With a more than 75-year commitment to improving the lives and health of our communities, Anthem has been compelled by our values to pursue a more equitable and sustainable future.
This is why in 2020 we proudly joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to commit our resources, our energy, and our hearts – and hold ourselves accountable – to make a meaningful difference in attaining the Compact’s Sustainable Development Goals, such as Reduced Inequality and Climate Action.
Anthem’s commitment to inclusion and diversity not only makes us a stronger organization, but enables us to fulfill our mission. As our communities lifted their voices to challenge the racial injustice that has plagued our communities for far too long, Anthem reaffirmed its commitment to address the factors driving disparities in our healthcare system and in society as a whole.
We began with our own associates. As social unrest unfolded across the nation, our teams experienced a complex range of emotions. To address these feelings and create open dialogue, we conducted more than 40 “Leading and Listening” sessions across the enterprise. More than 6,000 leaders and associates participated in conversations, providing a safe space and an opportunity to engage with one another. Beyond the Leading and Listening sessions, regular, enterprise-wide culture-related conversations with our associates were a lifeline throughout 2020; these conversations allowed us to truly understand how the pandemic and social unrest were affecting our team and quickly adapt to provide support where they needed it most. And the voices of our more than 11,500 member strong Associate Resource Groups helped inspire us to open our hearts and minds to the needs and feelings of a broad range of communities. And the voices from our more than 11,500-member strong Associate Resource Groups (ARGs) helped inspire us to open our hearts and minds to the needs and feelings of a broad range of communities.
This work was extended through a $50 million, five-year pledge focused on eliminating racial injustice, strengthening our communities, and addressing health inequities. We also took the following actions:
Re-evaluated the associate hiring and development processes to minimize bias, engage professional organizations, and enable professional success for all associates
Increased awareness and education for all associates to make sure we all understand the connection of unconscious bias and healthcare disparities.
Expanded associate giving programs and volunteer opportunities to support organizations dedicated to fighting health disparities and/or racial inequality.
Worked with nonprofits and other local, state, and community partners that focus on health opportunities, economic development, and job creation.
While our associates have always reflected the rich diversity of our communities, the moment calls on us now to more intentionally listen, to be heard and to act.
With health disparities particularly evident against the backdrop of the pandemic, we partnered with more than 100 community organizations, including the National Hispanic Medical Association and 100 Black Men of America, to increase flu vaccinations in communities with the greatest need.
Dr. Demetria Malloy volunteering at the YMCA Los Angeles pop-up vaccine clinic
During the fall, over 500 pop-up clinics were set up in states and counties where flu vaccination rates have been lower than the national average and the population is at higher risk for flu and COVID-19 – in particular, Black and Latinx/Hispanic communities.
Climate change is one of the most pressing health issues of our time, which disproportionately impacts communities of color and those with less economic stability. “By acknowledging and addressing the link between environmental and human health, we can make a difference in the lives we serve now and into the future,” said Hakon Mattson, Director of Sustainability at Anthem.
Anthem solar field in Hanover County, Virginia
Leading today to protect the planet for tomorrow, we are making progress toward our goal of sourcing 100% of our electricity needs with renewables by 2025. To reach this goal, we signed and operationalized two power purchase agreements for large off-site, utility-scale solar fields in Virginia and North Carolina. With more than 1,000 acres of solar panels that will generate over 225,000 megawatt hours of electricity, we will offset enough electricity to account for all of our U.S. offices and data centers.
In addition to this ambitious goal, we are also setting and meeting new targets. In 2020, we met our first-generation greenhouse gas target – reducing direct emissions intensity by over 30% since baseline 2013. Our new, second generation targets include:
Reducing absolute scope I and II GHG emissions by 46% compared to a 2019 baseline, by 2030.
Engaging with strategic suppliers to establish their own scope I and II science-based GHG emissions targets, by 2023.
“Reflecting our mission, vision, and values, we’re working to create enduring change – to improve health in its broadest sense, short-term and long-term, for the millions of people and broader communities we serve,” Hakon added.
Anthem, Inc. has followed the PPA COVID-19 guidelines for all professional photography conducted for this report.
