To enhance our role as a positive steward of the environment, SEI is a member of the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s Retail Sustainability Initiative (RSI). RSI is an industrywide educational forum for the largest U.S. retailers. It brings its members together to share leading practices, identify future trends, benchmark with peers, and collaborate on common industry environmental social governance challenges. Beginning in 2021, SEI joined the Clean Energy Buyers Alliance (CEBA). CEBA is a membership association bringing together over 200 stakeholders from the commercial and industrial sector, nonprofit organizations, and energy and energy-service providers. Their vision and mission is to create a resilient, zero-carbon energy system where every organization has a viable, expedient, and cost-effective pathway to renewable energy.

SEI is committed to reducing energy consumption and improving efficiency and set a goal to reduce energy related CO₂e emissions from stores by 50% by 2030, compared with FY2013 levels.

In FY2022, through its emission reduction measures, SEI reduced its CO₂e emissions by 151,000 MTCO₂e year over year from FY2021 and by 526,300 MTCO₂e from FY2013. SEI reduced CO₂e emissions by 38% from FY2013 to FY2022. This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from approximately 117,000 passenger vehicles for one year.

SEI has adopted Honeywell Solstice N40 (R-448A) refrigerant as SEI’s standard for remote condensers supporting their refrigeration cases installed across the U.S. and Canada. Solstice N40 is the most widely accepted, lowest global warming potential (GWP), nonflammable replacement for R-404A in stores globally. Based on hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology, Solstice N40 offers GWP that is approximately 60% lower than legacy HFC refrigerants like R-404A. In addition, Solstice N40 also consumes less energy. In the U.S. and European supermarket trials, in comparison to R-404A, Solstice N40 demonstrated an average of 5% lower energy consumption in low-temperature applications.

SEI's LED lighting program is part of the company’s energy-efficient store design standard and is a significant contributor to the company’s CO₂ reduction goal. As of the end of December, 2022, approximately 8,000 stores featured LED lighting, helping to reduce energy consumption in stores. In addition to their energy-efficient benefits, LED lights eliminate the use of hazardous materials, comply with local regulations to reduce light pollution, support store safety measures and enhance the customer shopping experience.

Heating and cooling efficiency is another effective measure SEI implements to decrease its overall energy consumption. Since 2008, more than 11,400 high efficiency HVAC units have been installed, enabling stores to achieve energy savings while maintaining a quality shopping environment.

SEI implemented energy management systems (EMS) in stores to monitor, control, and optimize performance of HVAC and refrigeration equipment. As of the end of December, 2022, more than 7,100 stores have EMS installed — combining with the installation of energy-efficient HVAC units contributes to achieving energy savings. To reduce water consumption, we’re installing low-flow aerator faucets as part of our standard energy-efficient design plan for all new stores.

While maintaining the company's commitment to energy conservation projects, SEI is also focused on expanding its renewable energy initiative. Approximately 26% of electricity consumed by SEI is from renewable sources.

SEI has an agreement with TXU Energy to purchase 100 percent Texas wind energy for all its Texas stores located in competitive energy markets. With more than 10,000 wind turbines in the state, Texas ranks first in the United States for both installed and under-construction wind capacity and is home to four of the top 10 largest wind farms in the nation. In FY2022, SEI purchased more than 334,000 MWh renewable energy from TXU Energy and provided it to more than 900 stores in Texas. This wind energy program accounted for an estimated 40% of all 2022 renewable energy while providing significant operating expense savings.

Since FY2020 SEI has subscribed to a program to procure renewable energy for its Florida stores by utilizing large-sized solar power generation facilities developed, or currently under development, by two utility companies. (Florida Power and Light and Duke Energy). The FY2022 solar energy from these agreements yielded approximately 84,600 MWh or 10% of all renewable energy consumed by SEI.

In FY2021 SEI entered into agreements for over 60,000 MWh of off-site wind energy in Illinois as well as community solar projects in Oregon which are expected to provide an additional 2,500 MWh of renewable energy once fully operational. In FY2022 the Illinois and Oregon agreements contributed approximately 63,000 MWh and 500 MWh of renewable energy, respectively.

In 2022, SEI announced a 20-year clean energy commitment in Michigan through Detroit based DTE Energy’s innovative MIGreenPower program, which allows the company to purchase renewable energy to support our operations. The shared goal is to achieve 100% clean energy for all 160 of the southeast Michigan locations, in an effort to avoid more than 15,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. That’s equivalented to removing 3,000 gas-powered cars from the road each year. MIGreenPower customers have enrolled 2.8 MWh of clean energy in the program so far, making it one of the largest voluntary renewable energy programs in the country. This agreement is a great example of how 7-Eleven is working with both the private and public sectors to reduce its carbon footprint.

Additionally, in FY2022 SEI subscribed to a program for over 37,000 MWh annually for off-site wind and solar energy in Nevada, which delivered an estimated 19,500 MWh of renewable energy in 2022.

Utility sponsored community solar is different from on-site solar where solar panels are installed directly on houses/buildings to generate power. It refers to local solar facilities developed and owned by the utility which are shared by multiple community subscribers who receive credit on their electricity bills for their share of the power produced.

In FY2020, SEI began procuring renewable energy from a pumped hydro storage facility for its stores in Virginia. The amount purchased in FY2022 was 30,894 MWh and powered the load for more than 140 stores.

SEI has always innovated to make things easier for customers, and that includes giving customers alternative fuel options. In 2022, the 7Charge electric vehicle charging network was introduced. We are establishing a business to make EV stations profitable, and we will continue our efforts to expand our EV charging portfolio at the rate of electric vehicle growth in the United States, including partnerships with outside companies. As of FY2022 year-end, 75 ports have been installed in 30 stores in 7 states.

SEI understands that efficient use of water helps reduce the demands on our water supply and preserve an essential natural resource. To reduce water consumption, SEI utilizes low-flow aerator faucets as part of our standard energy-efficient design plan for all new stores.

SEI introduced a new, plant-based fountain straw, for cold dispensed beverages. The new straw material is derived from raw materials such as corn and may avoid up to 1 million pounds of petroleum-based plastic per year.

SEI’s plastic bag made from 40% post-consumer recycled plastic was recently rolled out nationally in the U.S. Using 40% recycled plastic content helps reduce SEI’s environmental footprint by reducing the consumption of raw materials, energy consumption and carbon emissions in processing, and the amount of consumer waste and plastic going into landfills. By switching to the 40% recycled plastic bag, SEI avoided approximately 500 tons of virgin plastic use per year.

Several markets in the U.S. and all markets in British Columbia have transitioned to paper carryout bags and eliminated single-use plastic bags entirely.

Furthering its efforts to use recycled material, SEI redesigned its fruit and salad containers to increase the use of Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastic. Both packages now contain 15% PCR. Using PCR packaging materials reduces waste and carbon emissions as compared to using virgin plastics.

In Canada, all sandwich packaging now uses recycled Canadian plastic in place of virgin plastic. SEI will continue to evaluate additional opportunities to increase PCR in packaging.

Seeking continuous improvements in packaging led to additional progress in eliminating or reducing plastic. SEI created a new, lighter-weight fountain cup that uses less plastic. The change may avoid up to 1.1 million pounds of virgin plastic annually. SEI also replaced its fresh food platter base with a lightweight paper corrugate alternative. In addition, the plastic lid for the platter was reduced in size.

SEI switched its hot dog box from kraft paperboard to thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP) board to reduce the volume of paper used. TMP-based paper can be produced using only 50% of the wood content of traditional kraft pulp paper. SEI replaced large plastic chicken wing box with paper corrugate alternative, eliminating up to 437,000 pounds of plastic annually. The new paper alternative is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. In Canada, multiple food packaging replacements (hot dog, pizza, chicken burger & cookie boxes) have prevented more than 8 million hard-to-recycle black plastic boxes from the waste stream each year.

Redesigning bottles for the popular 7-Select Replenish® energy drink allows for more effective packaging that means 40 cases per pallet (rather than 30) for 7-Eleven, and will result in a 25% reduction in the number of trucks for the company to keep stores supplied (2,264 vs 3,019) or 755 fewer trucks. There also will be less plastic used in both bottle and wrap, projecting an annual waste reduction of 208 tons.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are fluorine coatings applied to packaging surfaces to prevent moisture or grease from leaking through and are now considered harmful to the environment. SEI proactively began replacing affected packaging with alternatives like molded fiber clamshells.

In addition to our signature programs, SEI continued to expand its commitment to thriving communities through a variety of volunteer initiatives, charitable donations and in-store fundraising campaigns to support disaster relief and other humanitarian efforts.

Since 1991, Speedway — a part of the 7-Eleven family of brands — has partnered with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMN Hospitals) to raise more than $170 million for local children’s hospitals. Now, in partnership with SEI, CMN Hospitals has the opportunity to dramatically expand its reach in raising funds to support even more children’s hospitals than ever before.

In 2022 alone, thanks to the generosity of store customers, employees, Franchisees and vendors, the company raised more than $19 million to support 105 local member children’s hospitals across the country. A total of $16 million in funds raised by 7-Eleven in 2022 were via a year-round in-store fundraising campaign at participating Speedway® stores, which was later expanded during the holiday season to include participating 7-Eleven® and Stripes® stores. The annual Miracle Tournament and Celebration Dinner, held in Enon, Ohio, generated an additional $3 million. These funds will help advance pediatric healthcare by providing critical lifesaving equipment and much-needed resources to treat children throughout the communities we serve.

 Ahead of the holiday season, we hosted the first annual 7Cares Thanks + Giving event in November 2022, benefiting Minnie’s Food Pantry in North Texas and Second Harvest Food Bank in Central Ohio. Along with support from our Irving and Enon Store Support Center employees — who generously assembled 1,120 food boxes, donated 1,500 lbs. of food, and contributed more than $1,700 — the 7-Eleven Cares Foundation provided 3,250 turkeys for hungry families.

Through a bevy of local fundraising programs such as the custom KYSA (Kamloops Youth Soccer Association) Slurpee® Cup and campaigns in support of United Way Calgary, YMCA Calgary, Calgary Food Bank, Alberta Cancer Foundation, the Canadian Red Cross and the Boys and Girls Club of Peel, the Canadian team contributed more than $525,000 in 2022 thanks to the generosity of customers and business partners.

In association with the American Red Cross, the 7-Eleven family of brands launched two powerful campaigns in 2022 to benefit those impacted by the war in Ukraine and Hurricane Ian. The campaigns included round-up opportunities for customers at 7-Eleven® and Stripes® stores and a dedicated website for contributions by store associates, Franchisees and employees, as well as matching funds from the 7-Eleven Cares Foundation. $1.2M was raised to support relief efforts, lifesaving aid and other critical resources for the Ukrainian people $250,000 was raised to provide food, shelter and comfort for those impacted by Hurricane Ian.

For a decade, SEI’s Project A-Game has funded a variety of youth development programs across America in the areas of education, fitness, safety and hunger relief. In that time, SEI and Franchisees have awarded more than 5,000 community grants totaling $3.5 million. These grants help fund everything from math and science projects to school and computer supplies, from sports teams and equipment to after-school and youth safety programs. In short, whatever might benefit kids and families within a store’s neighborhood. In 2022, Project A-Game was responsible for funding 268 grants totaling nearly $324,000. No doubt about it — Project A-Game is a driving force in helping the company nurture and deepen community relationships.

Completely revamped in 2021 for a new digital generation, the 27-year-old Operation Chill® program makes it easier than ever for law enforcement to establish and build positive, lasting and authentic relationships with youth in their neighborhoods. The concept is simple: officers observe a kid doing a nice thing — wearing a helmet while riding a bike, picking up litter, helping a neighbor or holding a door open — and then reward that behavior with a friendly smile and a coupon for a free small Slurpee® drink at any participating U.S. 7-Eleven or Stripes® store. In 2022, kids across America redeemed more than 175,000 free Slurpee® drink coupons from more than 1,300 local law enforcement agencies. Since the program’s 1995 debut, SEI has distributed 24 million coupons to help foster community connections one Slurpee® drink at a time.

SEI helps veterans find peace and healing through UCLA Operation Mend. We’re proud to support Operation Mend, an innovative program established by the U.S. military and UCLA Medical Center that provides comprehensive, personalized care and wellness programs for wounded post 9/11-era veterans and their family members. Daniel Soper, a retired SEI executive, introduced the company to Operation Mend when his son, Army Specialist Joseph (Joey) Paulk, participated in the program after sustaining life-altering injuries while serving in Afghanistan. The company’s four-year, $400,000 grant to Operation Mend is just one of the many ways SEI continues to show its gratitude to our service men and women and their families who have given so much for our country.

The holiday season in 2022, SEI employees at the Enon Store Support Center, OH, provided gifts for 350 children through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. Teams donated toys, bikes and clothing and made financial contributions to provide more than $40,000 of gifts to the children of Clark County. In addition, a group of employees volunteered at the Salvation Army Toy Shop to help build, sort and match donated toys to ensure that all 3,000 children participating in the program would receive a gift.

7-Eleven is the world’s largest convenience retailer and an integral part of the incredibly diverse neighborhoods we serve. Our business model is based on the empowerment and success of small business entrepreneurs regardless of race, gender or background. To ensure an inclusive customer experience and workplace, we encourage Franchisees and 7-Eleven employees to bring their unique perspectives, talents and contributions to work every day. We strive for equality and are committed to doing even more — because we know it’s the only way we can continue to grow and innovate, both as a brand and as a society.

As a global brand operating in a global marketplace, we have an obligation to lead the way. By embracing and advancing our ideals through this framework, we strive to enrich our work environment and the neighborhoods we serve.

Working together, we are making progress on our DE+I journey with notable highlights including:

- The profound legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., lives on in all of us at the 7-Eleven family of brands and in the wonderfully diverse communities we call home. In celebration of January’s MLK Day holiday, we asked a few employees to share what inspires them as they reflect on Dr. King’s enduring vision.

- Every February, we recognize Black History Month, a national celebration of the history and achievements of Black Americans. As part of the company-wide celebration, we sat down with Dr. Harry Robinson, Founding Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dallas African American Museum, for a thoughtful conversation about Black history and culture, his remarkable journey, and a personal tour of some of his favorite pieces within the museum.

- As part of our Women’s History Month celebration in March, we hosted Susan Mackenty Brady, CEO of the Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership, as our guest speaker. Brady, a renowned relationship expert and leadership wellbeing coach, led us through an inspiring discussion focused on empowering women to move beyond just surviving — to thriving — in their professional careers.

- To honor Military Appreciation Month in May, the company hosted a Rolling Remembrance Flag Ceremony to raise awareness for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, which provides scholarships to military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. The event was held at the company’s Store Support Center in Enon, Ohio and served as one of 53 stops the flag made on its 10,000-mile-long relay across the country, culminating on Memorial Day.

- To celebrate Pride Month in June, we featured The Trevor Project’s Troy Stevenson, senior campaign manager for advocacy and government affairs, in a virtual fireside chat in which he shared his insights and experience as a leading LGBTQ+ advocate. We’re proud to share The Trevor Project’s dedication to creating a safe, welcoming world for LGBTQ+ youth.

- During the latter half of September and first half of October, we recognized Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrating Hispanic and Latino American communities, including those with ancestry from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This year’s theme was Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation, and we spotlighted five employees who shared their thoughts on how their heritage shaped their journeys.

- Also related to Hispanic Heritage Month, the Franchise Recruiting and Marketing team once again ran a digital campaign, “Juntos, We Rise,” recognizing the importance of the Hispanic community within franchising and the support 7-Eleven provides Franchisees to be successful and empowered in their communities.

- December saw the launch of our newest Associate Business Resource Group, or ABRG — 7Pride — created as a highly visible and accessible resource for LGBTQ+ employees and their allies. Like all ABRGs, 7Pride membership is open to all employees. The goal: build a supportive, affirming and inclusive workplace for LGBTQ+ employees and their allies, positively impacting and promoting a greater sense of belonging for employees. In FY2022, SEI deployed a national DE&I mandatory training for all leaders across the organization.

7Pride’s foundational pillars focus on:

1. Ally empowerment and education

2. Community engagement and outreach

3. Professional networking and development

The four-year-old Brands with Heart program continues to grow by encouraging emerging brands to showcase their products to 7-Eleven®, Speedway® and Stripes® stores customers nationwide. The goal — put innovative products on the shelves that meet the needs of on-the-go customers with a variety of snacks, beverages, confectionery and better-for-you items.

The Brands with Heart showcase attracts hundreds of applicants from up-and-coming brands each year and gives us the unique opportunity to scope out new products that might make the perfect addition to our stores’ shelves.

One of the finalists chosen to present at the 2022 event is Mananalu, a carbon-neutral company whose mission is to help end the single-use plastic waste crisis through its “Drink One, Remove One” impact program. For every aluminum bottle of Mananalu purified water sold, the company removes the equivalent of one plastic bottle from ocean-going waste.