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Public Profile
Financial Intermediation
US
updated 2 months ago

American Express Sustainability Profile

Company website

American Express Company, commonly known as Amex, is a leading player in the financial services industry, headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1850, the company has evolved significantly, establishing itself as a premier provider of charge cards, credit cards, and travel-related services. With a strong presence in North America, Europe, and Asia, American Express is renowned for its unique rewards programmes and exceptional customer service. The company’s core offerings include personal and business credit cards, travel services, and merchant solutions, all designed to enhance customer experiences. American Express has achieved notable milestones, such as being one of the first companies to introduce a traveler's cheque. Its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction has solidified its position as a trusted brand in the financial sector, making it a preferred choice for millions worldwide.

DitchCarbon Score

How does American Express'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.

87

Industry Average

Mean score of companies in the Financial Intermediation 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.

32

Industry Benchmark

American Express's score of 87 is higher than 93% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.

93%

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American Express's reported carbon emissions

In 2024, American Express reported total carbon emissions of approximately 1.93 billion kg CO2e, comprising 21,817,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1, 1,758,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2, and 1,901,592,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. The company has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for carbon neutrality (net zero) for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by the end of 2035. Additionally, American Express targets a 63% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2030, using 2015 as the base year, aligning with a 1.5°C pathway. For Scope 3 emissions, the company aims to reduce these by 35% by 2033 from a 2019 base year, with a long-term goal of achieving a 90% reduction by 2050. These targets are consistent with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and reflect American Express's commitment to sustainability and climate action. The organization is also focused on ensuring that 75% of its membership rewards redemption partners and co-brand partners have science-based targets by 2028.

Unlock detailed emissions data

Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents

201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
Scope 1
36,158,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
Scope 2
126,270,000
000,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
Scope 3
33,173,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
0,000,000
000,000
00,000,000
00,000,000
0,000,000,000

How Carbon Intensive is American Express's Industry?

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
Some industries are more carbon intensive than others. American Express's primary industry is Financial Intermediation, which is very low in terms of carbon intensity compared to other industries.

How Carbon Intensive is American Express's Location?

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
The carbon intensity of the energy grid powering a company's primary operations has a strong influence on its overall carbon footprint. This request for American Express is in US, which has a low grid carbon intensity relative to other regions.

American Express's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown

American Express's Scope 3 emissions, which increased significantly last year and increased significantly since 2013, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Nearly all of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing nearly all emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 42% of Scope 3 emissions.

Top Scope 3 Categories

2024
Purchased Goods and Services
42%
Investments
30%
Capital Goods
12%
Business Travel
5%
Fuel and Energy Related Activities
4%
Upstream Transportation & Distribution
4%
Employee Commuting
3%
Waste Generated in Operations
<1%

American Express's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)

Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.

American Express has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Science Based Targets Initiative
Carbon Disclosure Project
The Climate Pledge
UN Global Compact
RE 100
Climate Action 100
Race To Net Zero
Reduction Actions

Compare American Express's Emissions with Industry Peers

Wells Fargo

US
•
Financial intermediation services, except insurance and pension funding services (65)
Updated 6 days ago

Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A.

BR
•
Financial intermediation services, except insurance and pension funding services (65)
Updated 5 days ago

Capital One

US
•
Financial intermediation services, except insurance and pension funding services (65)
Updated 21 days ago

Hsbc Holdings

GB
•
Financial intermediation services, except insurance and pension funding services (65)
Updated 14 days ago

Synchrony

US
•
Financial intermediation services, except insurance and pension funding services (65)
Updated 5 days ago

Stripe, Inc.

US
•
Other business services (74)
Updated about 1 month ago

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about American Express's sustainability data and climate commitments

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Where does DitchCarbon data come from?

Discover our data-driven methodology for measuring corporate climate action and benchmarking against industry peers

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