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Sustainability Our business practices
Our business practices
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Ethics

We have built a strong reputation for being an ethical and trustworthy company. We enforce anti-bribery and anti-corruption practices and policies and show honesty and integrity as we interact with our customers, business partners, and each other.

Our Ethics and Compliance Program is grounded in our core value of doing what’s right. To maintain high ethical standards, we reinforce the understanding of and adherence to our Global Code of Conduct, related policies, and legal and regulatory requirements across the organization by delivering education, training, and conducting risk assessments.

Read our Global Code of Conduct.

Recognized as a 2026 World's Most Ethical companiesTM honoree.

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Cybersecurity and data privacy

Protecting the confidentiality of the personal data entrusted to us by our customers, employees, and business partners is of utmost importance to us. That’s why we take proactive approaches to keep our systems secure, continually assess for emerging risks, and ensure employees are sufficiently trained on handling sensitive information.

Our Privacy Center now makes it easier for individuals to understand both our privacy practices and how they can exercise their personal data rights in accordance with applicable law.

Visit our Privacy center.

SecurityScorecard provides organizations easy-to-understand graded scorecards for improved communication, reporting, and informed decision making to address cybersecurity risks across their externally facing digital footprint.

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Climate impact

To create a more secure world, we pledge to be responsible stewards and mitigate our impact on the planet. Our long-term climate goals and plans are aligned with science-based targets to address climate change and support the transition to a low-carbon economy.

Our goal: We aim to reduce our global scope 1 and scope 2 market-based greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 65% by 2034 and achieve net- zero GHG emissions by 2050, which aligns with the Science Based Targets initiative’s (SBTi) 1.5°C scenario.

What does this look like?

Our progress towards our 2034 GHG reduction target

Our progress towards our 2034 GHG reduction target in graph form
Improving operational environmental performance

Energy-efficient technologies and access to renewable energy sources help us meet our broader goals and further reduce our impact on the environment. We’re mindful of our water consumption and recycling efforts. We’ve formulated action plans to improve our performance. We’ve also established a system and policy modeled after ISO14001 and designed to:

  • Reduce energy use and GHG emissions
  • Improve water efficiency
  • Reduce waste to landfill
  • Increase employee awareness

We don’t consume significant amounts of energy and water or produce significant amounts of waste. But we’ll continue to routinely measure these areas of our operations to better understand our impact on the environment.

Read our environmental policy.

 Our goal: Aim to meet or exceed LEED® guidelines for waste and recycling. Our goal is to maintain a 50% or greater waste diversion rate annually.

Green buildings: We use LEED® certification to ensure efficient and healthy work environments. Of the Principal owned and occupied portfolio in Des Moines, 90% is LEED® certified, as measured by square footage.

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Supplier inclusion

Working with a variety of suppliers, vendors, and business partners helps improve our competitive edge in the global marketplace and contributes to our strategic objectives.

In all bidding opportunities we strive to consider businesses owned, controlled, and operated by people of different backgrounds, including women, people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and individuals with different abilities.

People at work.
Supply chain management

We are mindful of our impact on the world, and the role our supply chain plays in this. By integrating sustainability considerations into our procurement processes, we’re gaining more transparency to help mitigate business risks and create positive change through our value chain.

We expect all suppliers, vendors, and businesses we do business with to comply with our Global Supplier Code of Conduct, and/or our Global Code of Conduct.

Sustainable procurement statement (PDF)

Supplier Code of Conduct (PDF)

2025 highlights

> 99% of active employees completed training on our Global Code of Conduct 

15th time

Principal has been recognized for its ethical leadership and business practices by Ethisphere

3.3% Reduction in U.S. scope 1 and scope 2 market-based GHG emissions between 2024 and 2025. 

2025 Sustainability report

Read more about our commitment to sustainability.

Download full report (PDF)

Our work supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goal:

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals