Better Health for All

Union Pacific has faced criticism for environmental contamination from former rail yards in Houston's Fifth Ward

and Eugene, Oregon. This pollution, including creosote, has been linked to higher cancer rates and affected groundwater quality, impacting community health. The company approved a $5 million fund to assist residents near the contaminated Houston rail yard and is conducting further testing. Union Pacific also emphasizes safely transporting hazardous materials to prevent chemical releases and protect community health. As a railroad company, Union Pacific's core transportation services are generally neutral in terms of direct health impact, and its revenue is not derived from products with direct negative health outcomes. The company's business model does not involve offering health-related products or services, engaging in public health education, or conducting clinical trials, making several health-related KPIs not applicable. While Union Pacific offers employee wellness programs, including health coaching, screenings, flu shots, and suicide prevention efforts, , specific quantitative data on expenditure for these initiatives, as required by the rubric, is not provided.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Union Pacific Corporation, a railroad company, does not offer consumer lending, deposit, or other financial services. Consequently, KPIs related to financial products, pricing, fees, debt burden, credit outcomes, and financial literacy are not applicable. The company does, however, engage in initiatives that promote broader economic opportunity. In 2022, its supplier diversity program achieved $813 million in spending with diverse suppliers, accounting for 9.5% of total supplier expenditures

, including 73% with women-owned businesses, 10% with African American suppliers, and 5% each with Native American and veteran-owned businesses . In 2023, Union Pacific awarded nearly $5.1 million in grants to 543 nonprofit organizations through its Community Ties Giving Program , supporting areas like workforce development and community spaces with an emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion . It also partners with the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) to invest in workforce development programs aimed at connecting unemployed and underemployed individuals to educational opportunities and skill-building .

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Union Pacific conducted a comprehensive pay equity review of over 5,200 management employees in March 2023.

This review found that women earned 99.4 cents and people of color earned 99.7 cents compared to their counterparts.

Honest & Fair Business

Union Pacific has a comprehensive Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy, which is supported by a Supplier Code of Conduct that explicitly prohibits bribery and kickbacks.

In 2021, 98% of employees completed training on the company's Statement of Policy on Ethics and Business Conduct.

Kind to Animals

Union Pacific implements habitat conservation plans to protect ecosystems and endangered species, such as the desert tortoise and southwestern willow flycatcher.

The company establishes habitat corridors to support pollinator habitats. In November 2022, Union Pacific committed $3 million over three years to The Nature Conservancy for projects including grassland restoration, rewilding, and watershed health improvement. This commitment represents approximately 0.004% of the company's 2022 annual revenue.

No War, No Weapons

Union Pacific Corporation's core business is civilian logistics and infrastructure support, and the company does not engage in the production or distribution of weapons or military-specific products.

However, it transports military equipment, including ammunition, Humvees, and tanks. Serving over 25 military facilities, it provides comprehensive logistics solutions. This includes a track expansion at Fort Riley to enhance capacity for military deployments. The company does not have notable involvement in peace initiatives or advocacy for disarmament. Union Pacific provides $5.1 million in grants for community development, encompassing safety, community spaces, and environmental sustainability. Over 17% of its workforce are veterans.

Planet-Friendly Business

Contamination linked to Union Pacific's Houston rail yard led to $5 million for resident relocation due to increased cancer rates

, with the company pledging more testing to identify contamination levels . Union Pacific has set targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50.4% by 2030 from a 2018 baseline , achieving a 19.1% cumulative reduction by 2023 , and aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 . The company issued $600 million in green bonds , allocating $590.8 million by 2023 to decarbonization projects, including locomotive modernizations and renewable investments . It is partnering to create hybrid-electric locomotives, scheduled for testing in 2023 , and has a $1 billion agreement for 600 locomotive modernizations to enhance fuel efficiency . Union Pacific was named to the World and North American Dow Jones Sustainability Indices . In 2021, Union Pacific settled Clean Water Act violations with the EPA for a 2016 crude oil spill, paying an $85,000 civil penalty .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

Union Pacific has established four formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, including agreements with the Bluebird Cultural Initiative, the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, and a master access agreement and memorandum of understanding with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.

The company has taken actions to protect cultural sites by reestablishing tribal access to historic grounds through agreements with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, with no reported incidents of disruption. Union Pacific has not reported any cultural appropriation incidents. The company provides standard grievance mechanisms, including a 24/7 Values Line and an EEO/Discrimination Hotline, for reporting concerns.

Safe & Smart Tech

Union Pacific demonstrates a strong cybersecurity posture, reporting no successful network breaches in 2019 despite 355 billion probes, and no reported breaches up to 2023.

The company implements comprehensive security measures, including a security plan with four alert levels, a dedicated police force, and a 24-hour emergency response management center. Regular vulnerability scanning and system penetration testing are conducted. Employees receive regular security and hazardous materials training. Union Pacific's cybersecurity efforts, including the appointment of a Cybersecurity Coordinator and development of an Implementation Plan, have been validated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), confirming compliance with their standards. The company also states its commitment to developing responsible AI by design, aiming for safe, trustworthy, ethical, and transparent solutions, and acknowledges the need to address potential biases in AI systems. It is currently involved in a class-action lawsuit under the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act regarding a finger scan system, which it intends to vigorously defend.