Our Dual 2030 Goals
Our goals defined
Carbon Neutral
Scope 1 Emissions: Reducing direct emissions from our operations, like building heating and fleet fuel use.
Scope 2 Emissions: Reducing Indirect emissions we can control from purchased electricity and other energy sources.
Scope 3 Emissions: Reducing indirect emissions from the activities we don’t control directly like employee commuting, business travel, supply chain activity, and vendor operations. The hardest to measure, we’re committed to expanding our capabilities partnerships to begin tracking Scope 3 emissions.
Zero Waste: Diverting at least 90% of our waste from landfills and incinerators through reduction, recycling, composting, and reuse.
Roadmap to 2030
We know goals are only as strong as the progress behind them. Since launching our Carbon Neutrality and Zero Waste efforts:
We’ve reduced our scope 1 and 2 emissions by 12% since 2022
Our cafeterias divert over 95% of waste from landfills annually
150 associates spent 1,500+ hours cultivating our company garden in Hingham
Since 2024 Bluebike usage resulted in saving 2,486 metric tons of CO2e across the State of Massachusetts through 4.7M trips
We are currently pursuing 100% electrification of our buildings
We recognize this work is both urgent and complex. It requires tradeoffs, long-term investment, and teamwork across functions. That’s why we ground every initiative in data, operational feasibility, and what we hear from our associates.
Our sustainability strategy is guided by three pillars:
Environmental Engagement: Mobilizing our workforce and community.
Environmental Impact: Reducing our carbon and waste footprint.
Environmental Partnerships: Collaborating to build long-term resilience.
Our Journey
Governance and Leadership
We believe what’s good for the planet is also good for our people and critical to our long-term strength as a health organization. Our leadership team combines strategic direction, program design, and operational accountability to turn sustainability goals into measurable action.
Austin brings deep experience in environmental governance and public health. He leads the design and coordination of our climate strategy—ensuring our goals are built around real operational insights and aligned with national best practices. His work helps connect our day-to-day decisions with long-term resilience.
Anna tracks our performance using NetZero Cloud, monitoring emissions, energy use, and waste. She translates data into insights, supports employee engagement, and helps lead hands-on programs like the Hingham Garden.
Jeff launched our sustainability program in 2012 and continues to champion its growth across the organization. He ensures our environmental commitments stay connected to both corporate strategy and the evolving needs of our communities.
Together with the Carbon Footprint Governance Council, a leadership body composed of key leaders across Blue Cross, they ensure every effort aligns with our goals and values. Results are then reported to our Executive Steering Committee, CEO, and Board. The Carbon Footprint Governance Council is supported by three specialized workgroups:
Carbon Neutrality Workgroup: Focuses on electrification and high-return efficiency strategies.
Zero Waste Workgroup: Tracks and reduces waste, monitors vendor alignment, and improves recycling and composting.
Risk & Resilience Workgroup: Aligns with labor, municipal priorities, and adapts to emerging community needs.
A milestone in stewardship: In December 2024, our first Carbon Footprint Governance Council convening brought together our CEO and leaders from audit & risk management, corporate citizenship, corporate real estate, financial services, government & regulatory affairs, the people team, and performance measurement & improvement.
We use an Agile Initiative Approach to develop and launch impactful programs. It starts with ideas from the operational leaders who shape our environmental footprint day to day. These proposals are refined with feedback, reviewed by executive leadership, and launched through collaboration.
To track our progress, we were early adopters of NetZero Cloud, which consolidates data across waste, utilities, emissions, and paper use. We use this tool to support transparency, foster accountability, and show how far we've come on our sustainability journey.
Good Environmental Stewardship Principles and Policies
To guide all our work, the Carbon Footprint Governance Council developed a set of principles ranked by internal stakeholders and aligned with external partners:
Efficiency Roadmap: Develop and maintain a multi-year plan with annual reviews and quarterly updates to ensure continuous progress.
Associate Engagement: Offering challenges and incentives to encourage smart energy and waste practices.
Cost-Conscious Innovation: Building strategic partnerships to stretch every dollar.
Transparent Tracking: Maintaining dashboards that keep data visible and actionable.
Target-Driven Planning: Aligning capital projects with our 2030 goals.
Community Leadership: Hosting events like Earth Month and the Decarbonization Convening.
Local Partnerships: Supporting municipal programs that advance clean energy and conservation.
Collaborative Governance: Holding regular feedback sessions to refine our approaches.
Public Accountability: Sharing our progress openly through newsletters and digital updates.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PORTFOLIO
Rather than just measuring health challenges, we focus on proactive, impactful solutions. Our approach to community partnerships and hands-on conservation sets us apart from traditional health organizations. We believe in engaging with our communities to drive meaningful change and create a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone.
Green@Blue
Green@Blue initiative is led by our associates and focuses on partnering with local nonprofits to find practical solutions. By providing support and resources, we enable our team to take the lead on sustainability efforts, like transforming plastic straws into crafts for kids. This way, we nurture a culture of sustainability from the ground up.
Backing our team to lead: We give our employees the tools and support they need to lead sustainability projects
Partnering with the Community: We collaborate with local nonprofits to create projects that benefit everyone.
Building a Culture of Sustainability: We encourage everyday eco-friendly habits that lead to long-term positive change.
Good Stewards
Good Stewards is a monthly newsletter and education series that promotes resilience at home. Each edition offers practical and timely tips, such as conserving water or preparing for floods, to help associates take meaningful action in their daily lives.
Building Everyday Readiness: Provides simple, timely steps to help associates prepare for climate risks like floods, storms, and extreme heat.
Connecting Sustainability to Daily Life: Translates environmental goals into practical habits associates can apply at home and at work.
Strengthening Climate Solutions Culture: Reinforces shared values and builds confidence to act, making sustainability part of our everyday mindset.
Hingham Garden
The Hingham Garden supports local food pantries and offers associates a way to connect with the land. Built in collaboration with The Trustees of Reservations, it’s a space for growing food and building community.
Providing Fresh, Free Produce: The garden supplies nutritious food to associates and local pantries, helping to support community well-being.
Encouraging Outdoor Activity: It offers associates a chance to spend time in nature, promoting physical activity and mental well-being.
Fostering Community Engagement: The garden serves as a hub for educational opportunities and partnerships, strengthening our connection to the local community.
Bluebikes
As title sponsor, we’ve helped double the size of Metro Boston’s bike-share system since 2018. With 4,500 bikes and 480 stations, BlueBikes offers a clean, convenient way to get around while cutting emissions.
Reducing Emissions across Massachusetts: Since 2024, BlueBikes has saved approximately 2,486 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent by replacing 4.7 million car trips with bike rides, contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment.
Promoting Sustainable Transit: With 4,500 bikes and 480 stations, BlueBikes offers a convenient and eco-friendly transportation alternative, making it easier for residents to choose bikes over cars.
Encouraging Active Lifestyles: BlueBikes promotes healthier living by encouraging people to get active and enjoy the benefits of cycling.
Supporting Local Farms
According to The Greater Boston Food Bank, nearly 2 million adults in Massachusetts are food insecure including 45% of adults in four counties. Our partnerships with Roots Rising, the Amherst Farmers Market, and The Trustees’ Mobile Market help sustain small farms across the state while ensuring that more of our neighbors have access to fresh, local food.
Expanding access to fresh food: Blue Cross provides supplemental Farmer’s Market tokens for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Women, Infants, and Children program eligible populations, boosting affordability and access to nutritious options.
Empowering associates with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) benefits: Blue Cross offers a $300 reimbursement for associates to use at any CSA across the state, ensuring consistent access to fresh produce.
Strengthening statewide food security through partnerships: By collaborating with Roots Rising and the Trustees, we support the revitalization of Pittsfield's farmer’s markets and Boston-based mobile markets, enhancing access to affordable, healthy produce across Massachusetts.
Community Leadership in Action
We align our work with local and statewide climate goals through initiatives like our Decarbonization Convening and by supporting events such as Earth Night with the Environmental League of Massachusetts. Our partnerships with the American Red Cross, Climate Beacon, the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and The Trustees of Reservations help build resilience and accelerate meaningful progress.
Together, We Steward a Healthier Massachusetts
Environmental stewardship is a shared responsibility. We invite you to explore, learn, and act alongside us.
Because when we take care of our land, our land takes care of us.
If you’d like more information on our work at the intersection of climate and health resilience, please email [email protected]