Better Health for All
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Verizon demonstrates a strong commitment to Better Health for All by strategically leveraging its telecommunications services and through comprehensive internal programs. Its core services have a substantial health impact, enabling telehealth visits, digital skills training for healthcare, and advanced medical technologies like augmented reality-assisted surgical guidance via 5G networks.
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Verizon serves the most rural wireless customers in the U.S.
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, with its network covering over 159,000 more square miles
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and reaching nearly half a million more people than its closest competitor.
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It partners with the VA to enhance broadband connectivity and telehealth access for veterans in remote areas
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,
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and promotes the Affordable Connectivity Program to enhance telehealth access in underserved communities.
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During public health emergencies, Verizon has shown leadership by bringing communications to a 600-bed Kentucky field hospital
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and helping Virginia improve its national vaccination rates from 50th to fourth.
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For its employees, Verizon invested $2.6 billion in healthcare benefits in 2023
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, offering comprehensive mental health programs, including six free therapy or coaching sessions per year through Spring Health
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, and addiction mitigation support like tobacco cessation programs with free nicotine replacement therapy.
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Additionally, Verizon provides digital skills training for healthcare to 15,000 adults in rural and people of color communities.
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Fair Money & Economic Opportunity
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Verizon demonstrates strong positive impact on wealth building for small businesses, with 77% of Small Business Digital Ready users reporting increased revenue or profitability
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and 78% seeing an increase in customers.
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The company also shows excellent geographic inclusion through its Verizon Forward program, which provides discounted internet services nationwide to eligible low-income customers.
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However, Verizon faced a significant class-action settlement of $100 million for adding undisclosed "Administrative Charges" and "Telco Recovery Charges" to postpaid wireless bills between 2016 and 2023.
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This indicates a failure in pricing fairness and product simplicity, leading to an agreement for clearer billing disclosures.
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As a telecommunications company, Verizon is not regulated as a consumer lender, so KPIs related to fair lending compliance and debt burden ratio are not applicable.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect
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At the end of 2024, 30% of Verizon's U.S. employees were represented by unions.
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In 2023, the occupational injuries and illnesses rate was 1.1 per 100 employees, which was below the industry average of 1.9.
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Verizon achieved 100% pay equity in salary for women and men globally, and for race/ethnicity in the U.S. in 2023.
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The 2023 VZPulse+ employee survey had an 88% participation rate and ranked in the 83rd percentile for overall employee engagement.
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However, in March 2023, Verizon Wireless settled for the illegal termination of a worker related to union activities, resulting in reinstatement and approximately $23,000 in back pay and benefits.
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Additionally, in January 2023, Verizon Connect Inc. settled a class-action lawsuit for $1.6 million for overtime and meal break violations.
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In April 2022, Verizon raised its minimum wage to $20 per hour.
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The company's EHS management system maintains ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications.
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Verizon's Supplier Code of Conduct prohibits child and forced labor and protects employees’ rights to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
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Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing
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In 2024, Verizon spent 17.22% of its procurement dollars with diverse suppliers, including minority, women, veteran, service-disabled veteran, LGBT, and disability-owned businesses.
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The company has a Supplier Diversity Program
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and committed $5 billion over the next five years to American small business suppliers.
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In 2023, diverse supplier spend was $6.1 billion, contributing to $54.3 billion over the past 10 years.
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Verizon's Supplier Code of Conduct, which forbids child and forced labor, is generally incorporated into procurement contracts and purchase orders.
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Verizon is a member of the Joint Alliance for CSR (JAC), which completed 150 supplier audits in 2024, totaling 1,210 audits since 2010.
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Additionally, 764 key suppliers have been assessed through EcoVadis since 2013.
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Verizon's conflict minerals due diligence framework aligns with OECD guidance, requiring suppliers to verify that products do not finance armed groups, and suppliers are expected to implement policies for mineral traceability down to the smelter level.
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Verizon also utilizes Avetta for EHS assessments of its suppliers.
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Honest & Fair Business
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Verizon incurred approximately $99.6 million in ethics-related regulatory fines over the past three years (2023-2025).
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These fines include $46 million from the FCC in 2024 for illegally sharing customer location data,
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$16 million from the FCC in 2024 for privacy violations,
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$23.5 million from the FCC in 2023 for telecommunications violations,
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and $4.09 million from the DOJ in 2023 for False Claims Act issues.
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Additional fines in 2024 included $4.09 million from multi-agency and Texas AG for consumer protection,
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$1.05 million from the FCC for telecommunications violations,
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and settlements totaling $695,000 with New Jersey and other states for deceptive marketing and sales practices.
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The company received a total score of 61.1 out of 100 on a recognized transparency benchmark.
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Verizon has a comprehensive Whistleblowing Policy, last reviewed in September 2022,
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which applies to employees, service providers, and associates.
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It provides multiple reporting channels, including a 24/7 global ethics hotline,
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allows for anonymous reporting,
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and prohibits retaliation.
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Investigations are launched within 10 business days,
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with an attempt to complete them within 60 days where possible.
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Verizon maintains an anti-corruption policy that prohibits bribery and corruption, incorporating anti-bribery clauses in business contracts.
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Its Supplier Code of Conduct requires suppliers to comply with international anti-corruption laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the U.K. Bribery Act, and the French Sapin II Law.
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The company also sets specific limits for employee gifts at $150 per calendar year and entertainment at $250 per occasion, requiring legal department approval for gifts or entertainment to government officials.
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Kind to Animals
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Verizon advocated to weaken the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary in October 2023
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and is a member of industry associations that have lobbied against policies to prevent biodiversity loss
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. Conversely, the company has undertaken significant conservation initiatives, including sponsoring the planting of over 20 million trees since 2009
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and 100,000 trees in 2022 to improve wildlife habitat
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. In 2007, Verizon restored 25 acres of habitat at its Basking Ridge campus
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, leading to the return of over 60 wildlife species
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. In 2021, Verizon donated $150,000 for a wildlife crossing
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. The company also uses drone technology for wildlife monitoring, such as counting bison and tracking migratory birds
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. As a telecommunications company, Verizon does not have operations related to animal testing, animal agriculture, or animal-derived products, making several animal welfare KPIs not applicable.
No War, No Weapons
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Verizon derives approximately 0.29% of its 2023 revenue from telecommunications services provided to U.S. military and federal agencies, including contracts for wireless, data, IoT, and 5G/4G LTE networks.
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The company's 5G Ultra Wideband technology is being explored for dual-use applications on military bases and for operations abroad.
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This includes a "living lab" at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar for 5G-enabled defense applications like smart bases and autonomous transport.
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Verizon and Lockheed Martin demonstrated 5G-enabled drones for real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to geolocate military targets
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and are collaborating on 5G.MIL technologies for the Department of Defense.
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Verizon has a Business & Human Rights Program guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
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and supports Dodd-Frank Section 1502, which aligns with these principles.
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In its supply chain, Verizon does not tolerate forced labor, slavery, human trafficking, or child labor.
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Its conflict minerals due diligence framework aligns with OECD guidance for Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas, requiring suppliers to verify products do not finance armed groups.
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Verizon has assessed 764 key suppliers
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and completed 1,210 supplier audits, with 150 audits in 2024.
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Planet-Friendly Business
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Verizon's total Scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions were 17,750,412 tCO₂e in 2022.
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The company has SBTi-approved targets, including a 53% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions by 2030 (1.5°C aligned)
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and a 40% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2035 (well-below 2°C aligned),
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with published progress showing a 23.3% reduction in Scope 1 and 2
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and a 15.1% reduction in Scope 3 from 2019-2022.
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In 2022, Verizon sourced renewable energy equivalent to 13% of its electricity usage.
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The company aims for net-zero operational emissions by 2035,
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with a 53% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 by 2030 as an interim goal.
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Verizon has published three reports aligned with TCFD guidelines,
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integrating climate-related risk into its enterprise risk management, business strategy, and financial planning.
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Its climate scenario analysis is comprehensive, covering 1.5°C, 2°C, and 3°C+ pathways using IEA's Net Zero Emissions by 2050 model and IPCC's RCP 2.6 and RCP 6.0.
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In January 2026, Verizon Wireless agreed to pay $7.7 million to settle alleged systemic environmental violations in California related to hazardous materials reporting, employee training, and regulatory access.
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Verizon established a Climate Resilience Prize in 2022,
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awarding $500,000 in 2023 to solutions mitigating climate impacts on vulnerable communities,
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and provided funding for climate justice efforts in San Diego.
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Respect for Cultures & Communities
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Verizon has established five formal partnerships with indigenous or local community groups, including the Urban League of Broward County
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, NAACP
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, National Urban League
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, Indigenous Language Institute
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, and California Indian Museum and Cultural Center
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. No cultural appropriation incidents have been reported. For a project in Lanikai, Hawaiʻi, an archaeological survey was conducted
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, and a faux rock design was proposed to mitigate visual impacts on historic properties
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. The company provides a 24/7 global ethics hotline
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and an online portal, available in multiple languages
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, for reporting concerns, which serve as standard grievance mechanisms.
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Safe & Smart Tech
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Verizon was fined nearly $47 million by the FCC in April 2024 for sharing customer location data without consent.
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In September 2024, the company faced a federal class-action lawsuit alleging improper collection of voiceprints without disclosure or consent, violating the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
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These incidents indicate gaps in regulatory compliance and unauthorized data use. Despite these issues, Verizon has a centralized, enterprise-wide Responsible AI Program, managed by its Artificial Intelligence and Data organization and Data and Analytics Office.
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This program is overseen by a dedicated team, governed by a risk-based approach, and guided by foundational principles including governance, privacy, human rights, technical robustness, and transparency.
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An AI Leadership Council, composed of top executives, reviews every AI use case to set policy, emphasizing human oversight in generative AI processes.
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Verizon uses industry-standard authentication protocols for mobile devices.
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The company is committed to operating with respect for internationally recognized human rights
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and publishes semi-annual transparency reports detailing its responses to legal demands for customer data, carefully reviewing each demand for validity, and may contest demands.
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Zero Waste & Sustainable Products
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Verizon has set a target to collect and recycle 10 million pounds of e-waste from communities by 2026.
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The company has implemented over 10 waste reduction initiatives, including a PC Refresh Program, a device trade-in program, a plastic reuse program for items like road signs, and the elimination of single-use plastics from corporate cafeteria facilities and reverse logistics operations.
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Verizon reduced the rigid plastic component of prepaid device packaging by at least 33%.
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Its sustainable retail bags are made from nearly 90% post-consumer waste and are 100% recyclable and reusable.
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The company maintains a teardown lab to assess and optimize the design of network equipment and devices for sustainability.
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For hazardous waste, Verizon requires lead-acid batteries from U.S. operations to be sent to approved recycling facilities and regularly audits facilities managing its hazardous waste.
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Annual compliance audits and inspections are conducted at facilities worldwide.
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Verizon's Supplier Code of Conduct includes waste-related provisions, and supply chain requirements for customer-premise products mandate packaging design to minimize single-use plastics and non-recyclable materials, and products to use post-consumer recycled content.
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The company also supports customer waste education through free public recycling events and its device trade-in program.
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