Nationwide companies and assets managed by Nationwide Asset Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
[6] Source: The Nature Conservancy proposal for Nationwide Foundation Strategic Grants program, approved Feb. 7, 2023.