AO World sustainability score: 32/100
Better than 19% of E-commerce / Online Retail
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
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AO World is a UK online retailer of household appliances and consumer electronics, with its own delivery fleet and a recycling business, AO Recycling, that processes old appliances. It reported £1,266.6 million of revenue for the year to 31 March 2026, with about 2,892 employees.
Founded 2005Head office Bolton, United KingdomStaff ~2,892 (2026)Revenue £1,266.6 million revenue (year ended 31 March 2026; 2025: £1,137.5 million)Website ↗
AO World reports Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, including the energy used by the appliances it sells, but every scope rose in FY26. It has no SBTi or other emissions target, no assurance, and its electricity was not renewable during the year after a 2024 commercial decision. Its recycling plant reports measured results, including 1.26 million appliances recycled in FY26.
AO World scores 32/100 (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 November 2026.
That places AO World joint 728th of 1,118 companies scored, and 26th of 32 in E-commerce / Online Retail.
What is AO World doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Resource Use & Waste (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (0/10, 1/10).
Where AO World 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 its emissions are falling.
- Its effect on natureShow it knows its main risks to nature.
- Its effect on waterPublish figures for its water use.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations6/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling0/10No evidence its emissions are falling.
- How clean its energy is2/10No 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 waste7/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water1/10No figures for its water use.
- Its climate targets2/10No specific targets with dates.
- How openly it reports5/10No dedicated sustainability role, board oversight or public report.
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 AO World's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is AO World's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
20% of them were published by AO World itself; the rest come from independent sources.
AO prints Scope 1 (20,817 tCO2e), market-based Scope 2 (6,267 tCO2e) and Scope 3 (1,714,276 tCO2e) for FY26 separately; the total shown (1,741,360 tCO2e) is their sum. AO's own printed total, 1,737,574 tCO2e, uses location-based Scope 2.
“modestly year on year (+875 tCO 2 e, c.+4.3%)”
“the first in AO's 129-strong trunking fleet to operate on natural gas”
“AO originally purchased 10 CNG tractor units in 2022 and the company has now brought 10 more into its fleet.”
“has been awarded the WEEELABEX certification”
“AO received over 328,000 unwanted fridges at its recycling plant from customers”
“Europe’s biggest white goods recycling plant has officially opened in Shropshire, capable of processing over 700,000 fridges every year.”
“Our plant holds top environmental certifications, including WEEELABEX and ISO standards”
“AO is the only UK electrical retailer to wholly own its own recycling plant”
“retailers DixonsCarphone and AO.com have been applauded for their retailer take-back schemes”
“AO has processed its 10 millionth household appliance at its recycling facility in Telford, marking a decade since the site opened.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does AO World compare with other e-commerce / online retail companies?
Where AO World sits among e-commerce / online retail peers.
Among the 32 major e-commerce / online retail brands we've scored, AO World sits 26th of 32.
Who scores higher in E-commerce / Online Retail?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above AO World.
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