Environment

Our Environmental Compliance Risk Mitigation effort has been in place for over 30 years. Due to the complexity and changing nature of environmental rules and regulations, we employ a team of environmental compliance specialists and also contract with experienced, professional environmental consultants in pursuit of our goal of 100% compliance, and resulting mitigation of risk of damage to the environment. We have also made considerable investments in equipment and processes to reduce our emissions far below permitted levels.

In addition, our Energy Management Team has been in place since 2008. This team seeks to ensure that our facilities have reliable, cost effective energy supplies, with a focus on conservation, to reduce our overall energy usage.

Acushnet maintains a long standing interest in energy conservation, and regularly explores and implements renewable energy opportunities such as solar and wind. Corporate policy requires that that all capital projects funding requests to be accompanied by a “Project Impact Report” that requires project managers to identify the impact (positive or negative) on energy consumption and the environment. This impact is one of the key criteria we use to determine how to allocate capital funds. We also dedicate resources to studying and understanding all the latest incentives provided by Federal, State and local utility programs to ensure that capital dollars are invested in the most cost effective manner possible.

Between 2012 and 2014, we provided leadership in the early stages of large scale solar development in Massachusetts by entering into long-term power purchase agreements for five large scale solar farm projects. By committing to purchase 100% of the utility bill credits associated with over 17,000 MWhs generated annually by these facilities, Acushnet played a critical role in financing the projects and bringing them online.

In 2022, we built upon our long-standing commitment to solar energy by extending these agreements for another decade. These extensions secure 80% of our solar portfolio well into the future, and the energy generated will continue to displace electricity that would otherwise be generated from fossil fuels.

Also in 2022, a solar array was constructed and began operating on our Thailand ball plant. The project was developed via a similar agreement as the Massachusetts arrays. 

We have installed a battery energy storage system at our Ball Plant II to store excess energy for use during peak demand periods, easing stress on the power grid.

In 2020, we renewed our commitment to invest in highly efficient Combined Heat and Power ("CHP"), a technology proven to operate at higher efficiency and lower emission rates compared to the equivalent import of electricity and burning of fossil fuels, for process operations and to heat the facilities. The 2020 project at Ball Plant II marks our third major capital investment in CHP and replaces an aging CHP system with a more reliable, state-of-the-art CHP system that will provide many years of highly efficient, on-site, heat and power production with cleaner emissions.

In 2015, we were recognized as a "Clean Heat and Power Champion" by the Northeast Clean Heat and Power Initiative and, in 2009, we were the inaugural recipient of the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources “Beacon of Energy” award for our achievements in energy utilization from alternative energy sources.

Acushnet Company continuously strives to minimize its environmental impact from manufacturing operations. Hazardous waste generation has been minimized through formal team evaluation and review. Cross-platform team members rely on experience to guide manufacturing advances to maximize raw material use, inherently minimizing all wastes. Efforts also focus on less toxic raw materials. We have a long history of source reduction and recycling programs aimed at landfill diversion and the use of non-VOC solvents and particulate control devices to mitigate any environmental impact to the community. In 2022, U.S. golf ball and golf club operations achieved a 89 and 84 percent waste diversion rate, respectively, diverting nearly 3,400 tons and over 99 tons, respectively, of material from the landfill, and approximately 1.5 and 1 percent, respectively, of solid waste is regulated as a hazardous waste.

We monitor various regulatory lists of toxic/hazardous substances through regulatory tracking databases and regulatory alert services for any substances that may be of potential concern for our products. We then review all new ingredients through our approval system to ensure that these materials are not included in products or are present only in amounts below any regulatory thresholds. Monitoring is supplemented with written certifications from suppliers concerning the absence of harmful chemicals in their products above regulatory threshold levels, such as TCLP constituents, REACH Restricted Substances or Substances of Very High Concern, and chemicals that are subject to specific regulation under the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Acushnet's manufacturing operations have been continuously refined for over fifty years to minimize water use. Major processes that use water have been closed-looped to reduce consumption and other processes evaluated to minimize water resources. Modernization efforts have also greatly reduced loading to water discharges, easing the burden of the local municipality to process.

Water consumption in 2022 for golf ball operations worldwide was 256,103 cubic meters. Golf club operations consumed 81,472 cubic meters, primarily to support the maintenance and operation of the Titleist Performance Institute in California, a state-of-the­ art 30 acre golf testing and club fitting facility.

Our key golf ball packaging provider is 100% carbon neutral and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forest Initiative.

Many Titleist and FootJoy golf gloves are packaged using plastic made with 30% post­ consumer recycled content, which eliminates 30% of the consumption of virgin, non­ renewable plastics.

Our associates are guided by our key beliefs of uncompromising integrity, values, and our constant respect for people. These key beliefs are vital to Acushnet's success. To support this success, the Acushnet Company Supplier Citizenship Policy (the "Policy") available here, establishes guidelines that respect human rights, workplace safety and protection of the environment. we are committed to responsible environmental practices some of which are available here.

Acushnet Company expects each of its suppliers worldwide to conduct their business activities in accordance with the elements contained in the Policy. These elements are the Company's minimum standards and are not intended to supersede any applicable governmental regulations or requirements. All suppliers are expected to conduct their activities, including activities related to their employees, in compliance with all applicable national and international laws and regulations. Where differences or conflicts in standards arise, the highest standard shall apply.

Each supplier and its individual operations are expected to comply with this policy and, upon request, provide evidence of compliance. We also expect our employees and suppliers to conduct themselves in accordance with all other Acushnet Company policies, including the Global Human Rights Policy, available here, and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, available here.

Suppliers will be selected, and then monitored, based in part on compliance with these policies and Acushnet Company global citizenship supplier expectations will be communicated to each supplier chosen. Acushnet Company suppliers will maintain reasonable evidence that the requirements of this

Policy are being met by their suppliers and contractors, and, where appropriate, by their sub­ suppliers and sub-contractors. This evidence may include certification forms, written questionnaires, audits, inspections, or other appropriate documentation. Appropriate levels of compliance review will be undertaken depending upon the risk exposure assigned to suppliers. The main objective is to bring suppliers into compliance in a reasonable amount of time. However, continued noncompliance in critical areas may affect the supplier's business relationship with Acushnet Company, up to and including termination of the business relationship by us. To ensure suppliers demonstrate compliance with our policies, or evidence they are working towards such compliance, the Company performs supplier audits in accordance with its Supplier Review Program.

The Company's Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of its Board of Directors has oversight responsibility for the matters contemplated by the Supplier Citizenship Policy and our Global Human Rights Policy. Company management is responsible for the ongoing administration of these policies and the Supplier Review Program.

Applicable Company employees will receive training on the requirements of these policies. Suppliers are expected to provide training on the requirements of these policies to appropriate personnel.

The Supplier Review Program is administered by the Company's Risk Management Committee, with oversight by the Audit Committee. Helping to administer program for Company-owned factories will be the Acushnet Health & Safety Department.

We are committed to maintaining a safe, secure and healthy work environment. No activity is so important that it cannot be done safely. As a global leader in the golf equipment industry, employee safety and health is prioritized in each of our golf ball, golf glove and golf shoe manufacturing facilities, our golf club assembly facilities, and our distribution centers and support operations worldwide. Led by a dedicated team of approximately 20 associates, the Company is committed to implementing best-in class health and safety programs aimed at minimizing risks to our associates and complying with all applicable safety and health laws and regulations. To this end, the Company has established a comprehensive Health and Safety Management Program that covers the following elements: (1) safety & health education; (2) enforcement; (3) evaluation of workplace hazards; (4) associate involvement; (5) safety audits; and (6) communication. Each element contributes toward achieving the overall goal - eliminating safety hazards, minimizing accidents, and promoting a healthy workforce. This commitment is part of our culture and includes the following achievements:

Two of our U.S. golf ball manufacturing facilities have been recognized by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration as "VPP Star" facilities. The VPP Star program is a "Voluntary Protection Program," by which eligible facilities voluntarily commit on an ongoing basis to an enhanced program of protection for its manufacturing employees.

VPP Star status is a certification by US OSHA that the sites have implemented effective safety and health management systems and maintain injury and illness rates below national Bureau of Labor Statistics averages for their respective industries.

Our commitment to worker safety is not limited to our U.S. facilities. The operation of our Ball Plant IV facility is virtually indistinguishable from our US operations and is certified to the ISO9001 quality standard.

Our golf glove factory in Thailand is certified to the TLS 8001 Thai labor standard, ISO 9001 quality standard, ISO14001 environmental standard and ISO 45001 occupational health and safety standard.

The Company finished 2022 with a fatality rate of zero and an OSHA Recordable Incident Rate of 0.9 and an OSHA DART Rate of 0.5, which are 72% and 76% lower than the industry average, respectively.

Acushnet HealthWise, Wellness For Life, is our associate initiative that is intended to foster a culture that encourages and supports associate safety, health and wellness. Through partnerships with the medical community and Acushnet HealthWise Coaches, associates gain access to high-quality health and wellness services. Associates receive incentives for healthy behaviors, which include up to a 30% surcharge avoidance for healthcare benefits. HealthWise allows associates to create a personalized path on their wellness journey, focusing on what is important and meaningful to each individual. Whether activity, nutrition, sleep, stress, financial health, family health, mental well-being, or philanthropy, associates choose whatever helps make them a healthier and happier human being. Acushnet's role is to encourage and support healthy behaviors by offering on-site educational programs, fitness center programming, on-site wellness staff to coach associates on meeting personal wellness goals, on-site services (including physical therapy, chiropractic care, psychiatric care, massage therapy, acupuncture and reflexology), virtual and technology solutions, and volunteer activities in our local communities.

Acushnet earned the distinction of being named one of America’s Best Mid-Sized Employers of 2021 by Forbes Magazine (as one of the top 500 mid-sized companies nationally). The list of best mid-sized employers was determined by Forbes in partnership with Statista, a market research firm. Forbes and Statista selected America’s Best Employers based on an independent survey in which 50,000 Americans working for companies in 25 different industries with at least 1,000 employees in their U.S. locations were asked open-ended questions. The evaluation was based on both direct and indirect recommendations.