Kao
Kao Corporation, commonly referred to as Kao, is a leading Japanese multinational company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Founded in 1887, Kao has established itself as a prominent player in the consumer goods and chemical industries, with a strong presence in Asia, Europe, and the Americas. The company is renowned for its innovative products in personal care, beauty, and home care, as well as its advanced chemical solutions. Kao's core offerings include skincare, haircare, and household cleaning products, distinguished by their commitment to sustainability and quality. With a focus on research and development, Kao has achieved significant milestones, including numerous awards for product excellence and environmental initiatives. As a market leader, Kao continues to enhance its global footprint while prioritising consumer satisfaction and ecological responsibility.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Kao'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 Chemicals 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
Kao's score of 66 is higher than 99% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Kao's reported carbon emissions
In 2023, Kao Corporation reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 10,752,000,000 kg CO2e globally, with scope 1 emissions at about 539,000,000 kg CO2e and scope 2 emissions at around 149,000,000 kg CO2e. In Japan, the company recorded scope 1 emissions of about 223,000,000 kg CO2e, with no reported scope 2 emissions. Kao has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, using 2017 as the base year. Additionally, the company targets a 22% reduction in absolute scope 3 emissions, which include emissions from purchased goods and services, upstream transportation and distribution, and end-of-life treatment of sold products, also by 2030. This commitment extends to indirect use-phase emissions of detergent products. Kao's targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are designed to contribute to limiting global warming to 1.5°C. The company has also signed the Amazon Climate Pledge, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and climate action.
Unlock detailed emissions data
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 653,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 404,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 11,423,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 | 00,000,000,000 |
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.
Kao is committed to some 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.
