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 34 is higher than 85% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Costco Wholesale's reported carbon emissions
In 2023, Costco Wholesale reported significant carbon emissions, with a total of approximately 168,967,000 kg CO2e attributed to Scope 3 emissions from waste generated in operations. This figure highlights the company's ongoing challenges in managing its environmental impact, particularly in the area of waste management. In 2022, Costco's total emissions were approximately 174,055,286,000 kg CO2e, which included 1,405,640,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1, 1,418,244,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2, and a substantial 171,274,463,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. This indicates a heavy reliance on indirect emissions, particularly from fuel and energy-related activities. Costco has not publicly disclosed specific reduction targets or initiatives aimed at decreasing its carbon footprint. However, the company is aware of the importance of addressing climate change and has made commitments to improve its sustainability practices. The absence of defined reduction targets suggests that while Costco is tracking its emissions, it may need to enhance its strategic approach to climate action. Overall, Costco's emissions data reflects the complexities of managing carbon outputs in a large retail operation, particularly in relation to waste and energy consumption. The company’s future efforts will be crucial in aligning with global climate goals and improving its environmental performance.
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| 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 | - |
| 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 | - |
| 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 | 000,000,000 |
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 participating in any of the initiatives that 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.
