Retail supply chains account for 90 percent of the sector's total greenhouse gas emissions. Global retail operations consume 200 billion cubic meters of water each year while packaging waste reaches 140 million tons annually. The latest figures show retailers cutting operational waste and emissions even as overall volumes continue to expand.
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
- US retail sector uses 13% of commercial building energy
- 75% of global cotton apparel in retail supply chains is sustainably sourced by 2030 target
- Retail packaging waste globally reached 140 million tons in 2022, 40% plastic
- Global retail water use totals 200 billion m3 annually, 20% from supply chains
Retailers can cut costs and emissions by prioritizing efficient energy use, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing.
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01 · Category
Carbon Emissions and Climate Change30 stats
01
In 2023, global retail emissions accounted for 4.5% of total anthropogenic GHG emissions, with fashion retail contributing 2.1 billion tons CO2e annually
02
Walmart reported a 28% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions from 2015 to 2022 across its global operations
03
UK retailers emitted 18 million tonnes of CO2e from operations in 2021, representing 3.7% of national emissions
04
Amazon's retail operations produced 71.2 million metric tons of CO2e in 2022, up 40% from 2020 due to growth
05
H&M Group reduced its supply chain emissions intensity by 24% per garment from 2019 to 2022
06
Retail sector's Scope 3 emissions make up 90% of total footprint, averaging 95 kg CO2e per $1,000 revenue
07
Target achieved a 24% reduction in GHG emissions per square foot since 2010 by 2023
08
Fast fashion brands emit 10% of global carbon budget annually, equivalent to international flights and maritime shipping combined
09
IKEA cut operational emissions by 18% from FY19 to FY23 through LED lighting and EV fleets
10
US retail buildings emitted 400 million metric tons CO2e in 2022, 20% of commercial sector total
11
Tesco reduced refrigerant emissions by 78% since 2018 via natural refrigerants adoption
12
Global retail logistics emitted 3.8 GtCO2e in 2022, 15% of sector emissions
13
Primark's emissions per product fell 13% from 2018 to 2022 through supplier efficiency programs
14
Carrefour Group achieved 50% reduction in F-gas emissions by 2023 target ahead of schedule
15
Retail e-commerce emissions grew 19% YoY in 2022 due to packaging and delivery
16
Sainsbury's cut store emissions by 45% per m2 since 2009 baseline by 2023
17
Zara (Inditex) reported 20% Scope 3 emissions reduction intensity since 2018
18
Aldi reduced fleet emissions by 30% through biofuel and route optimization in 2022
19
Macy's operational emissions down 35% since 2007 per sales dollar in 2023
20
Lidl's stores achieved 100% renewable electricity in Europe by 2023, cutting 1.2M tCO2e annually
21
Kohl's reduced GHG emissions 40% below 2008 levels by 2022 through efficiency
22
Boots UK cut emissions 50% from 2018-2023 via store retrofits
23
JD Sports emissions intensity down 15% YoY in 2023 from logistics improvements
24
Marks & Spencer Plan A saved 1 billion GBP in emissions reductions by 2022
25
Home Depot's supply chain emissions program targeted 1M tCO2e reduction by 2025, achieved 60% by 2023
26
Morrisons reduced emissions 32% per sales unit since 2019 by 2023
27
Gap Inc. cut manufacturing emissions 25% per unit since 2020 baseline
28
Best Buy achieved 100% renewable energy match for operations in 2023
29
Waitrose emissions per store down 28% since 2010 by 2023
30
Levi Strauss retail emissions offset 100% of operational footprint since 2020
Interpretation
Carbon 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.
02 · Category
Energy Efficiency and Renewables24 stats
01
US retail sector uses 13% of commercial building energy
02
Walmart sourced 46% renewable energy for operations in FY2023
03
IKEA reached 100% renewable electricity globally by FY2020
04
Amazon 90% renewable energy for corporate operations 2023
05
Target 100% renewable electricity since 2019 via PPAs and RECs
06
Tesco 100% UK/Eire renewable electricity since 2020
07
H&M stores 89% renewable energy coverage in 2023
08
Home Depot 100% renewable electricity match since 2017
09
Kohl's 100% renewable energy since 2018 via solar and RECs
10
Best Buy 100% renewable electricity goal met 2023
11
Sainsbury's 100% renewable electricity UK stores since 2023
12
Marks & Spencer 100% renewables since 2017
13
Lidl 100% green electricity Germany 2023, expanding EU
14
Primark leased 500MW solar for supply chain by 2025, 200MW 2023
15
Carrefour France 100% renewable electricity since 2020
16
Zara logistics fleet 25% electric/hybrid by 2023
17
Aldi Süd 100% renewables goal 2025, 70% 2023 solar/wind
18
Macy's 50% energy from renewables 2023, solar on 100+ stores
19
Gap Inc. 100% renewable electricity since 2020
20
Levi Strauss facilities 100% renewable energy 2023
21
JD Sports installed LED in 80% stores, saving 20% energy 2023
22
Morrisons 50% LED conversion, 15% energy savings 2023
23
Boots 100% LED lighting UK, 30% energy reduction
24
Waitrose energy per m2 down 25% since 2010 via HVAC upgrades
Interpretation
Energy 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.
03 · Category
Sustainable Sourcing and Materials21 stats
01
75% of global cotton apparel in retail supply chains is sustainably sourced by 2030 target
02
Walmart sources 95% of US produce from farms with sustainability plans in 2023
03
H&M uses 95% sustainable materials in commercial offer by 2023 goal met early
04
IKEA 100% wood from more sustainable sources since 2020, FSC/PEFC certified
05
Tesco sources 82% own-label packaging from recycled or sustainable materials in 2023
06
Target 100% sustainable seafood by 2025, 90% achieved in 2023 via MSC
07
Inditex (Zara) 100% cotton more sustainable by 2025, 60% by 2023
08
Amazon committed to 100% renewable packaging by 2024 for private label
09
Primark 100% sustainable cotton by 2025, 65% in 2023 via BCI
10
Sainsbury's 100% cage-free eggs since 2023, sustainable palm oil 100%
11
Carrefour 100% RSPO-certified palm oil since 2019
12
Aldi sources 90% cocoa sustainable via Rainforest Alliance in 2023
13
Macy's 50% sustainable fibers in apparel by 2025, 35% in 2023
14
Lidl 100% certified tropical wood by 2023
15
Kohl's 75% wood products FSC-certified in 2023
16
Marks & Spencer sources 98% sustainable seafood, leader status MSC
17
Home Depot 95% wood from sustainable forests by 2023
18
Gap Inc. 90% preferred fibers in products by 2023
19
Best Buy sources 100% recycled plastic for some packaging lines in 2023
20
Levi's uses 100% sustainable cotton target by 2025, 80% responsibly sourced 2023
21
42% of retailers use recycled content in private label packaging per 2023 survey
Interpretation
Sustainable 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.
More related reading
04 · Category
Waste Reduction and Recycling27 stats
01
Retail packaging waste globally reached 140 million tons in 2022, 40% plastic
02
Walmart diverted 80% of operational waste from landfill in FY2023
03
UK grocery retail generated 1.1 million tonnes food waste annually in 2022
04
Amazon recycled 91% of fulfillment center waste in 2022
05
H&M recycled 20.8 billion plastic bottles into garments in 2022
06
Target recycled 91% of store waste, diverting 1.2 million tons from landfill in 2022
07
IKEA upcycled 47% of total waste in FY2023
08
Tesco food waste reduced by 47% since 2016/17, 28,000 tonnes less in 2022/23
09
Global retail textile waste hit 92 million tons yearly, 87% landfilled or incinerated
10
Sainsbury's achieved 86% waste recycling rate in 2023
11
Primark recycled 100% of in-store plastic bags since 2020 ban
12
Carrefour diverted 92% of hypermarket waste from landfill in 2022
13
Zara collected 1.7 million garments for reuse/recycling in 2022 via stores
14
Aldi UK food waste down 20% since 2019 through better forecasting
15
Macy's recycled 75% of operational waste in 2023
16
Lidl recycled 98% of cardboard packaging in 2022 across Europe
17
Kohl's diverted 85% of waste through recycling partnerships in 2023
18
Boots achieved zero waste to landfill in 95% of UK stores by 2023
19
JD Sports recycled 65% of footwear returns in 2023 pilot program
20
Marks & Spencer recycled 99% of operational waste since Plan A 2007
21
Home Depot recycled 80% of construction waste from stores in 2022
22
Morrisons achieved 90% packaging recyclability target by 2023
23
Gap Inc. diverted 96% of HQ waste from landfill in 2023
24
Best Buy recycled 1 million tons of e-waste since 2009 program inception
25
Waitrose food waste reduced 30% per transaction since 2018
26
Levi Strauss recycled 8 million denim garments in 2022 via SecondHand program
27
60% of retail packaging in EU is single-use plastic, generating 16M tons waste yearly
Interpretation
Waste 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.
05 · Category
Water and Resource Conservation21 stats
01
Global retail water use totals 200 billion m3 annually, 20% from supply chains
02
Levi Strauss saved 2 billion liters water through Water<Less technique on 100M jeans since 2011
03
Walmart Project Gigaton suppliers reduced water use by 21 billion m3 since 2017
04
H&M supply chain water reduction 15% per garment from 2020 to 2023
05
Tesco reduced water use 28% per m2 since 2007 baseline by 2023
06
Target cut freshwater use 40% since 2010 in operations by 2023
07
IKEA stores use 50% less water per visitor since 2016 efficiencies
08
Primark suppliers in water-stressed areas reduced usage 20% via program 2022
09
Sainsbury's operational water intensity down 35% since 2010
10
Carrefour hypermarkets saved 30% water through greywater recycling 2023
11
Zara water use per garment down 25% since 2018 via dyeing tech
12
Aldi stores average 20% water reduction via low-flow fixtures 2023
13
Macy's facilities water use reduced 50% since 2007 peak
14
Lidl refrigeration water cooling efficiency up 15%, reducing use 2023
15
Kohl's water use per store down 25% through xeriscaping 2023
16
Marks & Spencer farms saved 50 billion liters water via Plan A
17
Home Depot suppliers conserved 10 billion gallons water via Gigaton-like initiatives
18
Gap Inc. wet processing water use down 35% since 2016
19
Best Buy data centers use 100% recycled water cooling since 2022
20
Waitrose dairy suppliers reduced water footprint 20% per liter milk
21
70% of retail supply chain water risk in high-stress basins per 2023 report
Interpretation
Water 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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
James Okoro. (2026, February 13). Sustainability In The Retail Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-retail-industry-statistics
MLA
James Okoro. "Sustainability In The Retail Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-retail-industry-statistics.
Chicago
James Okoro. 2026. "Sustainability In The Retail Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/sustainability-in-the-retail-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
sustainability.aboutamazon.com