eBay sustainability score: 45/100
Better than 52% of E-commerce / Online Retail
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
eBay is a US-based e-commerce platform founded in 1995, headquartered in San Jose. It operates a peer-to-peer and business-to-consumer marketplace with over 40% of 2024 sales in pre-owned or refurbished goods.
More about eBay
The company has ~12,600 employees and generated $11.1B in revenue in FY2025.
Founded 1995Head office San Jose, United StatesStaff ~12,600 (2016)Revenue $9.79B (FY2022)Website ↗
eBay has achieved strong operational emissions cuts (92% reduction in Scope 1&2) and hit 100% renewable electricity early. But Scope 3 shipping emissions rose 23% year-on-year, offsetting gains. A 2023 DOJ complaint over 343,000+ illegal product sales highlights enforcement risks, though the case was dismissed on Section 230 immunity grounds.
eBay scores 45/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified May 2026.
That places eBay joint 281st of 1,023 companies scored, and joint 10th of 26 in E-commerce / Online Retail.
What is eBay doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Energy Source (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (4/10, 4/10).
Where eBay lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- Its effect on waterMeasure its water footprint and set reduction targets.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling4/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is8/10Its own operations aren't shown to run on 100% renewable energy.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets8/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports7/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
- Its record on controversies7/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is eBay's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is eBay's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by eBay itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 5 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does eBay compare with other e-commerce / online retail companies?
Where eBay sits among e-commerce / online retail peers.
Among the 26 major e-commerce / online retail brands we've scored, eBay is tied =10th of 26, with 3 others.
Who scores higher in E-commerce / Online Retail?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above eBay.
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