Costco Wholesale
Costco Wholesale Corporation, commonly known as Costco, is a leading membership-only warehouse club headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1983, Costco has established a significant presence across North America, Europe, and Asia, offering a diverse range of products and services. The company operates in the retail industry, primarily focusing on bulk merchandise, groceries, electronics, and household goods. What sets Costco apart is its commitment to providing high-quality products at competitive prices, often through exclusive private-label brands like Kirkland Signature. With over 800 locations worldwide, Costco has garnered a loyal customer base, making it one of the largest retailers globally. Notable achievements include consistently ranking among the top retailers in the Fortune 500, reflecting its strong market position and dedication to customer satisfaction.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Costco Wholesale's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Retail Trade Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Costco Wholesale's score of 31 is lower than 72% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Costco Wholesale's reported carbon emissions
In 2022, Costco Wholesale reported significant carbon emissions, with Scope 1 emissions at approximately 15,000,000,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at about 10,000,000,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions reaching around 149,000,000,000 kg CO2e. The Scope 3 emissions included substantial contributions from purchased goods and services (80,000,000,000 kg CO2e) and the use of sold products (60,000,000,000 kg CO2e). For 2023, Costco's emissions data indicates that only Scope 3 emissions were reported, specifically 168,967,000 kg CO2e from waste generated in operations. This suggests a focus on tracking and managing downstream impacts. Despite the extensive emissions, Costco has not publicly committed to specific reduction targets or initiatives, as indicated by the absence of documented reduction targets or climate pledges. The company continues to operate within the context of increasing scrutiny on corporate climate commitments, particularly in the retail sector, where sustainability practices are becoming increasingly vital for consumer trust and regulatory compliance.
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Get Started| 2007 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 214,188,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | - |
| Scope 2 | 1,125,863,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | - |
| Scope 3 | - | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | - | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Industry emissions intensity
Location emissions intensity
Reduction initiatives & disclosure networks
Companies disclose and commit to reducing emissions to show they are serious about reducing emissions impact over time. They can also help a company track its progress over time.
Costco Wholesale is not committed to any reduction initiatives we track. This may change over time as the company engages with new initiatives or updates its commitments. DitchCarbon will update this information as it becomes available.
