What changed in this filing

/stocks — the workspaceLOADING

Item 1. Business

2022-03-21 compared with 2021-03-22 · 142 added, 99 removed, 112 unchanged (68% of the section changed)

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(RONA), which was acquired by Lowe’s in 2016.

RONA operates 179 stores in Canada as of January 29, 2021, as well as services approximately 231 dealer-owned stores.

RONA operates 173 stores in Canada as of January 28, 2022, as well as services 226 dealer-owned stores.

The RONA stores represent complementary store formats operating under various banners.

Lowe’s was incorporated in North Carolina in 1952 and has been publicly held since 1961.

Lowe’s was founded in 1921 with the opening of its first hardware store in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina.

The Company was incorporated in North Carolina in 1952 and has been publicly held since 1961.

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange - ticker symbol “LOW”.

See Item 6 , “Selected Financial Data”, of this Annual Report on Form 10-K (Annual Report), for historical revenues, profits and identifiable assets.

For additional information about the Company’s performance and financial condition, see also Item 7 , “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, of this Annual Report.

For additional information about the Company’s performance and financial condition, see Item 7 , “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, of this Annual Report.

Customers, Market and Competition

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The Pro customer consists of two broad categories:

construction trades and maintenance, repair & operations.

construction trades and maintenance, repair and operations.

market remains our predominant market, accounting for approximately 94% of consolidated sales for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2022.

We are among the many businesses, including home centers, paint stores, hardware stores, lumber yards and garden centers, whose revenues are included in the Building Material and Garden Equipment and Supplies Dealers Subsector (444) of the Retail Trade Sector of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), the standard used by Federal statistical agencies in classifying business establishments for the purpose of collecting, analyzing, and publishing statistical data related to the U.S.

business economy.

NAICS 444 represents roughly half of what we consider the total U.S.

market for our products and services.

The broader market in which Lowe’s operates includes home-related sales through a variety of companies beyond those in NAICS 444.

These consist of other companies in the retail sector, including mass retailers, home goods specialty stores, and online retailers, as well as wholesalers that provide home-related products and services to homeowners, businesses, and the government.

The market in which we operate includes home-related sales through a variety of types of businesses.

This includes home centers, paint stores, hardware stores, lumber yards and garden centers, mass retailers, home goods specialty stores, and online retailers, as well as wholesalers that provide home-related products and services to homeowners, renters, businesses, and the government.

There are many variables that affect consumer demand for the home improvement products and services Lowe’s offers.

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In addition, we compete with general merchandise retailers, warehouse clubs, online retailers, other specialty retailers, providers of equipment and tool rental, as well as service providers that install home improvement products.

Location of stores, product assortment, product pricing and customer service continue to be key competitive factors in our industry, while the evolution of technology and customer expectations also underscores the importance of omni-channel capabilities as a competitive factor.

To ensure ongoing competitiveness, Lowe’s focuses on delivering the right home improvement products, with the best service and

value, across every channel and community we serve.

To ensure ongoing competitiveness, Lowe’s focuses on delivering the right home improvement products, with the best service and value, across every channel and community we serve.

See further discussion of competition in Item 1A , “Risk Factors”, of this Annual Report.

Products and Services

Our products and services provide the retail and Pro customer a one-stop shop for a full complement of merchandise and services to complete home improvement, repair, maintenance, or construction projects, enabling a Total Home solution for every need in the home.

Product Selection

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In many product categories, customers look for a familiar and trusted national brand to instill confidence in their purchase.

Lowe’s home improvement stores carry a wide selection of national brand-name merchandise such as Whirlpool ® , GE ® , LG ® , and Samsung ® appliances, Stainmaster ® carpets, Sherwin-Williams ® and Valspar ® paints and stains, Pella ® windows and doors, Pergo ® hardwood flooring, CRAFTSMAN ® and DeWALT ® power tools, Metabo ® pneumatic tools, Weber ® and Char-Broil ® grills, Owens Corning ® insulation and roofing, GAF ® roofing, James Hardie ® fiber cement siding, Marshalltown ® masonry tools and concrete, Husqvarna ®, EGO ® and SKIL ® outdoor power equipment, John Deere ® riding lawn mowers, Werner ® ladders, Quoizel ® lighting, Nest ® products, SharkBite ® plumbing products, A.

Smith ® water heaters, Norton ® abrasives, Simpson Strong-Tie ® connectors, Eaton ® electrical products, and many more.

Our merchandise selection provides the retail and Pro customer a one-stop shop for a wide variety of national brand-name merchandise needed to complete home improvement, repair, maintenance, or construction projects.

Lowe’s home improvement stores carry a wide selection of national brand-name merchandise such as GE ® , LG ® , Samsung ® , and Whirlpool ® appliances;

Sherwin-Williams ® and Valspar ® paints and stains;

LARSON ® windows and doors;

Pergo ® and SMARTCORE ® flooring;

CRAFTSMAN ® and DeWalt ® power tools;

Metabo ® pneumatic tools;

Weber ® and Char-Broil ® grills;

Owens Corning ® insulation and roofing;

GAF ® roofing;

Marshalltown ® masonry and concrete tools;

Husqvarna ® and EGO ® outdoor power equipment;

John Deere ® riding lawn mowers;

Scotts ® lawn care products, SharkBite ® plumbing products;

Smith ® water heaters;

Norton ® abrasives;

Eaton ® and Southwire ® electrical products and wire;

and many more.

Private Brands

Private brands are an important element of our overall portfolio, helping to increase customer loyalty, drive sales, and expand differentiation.

Private brands are an important element of our overall portfolio, helping to increase customer loyalty, drive sales, create differentiation, and improve margin.

We have a strong private brand presence across core categories, including some of our most valuable brands such as:

Kobalt ® tools;

allen+roth ® and Style Selections ® home décor products;

STAINMASTER ® carpets;

allen+roth ® , ORIGIN 21™, and Style Selections ® home décor products;

Severe Weather ® pressure treated lumber;

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Reliabilt ® doors, windows, and hardware;

and Utilitech ® electrical and utility products.

and Utilitech ® lighting and electrical products.

We source our products from vendors worldwide and believe that alternative and competitive suppliers are available for virtually all of our products.

Whenever possible, we purchase directly from manufacturers to provide savings for customers and improve our gross margin.

To efficiently move product from our vendors to our stores and maintain in-stock levels, we own and operate distribution facilities that enable products to be received from vendors, stored and picked, or cross-docked, and then shipped to our retail locations or directly to customers.

To efficiently move products from our vendors to our stores and maintain in-stock levels, we own and operate distribution facilities that enable products to be received from vendors, stored and picked, or cross-docked, and then shipped to our retail locations or directly to customers.

These facilities include 15 regional distribution centers (RDC) and 15 flatbed distribution centers (FDC) in the United States.

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We also own and operate seven distribution centers, including four lumber yards, to serve our Canadian market.

In addition to the RDCs and FDCs, we also operate coastal holding and transload facilities to handle import product, bulk distribution centers (BDC) to handle appliances and other big and bulky product, cross-dock delivery terminals (XDT) to fulfill final mile box truck deliveries, and fulfillment centers (FC) focused on parcel post eligible products.

In fiscal 2020, we enhanced our distribution network by adding thirteen XDTs, two BDCs, and one FC.

In addition to the RDCs and FDCs, we also operate coastal holding and transload facilities (CHF) to handle import product, bulk distribution centers (BDC) to handle appliances and other big and bulky product, cross-dock delivery terminals (XDT) to fulfill final mile box truck deliveries, and fulfillment centers (FC) focused on parcel post eligible products.

As part of our market-based delivery model, we added three XDT ecosystems (consisting of six new XDTs) in fiscal 2021.

We also enhanced our distribution network by opening four BDCs, three FCs, and two CHFs.

Collectively, our facilities enable our import and e-commerce products to get to their destination as efficiently as possible.

Most parcel-eligible items can be ordered by a customer and delivered within two business days at standard shipping rates.

In fiscal 2020, approximately 67% of the total dollar amount of merchandise we purchased flowed through our distribution network, while the remaining portion was shipped directly to our stores from vendors.

In fiscal 2021, approximately 65% of the total dollar amount of merchandise we purchased flowed through our distribution network, while the remaining portion was shipped directly to our stores or customers directly from our vendors.

Installed Sales

We offer installation services through independent contractors in many of our product categories, with Appliances, Flooring, Kitchens & Bath, Lumber, Building Materials, and Millwork accounting for the majority of installed sales.

We offer installation services through independent contractors in many of our product categories, with Flooring, Kitchens & Bath, Millwork, Appliances, and Lumber accounting for the majority of installed sales.

Our Installed Sales model, which separates selling and project administration tasks, allows our sales associates to focus on project selling, while project managers ensure that the details related to installing the products are efficiently executed.

Installed Sales, which includes both product and labor, accounted for approximately 5% of total sales in fiscal 2021.

Extended Protection Plans and Repair Services

Lowe’s Protection Plans and Repair Services

We offer extended protection plans for various products within the Appliances, Kitchens & Bath, Décor, Millwork, Rough Plumbing, Electrical, Seasonal & Outdoor Living, Tools, and Hardware categories.

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The protection plans provide in-warranty benefits and out-of-warranty repair services for major appliances, outdoor power equipment, tools, grills, fireplaces, air conditioners, water heaters, and other eligible products through our stores or in the home through the Lowe’s Authorized Service Repair Network.

We offer replacement plans for products in most of these categories when priced below $300, or otherwise specified category-specific price points.

Our contact center takes customers’ calls, assesses the problems, and facilitates resolutions, making after-sales service easier for our customers by managing the entire process.

Our contact centers take customers’ calls, assesses the problems, and facilitates resolutions, making after-sales service easier for our customers by managing the entire process.

Selling Channels

We are continuing to enhance our omni-channel capabilities, which allows our customers to move from channel to channel with simple and seamless transitions even within the same transaction.

We are continuing to enhance our omnichannel capabilities, which allows our customers to move from channel to channel with simple and seamless transitions even within the same transaction.

For example, for many projects, more than half of our customers conduct research online before making an in-store purchase.

For purchases made on Lowes.com, customers may pick up their purchase in-store at the customer service desk, curbside pick-up, or touchless lockers;

have their purchase delivered from a store;

or have their purchase parcel shipped.

For purchases made on Lowes.com, customers may pick up their purchase in-store at the customer service desk, curbside pick-up, or touchless lockers, or have their purchase delivered to their home or business.

In addition, flexible fulfillment options are available for in-store purchases and those made through the contact center.

Regardless of the channels through which customers choose to engage with us, we strive to provide them with a seamless experience across channels and an endless aisle of products, enabled by our flexible fulfillment capabilities.

Our ability to sell products in-store, online, on-site, or through our contact centers speaks to our ability to leverage our existing infrastructure with the omni-channel capabilities we continue to introduce.

Our ability to sell products in-store, online, on-site, or through our contact centers speaks to our leverage of our existing infrastructure with the omnichannel capabilities we continue to introduce.

Our 1,798 Lowe’s-branded home improvement stores, inclusive of 1,737 in the U.S.

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Our home improvement stores have Wi-Fi capabilities that provide customers with Internet access, making information available quickly to further simplify the shopping experience.

Through our websites and mobile applications, we seek to empower consumers by providing a 24/7 shopping experience, online product information, customer ratings and reviews, online buying guides and how-to videos and other information.

Through our websites and mobile applications, we seek to empower consumers by providing a 24/7 shopping experience, product information, customer ratings and reviews, buying guides, how-to videos and other information.

These tools help consumers make more informed purchasing decisions and give them increased confidence to undertake home improvement projects.

We enable customers to choose from a variety of fulfillment options, including buying online and picking up in-store, as well as delivery or parcel shipment to their homes or businesses.

We enable customers to choose from a variety of fulfillment options, including buying online and picking up in-store, curbside pick-up, truck delivery and parcel shipment to their homes or businesses.

We also offer a new virtual kitchen design service and virtual sales support for sheds, fencing, generators, and other project-related categories to allow our customers to shop how, when, and where they want for services projects.

We have on-site specialists available for retail and Pro customers to assist them in selecting products and services for their projects.

Our Pro sales managers meet with Pro customers at their place of business or on a job site and leverage nearby stores and our distribution network to ensure we meet customer needs for products and resources.

In addition, our Project Specialist

Exteriors (PSE) program is available in a majority of U.S.

Lowe’s home improvement stores to discuss exterior projects such as roofing, siding, fencing, and windows, whose characteristics lend themselves to an in-home consultative sales approach.

In addition, our In-Home Sales program is available in a majority of U.S.

Lowe’s home improvement stores to discuss varying exterior projects such as windows/doors, roofing, siding, and deck projects, whose characteristics lend themselves to an in-home consultative sales approach.

Contact Centers

Lowe’s operates three contact centers which are located in Wilkesboro, NC;

Albuquerque, NM;

and Indianapolis, IN.

These contact centers help Lowe’s enable an omni-channel customer experience by providing the ability to tender sales, coordinate deliveries, manage after-sale installations, facilitate repair services for Appliances and Outdoor Power Equipment, and answer general customer questions via phone, mail, e-mail, live chat, and social media.

Lowe’s operates three contact centers which are located in Wilkesboro, North Carolina;

Albuquerque, New Mexico;

and Indianapolis, Indiana.

These contact centers help Lowe’s enable an omnichannel customer experience by providing the ability to tender sales, coordinate deliveries, manage after-sale installations, facilitate repair services for Appliances and Outdoor Power Equipment, and answer general customer questions via phone, mail, e-mail, live chat, and social media.

Human Capital

When it comes to recruiting and retaining top talent, Lowe’s strives to be an employer of choice.

When it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, Lowe’s strives to be an employer of choice.

We are committed to creating valuable career opportunities for our associates, supporting them and the communities where they live, and cultivating a culture that invites and encourages diverse opinions and ideas.

We enable our associates to build meaningful careers and unlock their potential in an inclusive workplace as we work together to deliver the right home improvement products, with the best service and value, across every channel and community we serve.

As of January 29, 2021, Lowe’s employed approximately 220,000 full-time associates and 120,000 part-time associates, primarily in the United States and Canada.

In fiscal 2020, we expanded our workforce, hiring associates in part-time, seasonal and full-time positions to fulfill the seasonal demand of our Spring season, increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic as customers focused on home improvement projects, and a nationwide effort to modify our store layout.

We enable associates to build meaningful careers that unlock their potential in an inclusive workplace as we work together to deliver the right home improvement products to our customers, with the best service and value, across every channel and community we serve.

As a testament to our commitments, in 2021 we received more than 15 notable employer of choice awards including being named:

a Disability:IN National Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion, a Forbes America’s Best Large Employers, a Best of the Best 2021 Top Employer by Black EOE Journal, HISPANIC Network Magazine, and Professional Woman’s Magazine, and a Best Corporation for Veteran’s Business Enterprises of the Year.

As of January 28, 2022, Lowe’s employed approximately 200,000 full-time associates and 140,000 part-time associates, primarily in the United States, India, and Canada.

During the spring season, we temporarily expand our workforce by hiring associates in part-time, seasonal, and full-time positions to meet the elevated levels of demand.

Certain employees in Canada are subject to collective bargaining agreements.

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Diversity and Inclusion

We believe that, by building diverse and inclusive teams, we drive better ideas, positive business results, and improved service through a deeper connection with our customers.

During fiscal 2019, we kicked-off a multi-year program to integrate diversity and inclusion initiatives into our corporate strategy across three areas:

We believe that, by building diverse and inclusive teams, we drive better ideas, positive business results, and improve service through a deeper connection with our customers.

We continue to execute on our multi-year program to integrate diversity and inclusion initiatives into our corporate strategy across three areas:

talent, culture, and business.

To foster an inclusive culture, we launched seven business resource employee groups sponsored by our executive leadership team in 2019 and continued to support those groups virtually in 2020.

In our efforts to foster an inclusive culture, we launched a new multigenerational business resource group (BRG) in 2021, building upon the seven existing associate-led BRGs that are sponsored by our executive leadership team.

We have also introduced badges for our store uniforms that identify the store associates who speak Spanish or American Sign Language.

In 2021, we held our ninth annual Women’s Leadership Summit, focused on developing women leaders across our corporate and field locations.

Also, in 2020, Lowe’s joined the OneTen coalition, which as a whole, the coalition has committed to hiring one million Black Americans in the next ten years.

Talent Development

We are committed to securing top talent and providing ongoing training to facilitate meaningful careers at Lowe’s.

We offer a variety of leadership and development programs that develop diverse and other high potential associates.

We also have certification programs available to our store and technology associates to further develop their skills and knowledge base.

Additionally, through our partnership with Guild Education, Lowe’s Track to the Trades program provides tuition reimbursement to our associates, encouraging them to complete apprentice certifications in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, heat, air ventilation and cooling (HVAC) or appliance repair.

We have also seen great strides in our internal culture.

This year, we saw higher participation and engagement scores in our annual Building Engagement and Success Together (BEST) associate engagement survey which helps senior management understand from our associates what Lowe’s is doing well and where we have opportunities for improvement.

We are committed to securing top talent and providing ongoing training and other developmental opportunities to facilitate meaningful careers at Lowe’s.

We enhanced our onboarding process so that new hires can quickly learn the skills needed for their position.

We offer a variety of leadership and development programs that develop skills and capabilities from product knowledge in our stores to advanced leadership principles for our leaders.

This year we expanded Lowe's University Academies offerings and included certification programs for store and technology associates that further develop their skills and knowledge base.

Additionally, through Lowe’s Track to the Trades program, we provide tuition reimbursement to our associates, encouraging them to complete apprentice certifications in carpentry, plumbing, electrical, heat, air ventilation and cooling (HVAC), or appliance repair.

Total Rewards and Wellness

In the spirit of building the best team and providing them with the best care, we are proud of the financial and well-being benefits we offer to our associates.

We have a history of investing in our workforce by offering locally competitive salaries and wages.

We have a strong track record of investing in our workforce by offering locally competitive salaries and wages.

We offer a wide variety of health, welfare, and financial benefits to our full-time and part-time associates, including health care and insurance benefits, retirement plans, an employee stock purchase plan, paid time off, leave programs and tuition assistance, among many others.

In response to the novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we expanded benefits and wellness programs to increase access to care.

We waived co-payments on pharmacy home deliveries, covered 100% of COVID-19 testing and related treatment, expanded telemedicine services to our uninsured associates, shifted onsite clinics to a virtual care model, and launched a new virtual behavioral health app.

We also provided 14 days of emergency paid leave for all associates who needed it, and up to four weeks of emergency paid leave for associates at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

During fiscal 2020, we provided $915 million in incremental COVID-related financial support for our front-line hourly associates.

This included seven discretionary payments of $300 for full-time hourly associates and $150 for part-time hourly associates, as well as a temporary $2 per hour wage increase in the month of April, and emergency paid leave taken by associates who needed it.

In response to the evolving coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we continued to evolve our benefits and wellness programs to increase access to care.

We waived co-payments on pharmacy home deliveries, covered 100% of COVID-19 testing and vaccines, continued to operate our onsite clinics in a virtual care model, and launched a new virtual behavioral health app.

In partnership with CVS retail pharmacy and Premise onsite clinics, we launched a vaccine program, providing onsite access to

sites across the country.

In 2021, we continued to offer emergency paid leave for associates who are suffering from COVID-19.

Store and Workplace Safety

Our associates and customers drive our success and providing them a safe environment for both working and shopping is essential.

We strive to maintain a culture of safety beginning with our leaders modeling the behaviors we want our associates to adopt, and we embed safety into associate onboarding, developmental e-learning and on-the-job training.

In fiscal 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented numerous safety standards in support of social distancing and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning.

Our associates and customers drive our success.

Providing them a safe environment for both working and shopping is essential.

We strive to maintain a culture of safety, which begins with our leaders modeling the behaviors we want our associates to adopt.

We embed safety into associate onboarding, developmental e-learning and on-the-job training.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we instituted rigorous safety standards in support of social distancing and enhanced sanitizing and cleaning.

Corporate Responsibility Report

Additional information regarding our activities related to our people and human capital strategy, as well as our workforce diversity data, can be found in our Corporate Responsibility Report and Culture, Diversity & Inclusion Report, which are published annually.

The contents of these reports are not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K or in any other report or document we file with the SEC.

Seasonality and Working Capital

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The name “Lowe’s” is a registered service mark of one of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We consider this mark and the accompanying name recognition to be valuable to our business.

This subsidiary and other wholly-owned subsidiaries own and maintain various additional registered and unregistered trademarks, trade names and service marks, including but not limited to retail names “RONA” and “Reno Depot”, and private brand product names “Kobalt” and “allen+roth”.

We consider this mark and logo and the accompanying name recognition to be valuable to our business.

This subsidiary and other wholly-owned subsidiaries own and maintain various additional registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks and trade names, including retail names “RONA” and “Reno Depot”, and private brand product names “Kobalt”, “STAINMASTER” and “allen+roth”.

These subsidiaries also maintain various Internet domain names that are important to our business, and we also own registered and unregistered copyrights.

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Sustainability

Lowe’s has a proud history of managing our business responsibly and serving our associates and communities.

We believe our commitment to sustainability, including our focus on product sustainability, our associates and communities, and reducing the environmental footprint of our operations will help drive long-term shareholder value.

In fiscal 2020, for the second consecutive year, Lowe’s was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index based on our environmental, social, and governance practices.

We have a proud history of managing our business responsibly and serving our associates and communities.

We continue to integrate sustainability topics and issues into our business, including focusing on product sustainability, our associates and communities, and reducing the environmental footprint of our operations, which we believe will help drive long-term shareholder value.

In addition to oversight by the full Board of Directors, the Board has also delegated primary responsibility for more frequent and in-depth oversight of the Company’s sustainability strategies and initiatives and reviewing the Company’s position on significant environmental and social issues to the sustainability committee of the Board of Directors.

In fiscal 2021, for the third consecutive year, Lowe’s was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index based on our environmental, social, and governance practices.

Reducing our Environmental Footprint

We are committed to mitigating climate change by reducing the environmental impact of our operations and supply chain through reducing carbon emissions with investments in energy efficiency, use of renewable energy, environmentally friendly transportation practices, and innovative water and waste management systems.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

By the end of 2022, we plan to announce a science based net-zero target.

The new target will include near and long-term greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals for our full value chain.

In addition to reducing GHG emissions from our operations, the new target will also include reduction efforts for our supply chain and the products we sell.

We are committed to reducing our operational environmental footprint and have made significant investments in our facilities.

Over the past three years, we have spent more than $550 million across multiple projects including indoor LED upgrades, replacing stores’ aging HVAC units with high efficiency models, installing and updating building management systems, and installing pallet grinders.

We are a member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance to evaluate and explore new opportunities and technologies across renewable energy markets.

Our renewable energy generation expanded in 2020 when 100 megawatts of wind energy became operational in central Texas through a power purchase agreement, and we have established a pipeline of other offsite renewable projects becoming operational over several years.

In addition, we are in the process of evaluating on-site solar generation and battery storage options in multiple states.

We are dedicated to promoting sustainable practices in the transportation industry, and we collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) SmartWay program to reduce transportation emissions by managing and reducing fuel usage by creating incentives for freight contractors to improve efficiency.

We are an EPA SmartWay program partner and aim for 100% SmartWay certification for our transportation providers;

in the future this will be a program requirement for all transportation providers along with annual recertification.

This program provides access to comprehensive data and oversight of Scope 3 emissions associated with our U.S.

transportation footprint.

We partner with suppliers to improve recycling and waste diversion, develop regional management processes, measure waste streams and conduct waste audits.

At a local level, store waste, including cardboard, broken appliances, wood pallets, and more, are recycled through national and regional partners, and we provide in-store recycling and reuse centers for our customers to bring in plastic planter pots, compact fluorescent lamp bulbs, plastic bags, and rechargeable batteries.

In fiscal 2021, we joined the How2Recycle partnership in an effort to educate customers and increase the likelihood of proper recycling of our product packaging.

As technology and innovative practices improve, we will continue to explore opportunities to participate in the circular economy.

While our water consumption is modest compared with other industries, we continue to focus on reducing water consumption within our operations.

We use smart irrigation controllers for efficient watering at the majority of stores in the United States and have been exploring other water-efficient technologies to increase water savings in our stores and garden centers.

Additionally, we utilize leak detection technology to catch leaks as they occur to prevent unnecessary water use.

We also have protocols in place to manage the disposal of chemicals to prevent release into waterways of the communities we serve.

Product Sustainability

Lowe’s is committed to promoting sustainable practices throughout our supply chain and providing customers with high quality and safe products.

We are committed to promoting sustainable practices throughout our supply chain and providing customers with high quality and safe products.

Our products undergo a thorough selection process, beginning with our sourcing decisions.

Through collaboration and established management systems, we monitor our suppliers’ practices to secure high-quality products from suppliers who support worker rights and protect the environment.

In fiscal 2019, we published a human rights policy and a revised conflict minerals policy to hold all suppliers to our rigorous standards.

In fiscal 2020, we also updated our Vendor Code of Conduct with enhanced environmental standards for all suppliers.

In addition, Lowe’s upholds a wood sourcing policy that provides that all wood products sold in our stores originate from well-managed, non-endangered forests.

We continue to expand our product portfolio with more environmentally friendly products that provide health and environmental benefits to our customers and communities.

Lowe’s human rights policy, updated in fiscal 2021 to reflect our stance on modern slavery, supports the fundamental principles of Human Rights, as defined by the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” We continue to hold all suppliers to our rigorous standards through our human rights policy, our conflict minerals policy, and our Vendor Code of Conduct which includes enhanced environmental standards for all suppliers.

In addition, we have a wood sourcing policy that specifies that all wood products sold in our stores originate from well-managed, non-endangered forests.

As part of our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our products, we continue to increase our offering of independently certified products that have validated environmental claims, reduce the usage of natural resources, and save customers energy and water consumption.

We continue to work with local and regional utilities to offer customers assorted rebates for a variety of environmentally efficient products including ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense®.

Reducing our Environmental Footprint

Lowe’s is committed to reducing our environmental impact through investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, environmentally friendly transportation practices, and innovative water and waste management systems.

In fiscal 2020, approximately 500 retail locations upgraded to interior light-emitting diode (LED) lighting.

We also replaced 100 stores’ aging HVAC units with high-efficiency models.

Our renewable energy portfolio expanded in 2020 when 100 megawatts of wind energy became operational in central Texas, which will produce the equivalent amount of energy to power all 144 Lowe’s stores in Texas.

We are dedicated to promoting sustainable practices in the transportation industry, and we collaborate with the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay program to reduce transportation emissions by managing and reducing fuel usage by creating incentives for freight contractors to improve efficiency and are proud to be the first retailer to achieve the Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Excellence Award ten years in a row.

Lowe’s participates in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) climate, forestry, and water security questionnaires to benchmark and quantify our environmental practices in an effort to be transparent in our progress and assist in the reduction of our contributions to climate change.

In fiscal 2020, Lowe’s externally verified its greenhouse gas emissions data to validate our findings and increase confidence in our reporting.

At a local level, store waste, including cardboard, broken appliances, wood pallets, and more, are recycled through national and regional partners, and we provide in-store recycling centers for our customers to bring in plastic planter pots, compact fluorescent lamp bulbs, plastic bags, and rechargeable batteries.

Sustainability Reporting

Lowe’s participates in the CDP’s climate, forestry, and water security questionnaires to benchmark and quantify our environmental practices, to provide transparency on our progress, and assist in the reduction of our contributions to climate change.

In fiscal 2021, Lowe’s externally verified its Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions and water usage data to increase confidence in our reporting.

Additionally, we continued to align our sustainability reporting with the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Lowe’s published its first Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report in fiscal 2021 to assess our climate-related risks and opportunities and better understand the potential impacts on our value chain.

For more information about Lowe’s sustainability efforts, please visit responsibility.lowes.com .

Investing in Our Communities

Lowe’s legacy has long included a deep commitment to the communities where we live and work.

In 2020, the global pandemic forced everyone to live and work differently, but we remained committed to supporting the well-being of our associates, customers, and communities, including healthcare providers and first responders.

While adapting our own business to the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, we witnessed our nonprofit partners’ needs growing rapidly as well.

At a time when too many individuals already struggle to have a safe and healthy place to live, small businesses faced unprecedented challenges, especially across minority and rural communities.

Determined to help make a difference and putting action behind our words of commitment to our communities, Lowe’s contributed $109 million in pandemic relief to support our communities, including grants to support minority-owned and rural small businesses.

Lowe's established a small business grant program in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).

Throughout 2020, t he program provided grants of up to $20,000 to rural, minority-owned, and women-owned small business owners to help meet their most immediate needs.

For many, that meant being able to pay rent and utilities, meet payroll, pay outstanding debt to vendors, upgrade technology infrastructure, and support other immediate operational costs.

As the COVID-19 global pandemic persisted throughout 2020, Lowe’s took seriously our responsibility to provide essential products and services to our customers, government officials, and first responders.

In addition to donating essential personal protective equipment (PPE) and products to help keep medical professionals on the front lines safe and healthy, we also empowered all Lowe’s stores to donate masks and respirators to local small businesses to help them remain open or reopen under challenging circumstances.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, we have continued to focus our philanthropy by investing in safe, affordable housing initiatives and workforce development programs that address the skilled trades gap.

Lowe’s also supports veteran-related initiatives within these two focus areas and continues to assist customers, associates and communities before, during, and after natural disasters by partnering with disaster response and relief organizations.

In addition, we are proud to report that in 2020, every Lowe’s store in the United States and Canada was able to contribute to their communities through the Lowe’s Heroes program.

Lowe's is also dedicated to helping our associates in times of need.

Our Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund, made possible through associate donations and company matching, supports associates in times of significant, unforeseen financial hardship.

In 2020, Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund distributed almost $3 million, helping 2,500 associates in need.

We understand the important role Lowe’s plays in providing products, services, and support to communities in need.

As part of our goal to invest $350 million by 2025 in local communities, in 2021 we provided more than $100 million to these efforts, reinforcing our commitment to safe, affordable housing, investing in skilled trades education, and focusing on our unwavering support of rebuilding communities in the wake of natural disasters.

Lowe’s celebrated its centennial in 2021 by giving back through a new initiative, 100 Hometowns.

We launched the nationwide program to complete 100 impact projects to help communities rebuild from natural disasters, repair critical housing, restore community centers, revive green spaces, and more.

In total, more than 1.3 million people benefited from 100 Hometowns.

During the year, Lowe’s led or partnered on initiatives to build, repair, modify, and renovate individual homes and housing facilities that benefit families, front-line workers, veterans, seniors and communities in need.

As an NFL partner, we worked with leading national nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together in thirteen NFL team markets to fund and complete critical housing repairs for single-family homes owned by front-line workers impacted by COVID-19.

In support of the military and veterans community, we partnered with Building Homes for Heroes to fund and help complete the construction or modification of eleven mortgage-free homes for U.S.

veterans who were injured while serving in the military.

As areas of the U.S.

recovered from various natural disasters throughout the year, Lowe’s helped meet essential needs in impacted communities and supported relief efforts with the American Red Cross and Good360, a nonprofit leader in product philanthropy.

Store associates supported customers by handing out free, critically-needed supplies, providing mobile laundry and shower trailers, volunteering to work at stores most impacted by the storms, and deploying the new Lowe’s Tool Rental Disaster Response Trailer to help people get safely back into their homes and get their local businesses up and running.

Lowe’s also continued efforts to help close the skilled trades gap in the U.S.

with Generation T, a digital-first movement aimed at changing the way people see, learn and feel about the skilled trades.

Through various partnerships, we offered educational workshops, immersive experiences, and networking opportunities to students, transitioning military service members and their spouses.

In 2021, our associates across the U.S.

and Canada contributed nearly 196,000 volunteer hours in the communities where they live and work.

A major contributor to this goal is the work done through Lowe’s Heroes, a company-wide effort where we provide funding for each U.S.

and Canadian store to identify a project in their hometown that associates can support through volunteering.

The Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund, made possible through associate donations and company matching, supports associates in times of significant, unforeseen financial hardship.

In 2021, Lowe’s Employee Relief Fund distributed more than $4 million, helping 3,130 associates in need.

For more information on Lowe’s partnerships and latest community improvement projects, visit responsibility.lowes.com .

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Item 1. Business