Input from key stakeholders and a comprehensive ESG materiality assessment1 help us set strategy and goals and maximize impact. Ongoing analysis helps us align our business to the changing landscape.
An important input to our strategy and reporting is an ESG materiality assessment.1 The assessment helps us understand ESG topics that are of greater significance to our stakeholders and continuously assess our strategy and goals. Our latest ESG materiality assessment1 was conducted in fiscal 2023.
This assessment included using big data and input from a broader set of stakeholders to understand priority ESG topics. The analysis consisted of three phases: 1) benchmarking, analysis of global trends, and identification of ESG topics and definitions; 2) interviews with key stakeholders; and 3) in-depth analysis and summary of findings. Stakeholders included investors, employees, Cisco executives, customers, and ESG thought leaders.
We identified 18 ESG topics that are important to our stakeholders and, of these, eight emerged as the highest in terms of importance:
In addition to our formal ESG materiality assessment,1 Cisco business teams regularly gather input from stakeholders.
Cisco recognizes the power of collective action. We participate in a range of initiatives and organizations,2 collaborate with nongovernmental organizations and peer companies, and join coalitions and initiatives to further environmental and human rights practices within the technology industry. Groups we work with include, but are not limited to, those listed in the table below (which can be filtered by topic and focus area).
| Organization | Category | Tag | Engagement description |
|---|---|---|---|
| OrganizationAccess Now | CategoryHuman Rights | TagDigital Rights | Engagement descriptionCisco engages with Access Now and their work on digital rights of people and communities. We sponsor and attend RightsCon, the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age, hosted by Access Now. |
| OrganizationAccounting for Sustainability (A4S) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Water Circularity Nature |
Engagement descriptionAccounting for Sustainability works with finance leaders to integrate sustainability into business decisions. They recognize the interdependency of financial, social, and environmental factors and work with business leaders to embed sustainability in organizations' strategy and reporting. |
| OrganizationAlliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is an active member of ATIS Sustainability in Telecom: Energy and Protection Committee and engages with other member organizations to develop standards relevant to the telecommunications industry. |
| OrganizationAlliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) | CategoryEnvironment | TagWater | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of AWS and our approach to water stewardship is aligned to the AWS framework. The AWS Standard is a globally applicable framework for major water users to understand their water use and impacts, work collaboratively and transparently for sustainable water management within a catchment context, drive social, environmental and economic benefits at the catchment level, and advance access to clean water for communities. |
| OrganizationAmCham EU | CategoryEnvironment Human Rights |
TagClimate Water Forced Labor Responsible Minerals Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of AmCham EU, a trade association speaking for American businesses in Europe, working on being a constructive partner for the industrial vision of the EU Green Deal, and participating, among others, in the Environment and Transport, Energy and Climate Committees. Cisco is also an AmCham EU Executive Council member. |
| OrganizationAnker Research Institute | CategoryHuman Rights | TagWorker Wellbeing | Engagement descriptionCisco engages as a corporate sponsor of the Anker Research Institute. Through these engagements, Cisco is committed to understanding common approaches, documenting best practices, and promoting harmonization. |
| OrganizationArticle One Business Roundtable on Human Rights & AI | CategoryHuman Rights | TagDigital Rights | Engagement descriptionCisco participates in Article One's Business Roundtable on Human Rights & AI as they seek to promote collaboration and action across the tech, business, and human rights communities. The Roundtable brings together representatives from companies at the forefront of AI development to share common challenges, potential solutions, and goals for the future. |
| OrganizationAsia Clean Energy Coalition (ACEC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco participates with other key stakeholders in supporting policy development to facilitate corporate renewable electricity procurement throughout Asia. |
| OrganizationAssociation for Connecting Electronics Industries (IPC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco participates with IPC as they actively engage in global government relations and environmental policy advocacy. |
| OrganizationAustralian Packaging Covenant Organization (APCO) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco is an active member of APCO—a co-regulatory, not-for-profit organization that partners with government and industry to increase sustainable packaging in Australia. Cisco has made a voluntary commitment to benchmark its circular design principles and packaging sustainability efforts against the APCO Packaging Sustainability Framework. By completing an annual report and action plan, we seek to drive sustainability across our packaging portfolio. |
| OrganizationBusiness for Social Responsibility (BSR) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagHuman Rights Worker Wellbeing Digital Rights |
Engagement descriptionCisco is an active member of the BSR Human Rights Working Group, a cross-industry collaboration effort to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. |
| OrganizationBusiness Europe | CategoryEnvironment Human Rights |
TagClimate Worker Wellbeing |
Engagement descriptionBusiness Europe advocates for growth at the European level, campaigning for businesses to ensure their needs are heard in European policy-making. Business Europe has a Corporate Social Responsibility working group that advocates for issues related to businesses' social and environmental impact. |
| OrganizationBusiness Roundtable (BRT) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionBusiness Roundtable is a CEO-led association, looking at consistently advancing pro-growth policies, including on environment and energy to enable a competitive U.S. economy and create employment opportunities for Americans. Cisco’s Chair and CEO Chuck Robbins is the current Chair of the organization for a two-year term that began on January 1, 2024. |
| OrganizationCatalyze | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a sponsor of Catalyze, a program to accelerate access to renewable energy across the global semiconductor value chain and IT supply landscape. Through the program, Cisco suppliers have access to renewable energy training and resources as well as combined renewable energy purchasing power in order to accelerate renewable energy deployment. Cisco became a sponsor of the Catalyze program in 2024. |
| OrganizationCDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Water Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco discloses our sustainability initiatives publicly through CDP’s annual Climate Change and Water questionnaires and engages our supply chain partners to publicly disclose through CDP as well. Cisco is also a member of the CDP Supply Chain IT Member Working Group, focused on improved reporting and engagement with suppliers in the technology sector. |
| OrganizationCENELEC | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco is actively working with CENELEC, a European standards organization, on standards for circular design. |
| OrganizationCircular Electronics Partnership (CEP) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco is an active participant in a multistakeholder collaboration with seven organizations [The Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), Green Electronics Council (GEC), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE), RBA, WEF, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBSCD)] and peer companies to establish a shared vision and roadmap for a circular electronics value chain. |
| OrganizationClean Electronic Production Network (CEPN) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagWorker Wellbeing | Engagement descriptionWe are a full member of CEPN, a multistakeholder network with the goal to address workers' exposure to toxic chemicals during electronics manufacturing. We work to develop tools for due diligence and identify best practices to be propagated in the supply chain. |
| OrganizationClean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of CEBA, which is a business association that activates a community of energy customers and partners to deploy market and policy solutions for a carbon-free energy system. Our engagement focuses on advancing clean energy procurement worldwide and supply chain decarbonization. |
| OrganizationConsumer Technology Association (CTA) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of CTA and actively participates in the Environmental Policy Committee. CTA works closely with state and federal regulators, legislators, and public policy stakeholders to represent industry’s interests. |
| OrganizationDIGITALEUROPE & DIGITALEUROPE National Trade association members | CategoryEnvironment Human Rights |
TagCircularity Climate Worker Wellbeing Responsible Minerals |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of DIGITALEUROPE, a trade association representing digitally transforming industries in Europe, leading industry input to the EU ICT impact study, and participating in, among others, the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and its Digital Product Passport (DPP), Chemicals, Waste, Responsible Business Conduct, and Green Transition-related issues. Cisco is a DIGITALEUROPE Executive Board member and chairs DIGITALEUROPE's Green Transition Working Group. |
| OrganizationElectronics Product Stewardship Canada (EPSC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of EPSC, which represents the interests of electronics manufacturers for innovation in enhanced end-of-life solutions for electronics products in Canada. |
| OrganizationEllen MacArthur Foundation (EMF) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco was a founding partner of EMF, and we continue to leverage member connections, trainings, and shared learnings as a member of EMF. |
| OrganizationETSI | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco actively engages with ETSI, a European standards organization that deals with telecommunications, broadcasting, and other electronic communications networks and services. Cisco engages in material efficiency standards related to mandates from the European Commission and is leading the work on secure data deletion (EN 303 800-2) and on energy metrics for servers (EN303470). |
| OrganizationEuropean Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionEGDC is an initiative of companies, supported by the European Commission and the European Parliament, based on the request of the EU Council, that aims to harness the enabling emission-reducing potential of digital solutions to all other sectors. Cisco has been a member since October 2021. |
| OrganizationEuropean Partnership for Responsible Minerals (EPRM) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagResponsible Minerals | Engagement descriptionWe are a member of EPRM, a multistakeholder partnership aimed at increasing the availability of responsibly produced minerals through supporting mine sites and mid- and downstream companies, as well as strengthening linkages between production and sourcing. |
| OrganizationEuropean Telecommunication Network Operators' Association (ETNO) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity | Engagement descriptionETNO is a policy group for European electronic communications network operators committed to the continual growth of broadband in Europe. ETNO contributes to shaping regulatory and commercial environments and has specific working groups dedicated to sustainability, which focus on advancing ESG policies. |
| OrganizationFederation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco participates in this platform for networking and consensus building in India. |
| OrganizationGlobal Electronics Council's Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionUnder EPEAT, Cisco contributes to the development of criteria addressing sustainability impacts from technology sector products and services, including EPEAT's Servers and Network Equipment product categories. Additionally, Cisco participates in EPEAT's Conformity Guidance Group (CGG) from which EPEAT seeks technical input and expertise on technical requirements in EPEAT Criteria and implementation of updated and amended EPEAT Criteria for product categories. |
| OrganizationGlobal Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) | CategoryEnvironment Human Rights |
TagClimate Circularity Worker Wellbeing Responsible Minerals |
Engagement descriptionThe Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) is the only global membership organisation dedicated to enabling the ICT industry to meet opportunities generated by applying digital solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. |
| OrganizationGreenhouse Gas Protocol | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco responds to surveys released by the GHG Protocol to provide input on potential updates to the standards. Cisco will continue to stay engaged as updates are made to the standards. |
| OrganizationInformation Technology Industry (ITI) Council | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of ITI, the global association of leading information and communication technology companies across all segments of the tech sector. Cisco co-chairs the ITI Europe Sustainability Committee, which helps to educates policymakers on the role of technology in promoting a circular economy and sustainable planet. |
| OrganizationInitiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagResponsible Minerals | Engagement descriptionCisco supports this internationally recognized standard to support third-party assessments of mine sites as a means to improve responsible mining. |
| OrganizationInstitute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Water |
Engagement descriptionCisco partners with IPE to prevent, mitigate, and remediate environmental risks at supplier sites in Greater China. We also promote transparency in the Greater China supply chain through the PRTR (Pollution Release and Transfer Record) project. |
| OrganizationInternational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco participates in IEC 62474 Americas Validation Team. |
| OrganizationInternational Telecommunication Union (ITU) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a contributor to many ITU-T SG5 standards on environmental efficiency of digital technologies, E-waste, circular economy, sustainable supply chain management, climate change, and assessment of digital technologies in the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. |
| OrganizationManufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco actively collaborates with peer companies at MAIT in representing India’s electronics and ICT hardware sector on environmental matters. |
| OrganizationProduct Attribute to Impact Algorithm (PAIA) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is part of a multistakeholder consortium of information and communications technology (ICT) companies using shared industry-standard inputs in the PAIA platform—hosted by MIT—that provides a streamlined methodology for ICT product environmental footprinting. |
| OrganizationPublic Private Partnership for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagResponsible Minerals | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of this multisector initiative that supports efforts to improve the due diligence and governance systems needed for ethical mineral supply chains. |
| OrganizationRE100 | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of RE100, the global corporate renewable energy initiative bringing together hundreds of large and ambitious businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. |
| OrganizationRenewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of the Renewable Thermal Collaborative, a coalition focused on scaling up renewable heating and cooling technologies to cut carbon emissions. |
| OrganizationResponsible Business Alliance (RBA) | CategoryHuman Rights Environment |
TagClimate Water Worker Wellbeing Forced Labor Circularity |
Engagement descriptionCisco is an original founder and full member of the RBA. We collaborate with peers at the RBA to propagate best
practices across the industry and supply chain. Through the RBA, Cisco participates in the following working
groups:
|
| OrganizationResponsible Labor Initiative (RLI) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagForced Labor | Engagement descriptionWe actively participate on the Steering Committee of the RLI, a multistakeholder initiative focused on ensuring the rights of workers vulnerable to forced labor in global supply chains. |
| OrganizationResponsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) | CategoryHuman Rights | TagResponsible Minerals | Engagement descriptionWe actively participate and collaborate with peer companies at RMI to address concerns and develop new solutions for responsibly sourcing minerals. |
| OrganizationReverse Logistics Association (RLA) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionCisco serves on the Advisory Board and is a Diamond member of the RLA, a global trade association for the returns and reverse logistics industry. |
| OrganizationScience Based Targets initiative (SBTi) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco responds to surveys released by SBTi to provide input on potential updates to the existing standard or new standards. Cisco will continue to stay engaged as enhancements are made to existing standards or new standards are developed. |
| OrganizationSemiconductor Climate Consortium | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of the Semiconductor Climate Consortium. The SCC is focused on the unique challenges posed by climate change to the semiconductor industry and works to speed industry value chain efforts to reduce GHG emissions. Cisco is a member of the Hyperscaler and Scope 3 working groups. |
| OrganizationSustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity |
Engagement descriptionThe SPC is a member-based organization dedicated to driving sustainable packaging through industry collaboration, education, and action. As an active participant in this organization, Cisco supports SPC’s goal to make the packaging industry more sustainable. |
| OrganizationTechNet | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity Climate Digital rights |
Engagement descriptionCisco participates in TechNet, which actively works at state and federal levels to advise policymakers on the benefits of authorized repair to ensure cybersecurity, product safety, and intellectual property rights protection. |
| OrganizationtechUK | CategoryEnvironment Human Rights |
TagClimate Circularity Worker Wellbeing Forced Labor |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of techUK, the United Kingdom’s national technology industry association. techUK helps Cisco monitor and understand a wide range of technology related policy, engage with and share expertise with policymakers, and collaborate with peer companies. |
| OrganizationThe Green Grid | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is part of The Green Grid, where we help create tools, provide technical expertise, and advocate for the optimization of energy and resource efficiency of data center ecosystems that enable a low-carbon economy. |
| OrganizationThe United States Information Technology Office (USITO) | CategoryEnvironment | TagCircularity | Engagement descriptionUSITO is an independent, non-profit, membership-based trade association, representing the U.S. information communication technologies (ICT) industry in China. |
| OrganizationU.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco has been working with the EPA to define ENERGY STAR® standards for networking equipment, including SNE, LNE, telephony equipment, and servers. Cisco has also worked with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the EPA/DOE technical arm; Navigant; the National Resources Defense Council; and Ecova on measurement methodologies and metrics. |
| OrganizationU.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Green Power Partnership | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate | Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of the EPA Green Power Partnership, a federal program that seeks to advance the U.S. green power market and encourage the development of U.S.-based renewable electricity sources. |
| UN Global Compact | Human Rights | Human Rights Worker Wellbeing |
Cisco participates in the United Nations Global Compact, which brings businesses together with UN agencies, labor organizations, civic organizations, and governments to address critical issues affecting much of the world’s population. |
| OrganizationUnited Nations B-Tech Project | CategoryHuman Rights | TagDigital Rights | Engagement descriptionCisco is an active member of the United Nations B-Tech Project, which provides authoritative guidance and resources for implementing the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in the technology space. Cisco participates in multiple communities of practice and other working groups. |
| OrganizationWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) | CategoryEnvironment | TagClimate Circularity Nature |
Engagement descriptionCisco is a member of WBCSD, a global community of over 200 of the world’s leading sustainable businesses working collectively to accelerate the system transformations needed for a net-zero, nature-positive, and more equitable future. |
1 ESG materiality, as referred to on the Cisco Purpose Reporting Hub, and our ESG materiality assessment process are different from "materiality" in the context of SEC disclosure obligations and/or other applicable regulatory disclosures globally. Issues deemed material for our voluntary Purpose reporting and for determining our Purpose strategy may not be considered material for SEC and/or other regulatory purposes, nor does inclusion of information in our voluntary reporting indicate that the topic or information is material to Cisco's business or operating results.
2 Cisco publicly discloses membership of associations/(con)federations/networks and other bodies in the EU, via the EU Transparency Register. Additionally, Cisco discloses U.S. trade association payments of US$25,000 or more on our government affairs webpage.
Matrix of 18 material topics categorized by environment, social, and governance. The horizontal axis represents significance to Cisco’s business, while the vertical axis represents significance to Cisco’s stakeholders for each issue.
