Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions at warehouse club Costco totaled 1.34 million tons of CO2 equivalents in 2008, according to the company's 2009 sustainability report (PDF). The report did not list the company's 2007 emissions, and the previous year's report had been removed from the Costco investor relations page.
Costco, which has nearly 400 locations in the U.S. and 543 globally, had more than $70 billion in sales last year.
The above emissions include only data from operations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
The company notes that it is in the process of tabulating so-called fugitive emissions from gasoline stations in California, as mandated by state law.
Also, the company will not begin reporting hydro fluorocarbon (HFC) emissions until after 2009.
The report notes that in constructing new warehouses, Costco is using improved building insulation envelopes to save energy. Also, it uses pre-engineered building systems to minimize use of material. The pre-engineered buildings use 80 percent recycled steel and heat-reclaim systems. High-efficiency restroom fixtures save 40 percent in water compared to industry building standards.
The company uses Energy Star-rated skylights within its stores, with skylights covering four percent of the roof and six percent of the sales floor. Most warehouses have about 200 skylights.
The buildings use "cool roof" designs to reduce heat transfer and heat island effects throughout the roofs.
The company also is in the process of redesigning parking and exterior building lighting to save 15 percent in electricity.
Earlier this year, Costco began operating a secondary loop refrigeration system at a facility in Alberta, Canada. The system is projected to reduce the amount of HFC refrigerant used by 20,000 pounds.
The company says it is working with suppliers to replace plastic clamshell packaging with paperboard-blister hybrid packs, such as to the left.
In previous years, Costco has added solar in Southern California and Hawaii.