Dear Stakeholders,
2020 will always be associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and I am incredibly proud of how Kohl’s associates stepped up to face this unprecedented challenge with innovation, creativity, speed, agility and empathy. I continue to draw inspiration from the way our organization has responded to help slow the spread of the virus for the benefit of our customers, associates and the communities we serve all across the country.
In the midst of this national emergency, our teams seamlessly adjusted to maintain Kohl’s long-standing focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) stewardship. As presented in this report, we have continued to take strides to ensure Kohl’s leaves a smaller footprint on our world while also making a positive difference in the lives of families nationwide. We remain committed to the highest standards of integrity and performance and are dedicated to fostering a best-in-class workplace that celebrates transparency, opportunity and appreciation.
During fiscal 2020, racial equity was also an issue brought more prominently to the forefront in the country and being part of meaningful progress will continue to be a priority for Kohl’s. As a large company — and one that serves millions of families from diverse backgrounds — Kohl’s acknowledges pervasive injustices in the country and has committed to actions and behaviors that will help to make our company, stores and the world a better place. While we know there is much more to do, we are driven by the progress we have made and the promise of more to come.
Kohl’s shared our new diversity and inclusion strategy in 2020 focused on Our People, Our Customers and Our Community and our mission to empower more families through equity, diversity and inclusion. We also developed our Pledge for Progress, which is outlined in this report, and we will be utilizing future reports to provide updates as we hold ourselves accountable with measurable goals and results.
As a purpose-led organization, dedicated to inspiring and empowering families to lead fulfilled lives, ESG stewardship will continue to be an integral piece of Kohl’s culture and an important component of the company’s new strategic vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle.
We appreciate you being a part of this journey.
Michelle Gass
Chief Executive Officer