Costco
Summary of Costco grade
Pollinator Health Policy
37 out of 45 points
In December, 2025, Costco updated its pollinator health policy, which was originally released in May, 2018. The policy encourages suppliers of fruits, vegetables, and live goods/plants to phase out use of nitroguanidine neonicotinoids, glyphosate, and organophosphate pesticides. The policy encourages use of least-toxic approaches Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and regenerative agriculture and includes a definition of both. The policy also encourages suppliers to avoid regrettable substitution, or the replacement of one hazardous pesticide with another, and it provides a comprehensive list of potential regrettable substitutes that have been identified as acutely toxic to pollinators. The policy states the Costco has a process to regularly survey its produce suppliers to assess implementation of IPM, sustainable ag practices, and adoption of meaningful third-party certifications.
Costco’s pollinator health policy does not include any timebound or measurable commitments to phase out pesticides of concern or expand the adoption of least-toxic practices in company food and beverage supply chains.
Commitment to reduce pesticide use
7 out of 15 points
Avoiding regrettable substitutes
5 out of 5 points
Commitment to least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains
10 out of 10 points
Commitment to organic
15 out of 15 points
Implementation
38 out of 90 points
Costco, via its partnership with the Equitable Food Initiative (EFI), received credit for a pilot-scale commitment to track pesticide use in its supply chain and to support growers to shift to least-toxic approaches.
In 2020, Costco reported to Friends of the Earth that the majority of cocoa and coffee sold are either certified fair trade or organic. Cocoa is certified under the Sassandra program, which uses the Rainforest Alliance criteria for pesticides. Rainforest Alliance requires integrated pest management and prohibits use of pollinator-toxic pesticides including fipronil and neonics (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam) and includes requirements to mitigate the risk of 166 pesticides known to pose harm to workers, pollinators, wildlife and aquatic life, including glyphosate, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion. Coffee is certified by Fair Trade International which promotes integrated pest management and restricts use of hazardous pesticides including neonics (clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid), glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos.
Costco reported organic sales data to Friends of the Earth. Costco reports helping to incentivize the transition to organic production via multi-year commitments to growers during and after transition.
Costco has not measurably reduced pesticide use in its supply chain. Costco does not publicly demonstrate advocacy for public policies aimed at reducing agricultural pesticide use, protecting pollinators and supporting the expansion of organic agriculture in the U.S.
Track pesticide use in supply chain
3 out of 10 points
Measurably reduce pesticide use
0 out of 15 points
Prioritize least-toxic approaches in non-organic supply chains
5 out of 20 points
Prioritize USDA certified organic
25 out of 25 points
Support domestic organic growers
5 out of 15 points
Support public policies
0 out of 5 points
Transparency & Accountability
16 out of 21 points
Costco’s pollinator health policy is publicly available on the company’s website. The policy encourages produce and live goods suppliers to transition away from neonicotinoid and organophosphate pesticides and includes a commitment to continue to grow organic offerings. Costco has educational content online about pesticides and organic food farming, including a clear definition of USDA certified organic and information on the value to pollinator and human health of decreasing use of toxic pesticides and expanding organic offerings.
Costco does not appear to include reduction of pesticides of concern to pollinators and human health or expansion of organic offerings in company Key Performance Indicators or other formal sustainability criteria.
Make policies and commitments publicly available
6 out of 6 points
Oversight
0 out of 5 points
Educate consumers
10 out of 10 points
Collaboration
10 out of 10 points
Costco has communicated with Friends of the Earth in the past year and has briefed Friends of the Earth on meaningful action the company has taken on pesticides and pollinator protection in the past three years.
Complimentary Home & Garden Policies
9 out of 9 points
In May 2018, Costco released a pollinator health policy that encourages suppliers of fruits, vegetables, and live goods/plants to phase out use of neonicotinoid and chlorpyrifos pesticides. In 2019, Costco made a decision to no longer sell products containing glyphosate in any store locations worldwide. In 2020, Costco confirmed with Friends of the Earth that the company had also removed products containing neonicotinoids from its U.S. locations. Costco reports that it now sells a number of organic and alternative gardening products to provide customers with least-toxic options.
Policy for live goods
4 out of 4 points
Policy for on-shelf pesticide products
5 out of 5 points
Bonus Points
0 out of 40 points
110 Points
B+
grade