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Data year: 2023· Sources: CDP, IEA, EPA
5.5%
of global emissions
3.1
Gt CO2e / year
22
tCO2e / $M revenue
70%
Scope 3 share
Average emissions intensity for retail & e-commerce companies (2023 data)
| Company Size | tCO2e / employee | tCO2e / $M revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Small retailer (1-10 stores) | 5 | 30 |
| Mid-size chain (10-500 stores) | 8 | 22 |
| Large retailer / e-commerce | 12 | 15 |
Small retailer (1-10 stores)
5
tCO2e / employee
30
tCO2e / $M rev
Mid-size chain (10-500 stores)
8
tCO2e / employee
22
tCO2e / $M rev
Large retailer / e-commerce
12
tCO2e / employee
15
tCO2e / $M rev
Key decarbonization actions for the retail & e-commerce sector
LED lighting and smart HVAC in stores
15-25% reduction in store energy
Electric delivery fleet and route optimization
30-50% reduction in logistics emissions
Sustainable sourcing requirements for suppliers
20-40% reduction in Scope 3 over time
Reduce packaging and switch to recyclable materials
5-10% total reduction
On-site solar and green electricity procurement
50-100% reduction in Scope 2
Fast fashion retailers face particular scrutiny due to high-volume, low-cost supply chains with minimal environmental oversight.
Retail and e-commerce account for approximately 5.5% of global emissions, with the vast majority (70%) coming from the supply chain (Scope 3) rather than store operations.
An average e-commerce delivery produces 0.5-1.0 kg CO2e. Last-mile delivery is the most carbon-intensive part, and returns roughly double the footprint.
It depends. A consolidated online delivery can be less carbon-intensive than driving to a store. But impulse buying, excess packaging, and high return rates in e-commerce can offset the advantage.
The biggest lever is engaging suppliers to reduce manufacturing emissions (Scope 3). Operationally, LED lighting, electric delivery, renewable electricity, and reduced packaging all help.
Data represents global averages for 2023. Actual emissions vary by company, region, and methodology.