Costco

Environmentally-mindful sourcing and stocking commitments?: No

Promotes collections that help consumers make conscious decisions?: No / not found

Stocks any Commons top-rated sustainable brands? (proportion of rateable categories): Yes - few

Has time-bound targets to improve its sourcing for owned-brand products?: No

Certifications for owned-brands and products?: Yes

These certifications include: FSC, MSC, ASC, RSPO

Heavy reliance on virgin petro plastic?: Unsure / not found

Shares info on ecommerce packaging?:No / not found

Shares info on in-store and upstream packaging?:N/A

Shares info on own-brand packaging?:Yes - provides full details

Petro-based plastics in packaging?: Yes - but working to reduce

Recycled plastic?: Partially Recycled

Uses environmentally-mindful materials (non-plastic) in packaging?: Yes

These materials include ones that are: recyclable.

Targets for improving its packaging materials?: No / not found

Initiatives to reduce packaging volume / intensity?: Yes - vague / limited

Plastic waste reduction through partnerships?: Yes: The Recycling Partnership, Sustainable Packaging Coalition, and others

Uses renewable energy in its supply chain and/or offices?: Yes - Some (<50%)

Uses renewable energy in its stores?: Yes - some (<50%)

Targets for increasing renewable energy?: Yes - nonspecific

On track for these targets?: No

Energy efficiency measures?: Yes - vague / limited

Water conservation measures?: Yes - specifics shared

Refrigerant management strategy?: Yes - specifics shared

Efforts to lower shipping emissions (e.g. EVs)?: Yes - nonspecific

Any EPA GreenChill certified stores?: Some

Alt models to promote consumer reuse and recycling?: More than one model

Packaging disposal guidance?: Yes

Corporate waste reduction initiatives?: Reusing to-store packaging

Corporate waste reporting?: Yes - thorough / all

Food waste reduction initiatives?: Yes - thorough

Food waste reporting?: Yes - thorough

Promotes overconsumption?: Unsure / not found

Commons is still evaluating this brand's marketing emails.

Sustainability page on consumer site?: Yes - footer

Voluntary annual sustainability report?: Yes

Last published: 2024

Reports its emissions?: Yes

Breakdown in CO2e?: Yes

Last reported in: 2023

Estimated emissions footprint: 205106704 tons CO2e

Scope 1+2 emissions intensity compared to industry / competitor average: Average

Science-aligned emissions reduction targets?: No

Target timeframe: Medium-term (5-10 years)

Reports progress?: Yes - not on track

Climate neutral certification?: No

Offsets emissions?: No / not found

Publishes supplier information for owned production?: No

Publishes supplier code of conduct?: Yes

Code of conduct: prohibits child labor, prohibits forced labor, ensures the right to collective bargaining, disallows unauthorized subcontracting, establishes grievance mechanisms

Code of conduct does not sufficiently: ensure a living wage, include environmental clauses

Code of Conduct covers all applicable suppliers (own-production and stocked-brand)?: Yes

Labor certifications in supply chain?: No

3rd-party criticisms of supply chain or labor conditions?: Yes - few

Discloses all trade association memberships?: Nothing to disclose

Climate-obstructive trade association memberships: None -

Pro-climate advocacy memberships?: No

Employs state lobbyists?: Yes

Percentage of lobbyists that are fossil-fuel aligned: High 12%+

Donated more than $100k to any candidates or PACs from 2018-2024?: No