Ross Stores sustainability score: 28/100
Below expectations starts at 31. The highest score on SINK is 71.
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Ross Stores runs off-price stores selling name-brand apparel, footwear, accessories and home goods at a discount, through 2,267 stores at 31 January 2026: 1,904 Ross stores and 363 dd's DISCOUNTS stores. In fiscal 2025, home accents and bed and bath made up 26% of sales, ladies' wear 22%, men's 15%, accessories, lingerie, jewellery and cosmetics 15%, shoes 13% and children's 9%.
More about Ross Stores
Ross Stores, Inc. was incorporated in California in 1957 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1989. It had about 111,000 full- and part-time associates at 31 January 2026 and $22,750.6 million sales in its fiscal year to that date.
Founded 1957Head office Dublin, United StatesStaff ~111,000 full- and part-time associates in stores, distribution centres and offices (31 January 2026)Revenue ~US$22.75B sales (US$22,750,559 thousand, fiscal 2025 to 31 January 2026)Website ↗
Ross's printed total footprint was 877,101 tCO2e in 2024, up from 369,564 t in 2023, mostly because it added Scope 3 categories that year. Its Scope 3 covers only fuel and energy, transport, waste, business travel and commuting, not the goods it buys, so the size deduction for an incomplete footprint (0.70x) applies. It publishes no renewable share; only its Dublin, California head office runs fully on renewable power. Its target to cut Scope 1 and 2 by 42% by 2030 from 2021 is self-set, with no SBTi validation, and its Scope 1 and 2 are still above that baseline. In December 2020 it paid $3,335,000 to settle a California case over hazardous waste sent to landfills.
Ross Stores scores 28/100 (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 November 2026.
That places Ross Stores joint 861st of 1,118 companies scored, and joint 56th of 67 in Retail (non-fashion).
What is Ross Stores doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (0/10, 1/10).
Where Ross Stores 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 operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain3/10No assessment of where its supply-chain emissions come from.
- 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 waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water1/10No figures for its water use.
- Its climate targets4/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
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 Ross Stores's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Ross Stores'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 Ross Stores itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Scope 1 20,816 24,826 29,832 28,694 37,786”
“Our reported 2024 GHG Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions were also verified by a third party to assure accuracy.”
“Scope 3 categories 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, and 12 are the largest sources of retailers’ GHG emissions.”
“the Company does not disclose all material Scope 3 value chain emissions categories.”
“again participating in the Carbon Disclosure Project Climate Change Questionnaire”
“have reached a settlement totaling $3,335,000 in a civil law enforcement action against Ross Stores, Inc.”
“Ross Stores will pay $3.3 million to settle allegations it disposed of hazardous wastes illegally”
“settling claims that it unlawfully disposed of hazardous waste in municipal landfills not authorized to accept it.”
“Shareholders request that Ross Stores measure and publicly disclose all material value chain GHG emissions.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does Ross Stores compare with other retail (non-fashion) companies?
Where Ross Stores sits among retail (non-fashion) peers.
Among the 67 major retail (non-fashion) brands we've scored, Ross Stores is tied =56th of 67, with 2 others.
Who scores higher in Retail (non-fashion)?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Ross Stores.
Costco's total emissions remain 18% above its FY20 baseline despite reporting year-on-year reductions.
See the breakdown →Dollar General's footprint was 1,450,698 tCO2e in 2025, its printed Scope 1 and market-based Scope 2 total, down from 1,737,429 t in 2024; it is not externally assured.
See the breakdown →Holland & Barrett discloses almost no emissions data despite operating 800+ stores globally and partnering with Anthesis since 2022.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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