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 95 is higher than 97% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Kao's reported carbon emissions
In 2024, Kao Corporation reported total carbon emissions of approximately 206,000,000 kg CO2e in Japan, with all emissions classified under Scope 1. The company has set ambitious targets to reduce its carbon footprint, aiming for a 55% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, using 2017 as the base year. This commitment is part of a broader strategy to achieve carbon zero by 2040 and carbon negative by 2050. Globally, Kao's emissions for 2024 totalled approximately 10,121,000,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at about 503,000,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 at approximately 112,000,000 kg CO2e, and Scope 3 emissions reaching about 10,121,000,000 kg CO2e. The company has also committed to reducing Scope 3 emissions by 22% by 2030, focusing on areas such as purchased goods and services, upstream transportation, and the end-of-life treatment of sold products. Kao's climate initiatives are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), which confirms that their targets are consistent with the reductions required to limit global warming to 1.5°C. The company is actively working towards these goals, having signed the Amazon Climate Pledge in May 2022, further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability and climate action.
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| 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 653,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 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 | 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 | 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 participating in some 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.
