BOSTON — Online retailer Wayfair is sharing its achievements in areas such as sustainability, diversity and social impact programming in its second annual Corporate Responsibility Report.
As company founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine outlined in their opening statement, this year’s version continues the report’s evolution by incorporating third-party reporting standards and including its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work.
“We’re committed to making a positive difference in our communities, our workplace and our planet,” said Nathan Barr, head of corporate affairs. “Wayfair’s focus on home extends to our social impact work to fight homelessness, and we’re using the power of our platform business model to empower customers to make sustainable choices when shopping with us. We’re also focused on running the business in a responsible and transparent way and have gone further in our reporting this year.”
In its efforts to fight homelessness, Wayfair has contributed $3.9 million worth of in-kind product donations for Habitat for Humanity and matched nearly $700,000 in employees’ charitable donations. It has also supported Homes for our Troops and Team Rubicon, which aids refugee resettlement.
On the sustainability front, Wayfair shared that customers can now find listed more than 15,000 third-party certified products via the Shop Sustainably offering on Wayfair’s website. The certifications point out product attributes such as energy or water efficiency, sustainably sourced wood, Fair Trade production and more.
The report also delves into the company’s efforts on climate action, such as its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, incorporate renewable energy sources into its global and U.S. facilities and reduce waste via recycling programs and improved shipping management. Through a contracted aggregated virtual power purchase agreement, Wayfair expects to generate enough renewable energy to power 3,500-plus homes per year.
Its strategic pillars for DEI are leadership commitment and collaboration, which engages the executive leadership team on DEI efforts; education and awareness; and building infrastructure, such as putting systems and policies in place to enhance a DEI-driven culture.
In 2022, Wayfair earned a 100% rating and designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality from the Human Rights Campaign. It also conducted its second Black Leaders Summit, which brought together Wayfair’s Black associate directors and directors to discuss opportunities for Black employees across the business.
Wayfair sells home furnishings online and in company-owned stores under the Wayfair, Joss & Main, AllModern, Birch Lane, Perigold and Wayfair Professional nameplates.
