Amazon’s worldwide carbon emissions declined for the first time ever in 2022 even as the company expanded, according to its annual sustainability report.
According to the company, overall emissions decreased by 0.4 per cent during the course of the year, from 71.54 to 71.27 million metric tonnes. In contrast, its emissions increased by 18 per cent in 2021 and by 15.7 per cent in 2020.
As its net sales increased by 9 per cent year over year, the company was able to successfully isolate emissions growth from business growth for the first time.
Additionally, Amazon’s carbon intensity, or the amount of carbon dioxide released for every kilowatt hour of power utilised, reduced by 7 per cent in 2022 as opposed to 1.9 per cent in 2021. Amazon claimed that a number of initiatives, including efforts to decarbonize its energy use, were responsible for the milestone in the independently confirmed study.
It reported a 29 per cent decrease in Scope 2 emissions (those from electricity purchased) and an 11 per cent decrease in Scope 1 emissions (those from operations). According to the report, Amazon now sources 90 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources, up from 85 per cent in 2021.
Despite being less than its cuts in other sectors, there was a 0.7 per cent drop in Scope 3 emissions (those from across the value chain, which comprise the vast majority). According to Amazon, its supply chain rules will be updated in 2024 to force suppliers to publish their carbon emissions data and establish goals.
Kara Hurst, Amazon’s vice president and head of worldwide sustainability, said, “In 2022, we took important steps forward across our social, community and environmental work, while also continuing to expand our sustainability vision for the future of our business.”
