“ The more waste you divert and the more you recycle, the more you’ re contributing to the circular economy,” says Sagar.
Energy conservation
The retail sector is one of the more energy-intensive industries in Australia. According to government figures, it accounts for around 50 per cent of energy use in the commercial property sector and five per cent of Australia’ s greenhouse gas emissions.
With that in mind, Costco is actively trying to minimise its energy consumption and more than 50 per cent of its locations in Australia and New Zealand now use solar energy. The aim is to reduce costs, help Costco meet sustainability goals and decarbonise business operations. Additionally, all Costco locations now use LED lights, which are energy efficient and provide high lumen brightness for improved visibility.
“ We’ ve seen a huge improvement [ in our energy use ],” says Sagar.“ During the day, we use mostly solar energy and this [ system ] was all designed by our talented construction team.” These solar panel systems contribute to Costco’ s aim to use more renewable energy overall.
Sustainability at Costco is always a team effort. Sagar says there are many sustainability champions across all warehouses.“ We have team members who are passionate about recycling, water conservation and other sustainability initiatives.,” he continues.“ They want to help the business drive these programs at a warehouse level.” Ultimately, Costco recognises that creating longlasting change depends on collaboration and a unified approach.
COSTCO CONNECTION
Shopping at a Costco Warehouse helps contribute to a sustainable future.
TANIA GOMEZ is a Sydney freelance health, lifestyle and beauty journalist.
COSTCO CONNECTION JAN / FEB 2026 | 19