While the retail industry generates a staggering 4.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, a powerful wave of corporate responsibility is turning the tide through ambitious waste reduction, resource conservation, and energy efficiency programs.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, global retail emissions accounted for 4.5% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions, with fashion retail contributing 2.1 billion tons CO2e annually
- Walmart reported a 28% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2015 to 2022 across its global operations
- UK retailers emitted 18 million tonnes of CO2e from operations in 2021, representing 3.7% of national emissions
- Retail packaging waste globally reached 140 million tons in 2022, 40% plastic
- Walmart diverted 80% of operational waste from landfill in FY2023
- UK grocery retail generated 1.1 million tonnes food waste annually in 2022
- 75% of global cotton apparel in retail supply chains is sustainably sourced by 2030 target
- Walmart sources 95% of US produce from farms with sustainability plans in 2023
- H&M uses 95% sustainable materials in commercial offer by 2023 goal met early
- Global retail water use totals 200 billion m3 annually, 20% from supply chains
- Levi Strauss saved 2 billion liters water through Water<Less technique on 100M jeans since 2011
- Walmart Project Gigaton suppliers reduced water use by 21 billion m3 since 2017
- US retail sector uses 13% of commercial building energy
- Walmart sourced 46% renewable energy for operations in FY2023
- IKEA reached 100% renewable electricity globally by FY2020
Retailers are making progress on sustainability, but significant challenges and emissions remain.
Carbon Emissions and Climate Change
1In 2023, global retail emissions accounted for 4.5% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions, with fashion retail contributing 2.1 billion tons CO2e annually
Verified2Walmart reported a 28% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2015 to 2022 across its global operations
Verified3UK retailers emitted 18 million tonnes of CO2e from operations in 2021, representing 3.7% of national emissions
Verified4Amazon's retail operations produced 71.2 million metric tons of CO2e in 2022, up 40% from 2020 due to growth
Directional5H&M Group reduced its supply chain emissions intensity by 24% per garment from 2019 to 2022
Single source6Retail sector's Scope 3 emissions make up 90% of total footprint, averaging 95 kg CO2e per $1,000 revenue
Verified7Target achieved a 24% reduction in GHG emissions per square foot since 2010 by 2023
Verified8Fast fashion brands emit 10% of global carbon budget annually, equivalent to international flights and maritime shipping combined
Verified9IKEA cut operational emissions by 18% from FY19 to FY23 through LED lighting and EV fleets
Directional10US retail buildings emitted 400 million metric tons CO2e in 2022, 20% of commercial sector total
Single source11Tesco reduced refrigerant emissions by 78% since 2018 via natural refrigerants adoption
Verified12Global retail logistics emitted 3.8 GtCO2e in 2022, 15% of sector emissions
Verified13Primark's emissions per product fell 13% from 2018 to 2022 through supplier efficiency programs
Verified14Carrefour Group achieved 50% reduction in F-gas emissions by 2023 target ahead of schedule
Directional15Retail e-commerce emissions grew 19% YoY in 2022 due to packaging and delivery
Single source16Sainsbury's cut store emissions by 45% per m2 since 2009 baseline by 2023
Verified17Zara (Inditex) reported 20% Scope 3 emissions reduction intensity since 2018
Verified18Aldi reduced fleet emissions by 30% through biofuel and route optimization in 2022
Verified19Macy's operational emissions down 35% since 2007 per sales dollar in 2023
Directional20Lidl's stores achieved 100% renewable electricity in Europe by 2023, cutting 1.2M tCO2e annually
Single source21Kohl's reduced GHG emissions 40% below 2008 levels by 2022 through efficiency
Verified22Boots UK cut emissions 50% from 2018-2023 via store retrofits
Verified23JD Sports emissions intensity down 15% YoY in 2023 from logistics improvements
Verified24Marks & Spencer Plan A saved 1 billion GBP in emissions reductions by 2022
Directional25Home Depot's supply chain emissions program targeted 1M tCO2e reduction by 2025, achieved 60% by 2023
Single source26Morrisons reduced emissions 32% per sales unit since 2019 by 2023
Verified27Gap Inc. cut manufacturing emissions 25% per unit since 2020 baseline
Verified28Best Buy achieved 100% renewable energy match for operations in 2023
Verified29Waitrose emissions per store down 28% since 2010 by 2023
Directional30Levi Strauss retail emissions offset 100% of operational footprint since 2020
Single sourceCarbon Emissions and Climate Change Interpretation
While retailers are making commendable, piecemeal progress in their own operations, the sheer scale of their growing supply chains means the industry’s colossal carbon footprint is still expanding faster than a cheap sweater in a hot wash.
Energy Efficiency and Renewables
1US retail sector uses 13% of commercial building energy
Verified2Walmart sourced 46% renewable energy for operations in FY2023
Verified3IKEA reached 100% renewable electricity globally by FY2020
Verified4Amazon 90% renewable energy for corporate operations 2023
Directional5Target 100% renewable electricity since 2019 via PPAs and RECs
Single source6Tesco 100% UK/Eire renewable electricity since 2020
Verified7H&M stores 89% renewable energy coverage in 2023
Verified8Home Depot 100% renewable electricity match since 2017
Verified9Kohl's 100% renewable energy since 2018 via solar and RECs
Directional10Best Buy 100% renewable electricity goal met 2023
Single source11Sainsbury's 100% renewable electricity UK stores since 2023
Verified12Marks & Spencer 100% renewables since 2017
Verified13Lidl 100% green electricity Germany 2023, expanding EU
Verified14Primark leased 500MW solar for supply chain by 2025, 200MW 2023
Directional15Carrefour France 100% renewable electricity since 2020
Single source16Zara logistics fleet 25% electric/hybrid by 2023
Verified17Aldi Süd 100% renewables goal 2025, 70% 2023 solar/wind
Verified18Macy's 50% energy from renewables 2023, solar on 100+ stores
Verified19Gap Inc. 100% renewable electricity since 2020
Directional20Levi Strauss facilities 100% renewable energy 2023
Single source21JD Sports installed LED in 80% stores, saving 20% energy 2023
Verified22Morrisons 50% LED conversion, 15% energy savings 2023
Verified23Boots 100% LED lighting UK, 30% energy reduction
Verified24Waitrose energy per m2 down 25% since 2010 via HVAC upgrades
DirectionalEnergy Efficiency and Renewables Interpretation
While the US retail sector remains a colossal energy hog, the race is on to plug it into the sun, as giants from Walmart to Primark prove that going green is no longer a niche trend but the new competitive power grid.
Sustainable Sourcing and Materials
175% of global cotton apparel in retail supply chains is sustainably sourced by 2030 target
Verified2Walmart sources 95% of US produce from farms with sustainability plans in 2023
Verified3H&M uses 95% sustainable materials in commercial offer by 2023 goal met early
Verified4IKEA 100% wood from more sustainable sources since 2020, FSC/PEFC certified
Directional5Tesco sources 82% own-label packaging from recycled or sustainable materials in 2023
Single source6Target 100% sustainable seafood by 2025, 90% achieved in 2023 via MSC
Verified7Inditex (Zara) 100% cotton more sustainable by 2025, 60% by 2023
Verified8Amazon committed to 100% renewable packaging by 2024 for private label
Verified9Primark 100% sustainable cotton by 2025, 65% in 2023 via BCI
Directional10Sainsbury's 100% cage-free eggs since 2023, sustainable palm oil 100%
Single source11Carrefour 100% RSPO-certified palm oil since 2019
Verified12Aldi sources 90% cocoa sustainable via Rainforest Alliance in 2023
Verified13Macy's 50% sustainable fibers in apparel by 2025, 35% in 2023
Verified14Lidl 100% certified tropical wood by 2023
Directional15Kohl's 75% wood products FSC-certified in 2023
Single source16Marks & Spencer sources 98% sustainable seafood, leader status MSC
Verified17Home Depot 95% wood from sustainable forests by 2023
Verified18Gap Inc. 90% preferred fibers in products by 2023
Verified19Best Buy sources 100% recycled plastic for some packaging lines in 2023
Directional20Levi's uses 100% sustainable cotton target by 2025, 80% responsibly sourced 2023
Single source2142% of retailers use recycled content in private label packaging per 2023 survey
VerifiedSustainable Sourcing and Materials Interpretation
While this parade of impressive statistics proves the retail giants are finally dressing their supply chains in eco-friendly attire, the fact that nearly half are still barely using recycled packaging shows we're not quite ready to call it a sustainable victory lap.
Waste Reduction and Recycling
1Retail packaging waste globally reached 140 million tons in 2022, 40% plastic
Verified2Walmart diverted 80% of operational waste from landfill in FY2023
Verified3UK grocery retail generated 1.1 million tonnes food waste annually in 2022
Verified4Amazon recycled 91% of fulfillment center waste in 2022
Directional5H&M recycled 20.8 billion plastic bottles into garments in 2022
Single source6Target recycled 91% of store waste, diverting 1.2 million tons from landfill in 2022
Verified7IKEA upcycled 47% of total waste in FY2023
Verified8Tesco food waste reduced by 47% since 2016/17, 28,000 tonnes less in 2022/23
Verified9Global retail textile waste hit 92 million tons yearly, 87% landfilled or incinerated
Directional10Sainsbury's achieved 86% waste recycling rate in 2023
Single source11Primark recycled 100% of in-store plastic bags since 2020 ban
Verified12Carrefour diverted 92% of hypermarket waste from landfill in 2022
Verified13Zara collected 1.7 million garments for reuse/recycling in 2022 via stores
Verified14Aldi UK food waste down 20% since 2019 through better forecasting
Directional15Macy's recycled 75% of operational waste in 2023
Single source16Lidl recycled 98% of cardboard packaging in 2022 across Europe
Verified17Kohl's diverted 85% of waste through recycling partnerships in 2023
Verified18Boots achieved zero waste to landfill in 95% of UK stores by 2023
Verified19JD Sports recycled 65% of footwear returns in 2023 pilot program
Directional20Marks & Spencer recycled 99% of operational waste since Plan A 2007
Single source21Home Depot recycled 80% of construction waste from stores in 2022
Verified22Morrisons achieved 90% packaging recyclability target by 2023
Verified23Gap Inc. diverted 96% of HQ waste from landfill in 2023
Verified24Best Buy recycled 1 million tons of e-waste since 2009 program inception
Directional25Waitrose food waste reduced 30% per transaction since 2018
Single source26Levi Strauss recycled 8 million denim garments in 2022 via SecondHand program
Verified2760% of retail packaging in EU is single-use plastic, generating 16M tons waste yearly
VerifiedWaste Reduction and Recycling Interpretation
While the industry's left hand is touting impressive percentages of waste diverted, its right hand is still generating a staggering mountain of the stuff, proving that efficiency in cleaning up a mess is not the same thing as eliminating the mess in the first place.
Water and Resource Conservation
1Global retail water use totals 200 billion m3 annually, 20% from supply chains
Verified2Levi Strauss saved 2 billion liters water through Water<Less technique on 100M jeans since 2011
Verified3Walmart Project Gigaton suppliers reduced water use by 21 billion m3 since 2017
Verified4H&M supply chain water reduction 15% per garment from 2020 to 2023
Directional5Tesco reduced water use 28% per m2 since 2007 baseline by 2023
Single source6Target cut freshwater use 40% since 2010 in operations by 2023
Verified7IKEA stores use 50% less water per visitor since 2016 efficiencies
Verified8Primark suppliers in water-stressed areas reduced usage 20% via program 2022
Verified9Sainsbury's operational water intensity down 35% since 2010
Directional10Carrefour hypermarkets saved 30% water through greywater recycling 2023
Single source11Zara water use per garment down 25% since 2018 via dyeing tech
Verified12Aldi stores average 20% water reduction via low-flow fixtures 2023
Verified13Macy's facilities water use reduced 50% since 2007 peak
Verified14Lidl refrigeration water cooling efficiency up 15%, reducing use 2023
Directional15Kohl's water use per store down 25% through xeriscaping 2023
Single source16Marks & Spencer farms saved 50 billion liters water via Plan A
Verified17Home Depot suppliers conserved 10 billion gallons water via Gigaton-like initiatives
Verified18Gap Inc. wet processing water use down 35% since 2016
Verified19Best Buy data centers use 100% recycled water cooling since 2022
Directional20Waitrose dairy suppliers reduced water footprint 20% per liter milk
Single source2170% of retail supply chain water risk in high-stress basins per 2023 report
VerifiedWater and Resource Conservation Interpretation
Even with a sea of corporate initiatives making impressive dents in their own water use, the retail industry’s staggering 200-billion-cubic-meter thirst remains a sobering reminder that the entire ship still needs to be bailed out, one leaky, high-risk basin at a time.
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