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 92 is higher than 95% 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 for Scope 1 emissions in Japan, with no reported Scope 2 emissions. Globally, their emissions included about 503,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1, 112,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2, and a significant 10,121,000,000 kg CO2e for Scope 3 emissions. This indicates a substantial reliance on indirect emissions, particularly from purchased goods and services, which accounted for a large portion of their total emissions. Kao has set ambitious reduction targets, aiming for a 55% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, using 2017 as the base year. This target is part of their commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Additionally, they aim to reduce Scope 3 emissions by 22% within the same timeframe, focusing on areas such as upstream transportation and the end-of-life treatment of sold products. Kao's long-term climate commitments include achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and becoming carbon negative by 2050. These goals reflect their dedication to sustainability and reducing their overall carbon footprint across all scopes of emissions. Overall, Kao Corporation's emissions data and climate commitments demonstrate a proactive approach to addressing climate change, with clear targets and a focus on significant reductions in their carbon emissions.
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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 |
| 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 | 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.
