Trader Joe's sustainability score: 18/100
Below expectations starts at 31. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Trader Joe's is a US grocery retailer founded in 1958, headquartered in Monrovia, California, operating over 600 stores. Known for private-label products and a loyal customer base, it is a major supermarket chain in the specialty grocery segment.
More about Trader Joe's
The company is privately held by the Albanese family.
Founded 1958Head office Monrovia, United StatesStaff ~50,000Revenue ~$16BWebsite ↗
Trader Joe's is a sustainability laggard masquerading as an eco-conscious grocer. The company refuses to disclose emissions, has no climate targets, operates an opaque global supply chain, and faces documented deforestation exposure. A 2016 EPA settlement for refrigerant leaks and consistent NGO criticism underscore the gap between brand image and environmental reality.
Trader Joe's scores 18/100 (Significant gaps) 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 Trader Joe's joint 997th of 1,023 companies scored, and 54th of 54 in Retail (non-fashion).
What is Trader Joe's doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Resource Use & Waste (4/10, 3/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (0/10, 0/10).
Where Trader Joe's 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
- Emissions from its own operationsPublish emissions figures for its own operations, even an estimate from energy bills.
- Emissions from its supply chainAssess where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow its emissions are falling, even from energy bills or mileage.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations0/10No emissions figures for its own operations, not even an estimate from energy bills.
- Emissions from its supply chain0/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- Whether its emissions are falling0/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is0/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature1/10No evidence it knows its main risks to nature.
- How it uses materials and handles waste3/10No active waste reduction, reuse or repair shown.
- Its effect on water1/10No figures for its water use.
- Its climate targets1/10No emissions reduction targets.
- How openly it reports0/10No sustainability information published.
- Its record on controversies4/10Points 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 Trader Joe's's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleHas Trader Joe's's score changed?
Trader Joe's's score has been reviewed 2 times and currently stands where it started, at 18.
- 18 → 187 November 2026
Correction, 7 November 2026: removed an unsourced emissions figure. Score unchanged.
- Scored 184 April 2026
Initial score at platform launch
What evidence is Trader Joe's's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
9% of them were published by Trader Joe's itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 4 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.
Is this your company? Claim this profile (free)
Use this score in tenders
Send the link, or the one-page score sheet. It links back to this page and every source. Free.
Open the score sheet →Send new evidence, free
Scored low because little is published? Publish what you do and send us the link, free. If it holds up, your score changes, and the change is logged on your page.
How to send evidence →Put your score on your website, free
It shows the current band, sector rank and score, and links to this page, so it changes when the score does.
Track this score
Bidding for a public contract? Check if you need a Carbon Reduction Plan, free →
Want your own page like this?
Free, independent, every source shown. Send it to any buyer who asks about your sustainability.
How does Trader Joe's compare with other retail (non-fashion) companies?
Trader Joe's sits at the bottom of the retail (non-fashion) pack.
Among the 54 major retail (non-fashion) brands we've scored, Trader Joe's sits 54th of 54.
Who scores higher in Retail (non-fashion)?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Trader Joe's.
Smyths Toys UK reports Scope 1 and 2 emissions with limited method detail and no assurance.
See the breakdown →Ann Summers reports no emissions tonnage for any scope despite operating ~80 UK stores, a distribution centre, and a complex global supply chain.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
We'll send one email to confirm. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Asked to prove you're sustainable?
Get your business scored, free →Been scored?
Find your page and claim it, free →Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it.