Costco Wholesale

Washington
Food and Staples Retailing, Retailing

Corprate Bias Ratings

Risk Level:

Rating - Clear
Lower Risk

Costco is uninvolved in politics and has thus avoided the weaponization of its corporate influence for political purposes. Costco does not support or fund ideological groups hostile to free expression, and the company protects its employees from all forms of viewpoint discrimination. For these reasons, Costco receives a Lower Risk rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco has a written policy pledging to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies (1).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco’s donation program is specifically directed at nonprofits that focus on kids, education, or health and human services. Eligible organizations must also be in the same neighborhood as a Costco store. Costco does not make any donations outside of this, including to “religious organizations for religious purposes” (1).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco’s protects its employees against viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco has not supported ideological causes or policies.

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco has not used corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies (1). Senate Democrats have put pressure on Costco to carry abortion pills, though the company has resisted (2).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
Rationale

Costco does not operate a PAC at this time. Costco has not made political donations to candidates or causes and has a policy to remain removed from politics (1)(2).

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
September 27, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Voting History

Date
ESG Category
Proponent
Summary of ResolutionMgmt RecTotal Vote % in Favor
1/19/23SocialArjuna CapitalReport on Reproductive Health Rights RisksAgainst13.30%
1/20/22EnvironmentalGreen Century Capital ManagementReport on GHG Emissions Reduction TargetsAgainst69.95%
1/20/22SocialAmerican Baptist Home Mission SocietyRacial Justice & Food Equity ReportAgainst17.33%
1/20/22SocialNational Center for Public Policy ResearchCharitable Giving ReportAgainst3.17%

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