Caring for Our Environment
As part of our unwavering pursuit of a healthier tomorrow, we are dedicated to doing our part to care for the health of our planet. In 2023, we continued to build on our strong foundation of environmental stewardship, making meaningful progress towards our 2025 goals.
Our Journey to Net Zero Emissions
Pursuing a healthier tomorrow includes reducing greenhouse gases to help address the challenge of climate change. We have set ambitious emission reduction goals and taken significant steps to reduce those emissions.
Net Zero Commitments
We are included in the White House and HHS health care sector commitment to net zero scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050. We are proud of the emissions reductions we have achieved thus far and are in the process of developing a roadmap to net zero.
Science-Based Climate Goals
A review by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) verifies our climate targets are in line with the scale of reductions required to keep global warming from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels. To meet these ambitious commitments, we have been improving the energy efficiency of our clinics, sourcing renewable energy and working with our vendors on their environmental commitments.
We remain proud that in 2022, we achieved our first science-based target, focused on reduction of our Scope 1 & 2 emissions, three years early.
73%
reduction of scope 1 and 2 emissions, as of December 31, 2023.
Energy Reduction
Over the past decade we have focused on energy efficiency improvements, including updating lighting systems to more efficient LED options and installing smart building controls to our buildings. DaVita also upgrades water heaters and HVAC units to high-efficiency systems whenever replacements are required. Through this systematic approach to upgrades, the majority of our centers now have these energy efficient features.
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100% Renewable Energy in the US
In 2022 we achieved our 100% renewable energy goal for our U.S. locations for the entire year by utilizing two virtual power purchase agreements. Our agreements to purchase energy from newly built wind and solar farms continue to match the amount of electricity we use in our U.S. operations. Expanding upon this commitment, we have initiatives in place to be 100% renewable across our global operations by 2025.
Our first-ever net zero dialysis clinic, which features all-electric systems and solar panels on the rooftop and parking lot, is now operational. Learn more about our net zero clinic here.
Water Reduction
Water is an important input to the dialysis process and we are committed to being good stewards of this resource. Our continued focus on water reduction throughout our operations included a water optimization and Top Water Users targeted reduction program.
Through these initiatives, we have saved more than 100 million gallons of water in 2023 and already achieved our 2025 goal of saving 240 million gallons of water since 2021. We will continue to look for opportunities to decrease our water consumption moving forward.
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Teammate Involvement
Our teammates play an important role in our sustainability program. In 2023, teammates logged nearly 22,000 Green Actions, which are defined as intentional actions to improve the environment, reduce environmental impact, and/or learn something new or education others about sustainability. We encourage involvement through Earth Day, sustainability events at our offices, and Green Action challenges.
Additional Environmental Data
We report environmental data aligned with recommendations from the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), a leading authority on environmental reporting. Details on our environmental footprint and supporting data can be found in our Community Care Report, which includes a TCFD Report.
Caring for Communities
Our network of care reaches communities in every corner of the US and 11 countries around the world. In every community we touch, we are committed not only to giving outstanding health care service — but also to giving back.
DaVita Health Bus Tour
The 2023 DaVita Health Tour provided thousands of community members across the country access to free health screenings and education focused on kidney health.
The screenings and education helped individuals identify risk factors that may lead to chronic kidney disease, including obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure, a family history of kidney failure, and African American and Hispanic ethnicities.
Learn more about the health tour here.
Collaborating with The American Diabetes Association
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in people with diabetes, and both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to kidney disease. To be able to reach more people with applicable education, we continued our work with and support for the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
In 2023 we are proud to have:
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Provided digital educational content aimed at helping those living with diabetes prevent and manage kidney disease
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Jointly published two diabetes and CKD-friendly cookbooks
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Collaborated on educational activities for Kidney Disease Awareness Month and American Diabetes Awareness Month
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For more information visit diabetes.org/kidney-care
The DaVita Giving Foundation
The DaVita Giving Foundation is a national, impact-driven foundation focused on health care, social determinants of health and kidney disease. In alignment with our caring ethos and larger ESG goals, the DaVita Giving Foundation is another way we work to extend the reach of our positive influence on human health.
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Through support from the foundation, the Food is Medicine Coalition provided 140,000+ medically tailored meals to people with food insecurity and medical nutrition needs, including individuals living with end stage kidney disease.
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The DaVita Giving Foundation awarded Western Governors University's (WGU) Michael O. Leavitt School of Health (LSH) a $1 million grant over the next three years to support more than 1,500 nursing students in Start Early, a program co-created by DaVita Inc. and WGU to help increase nursing degree completion at the university nationwide. Learn more here.
Minority Lending Initiative
In 2021, we made a $15 million Transformational Deposit into HOPE Credit Union, which provides banking services and loans to underserved communities. In 2023, we continued our investment with HOPE, which supports home and small business ownership for thousands of residents historically lacking financial service access in the southeastern United States. We also donate back the interest earned on the deposit back to HOPE to further support its impact lending.
Beyond Our Borders
Bridge of Life
®
Bridge of Life (BOL), an independent 501(c)(3) public charity founded by DaVita Inc., is an international nonprofit organization working to strengthen healthcare globally through sustainable programs that treat and prevent chronic disease. BOL's vision is a world where all human beings have access to quality healthcare. Each year, DaVita teammates contribute clinical skills, labor and resources to enhance BOL's work in underserved countries around the world.
2023 Impact Highlights
Improving Kidney Care
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BOL trained 500 dialysis technicians and clinicians to improve dialysis treatment and care for approximately 4,000 dialysis patients in low and middle-income countries
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BOL supported pediatric patients in Guatemala by providing 25 AV Fistula surgeries and by building PD rooms for home dialysis treatment for children living in rural areas
Kidney Disease Prevention
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BOL trained more than 200 nurses, primary care doctors and community health workers in five countries on chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevention and early detection, and screened over 2,500 people for hypertension, diabetes and CKD
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BOL provided ongoing health education, health testing and access to medication to more than 650 patients identified as high-risk
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BOL recognized World Health Days, held community-wide health activities and increased awareness on chronic disease prevention for thousands of people in the participating communities
Supporting Health Centers
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BOL delivered medical supplies and equipment to under-resourced hospitals, clinics and community health centers in nine developing countries. Donations included health kits, screening supplies & equipment, dialysis supplies and surgical supplies
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Read more about the impactful work of Bridge of Life here.
For more information on our 2023 corporate citizenship initiatives, please visit our ESG Reporting Hub or download our full Community Care ESG Report. Unless otherwise indicated, the data included in this report is as of December 31, 2023 for the Company’s consolidated operations.