The Walt Disney Company has built one of the more structured sustainability programs in the global media and entertainment sector. Its 2024 Sustainability and Social Impact Report, published in 2025, reflects a company that has made measurable progress on emissions and waste while facing persistent challenges in Scope 3 decarbonization and in eliminating single-use plastic. Disney’s 2030 Environmental Goals, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) in 2023, anchor its current strategy across emissions, water, waste, and sourcing.

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://www.sustainabilityreports.com/walt-disney/2024/sustainability-and-social-impact-report

Sustainability Strategy and Goals

Disney’s formal sustainability strategy aligns with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), targeting a 1.5°C warming pathway. The company’s SBTi-validated goals cover both absolute Scope 1 and 2 reductions and a value chain engagement target for Scope 3, making it one of the few major media companies with a science-backed net-zero roadmap.

Net Zero and Carbon Emissions

Disney commits to reducing absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2% against a 2019 baseline of 1,810,000 metric tons CO2e, with a net zero target for direct operations by 2030. As of FY2024, the company has achieved a 38% reduction, meaning it has covered most of its required ground but still needs to close the final 8.2 percentage points in the remaining years before 2030.

• FY2024 total Scope 1 and 2 emissions: 1,667,148 metric tons CO2e (down 6.1% from 2023)​
• 2019 baseline emissions: 1,810,000 metric tons CO2e​
• Scope 3 reduction target: 27.5% by 2030, covering 8 of 15 GHG Protocol categories​
• Supplier engagement goal: 20% of suppliers to have science-based targets by 2027​

Water Stewardship

Disney has kept potable water consumption flat against a 2013 baseline across its global operations through infrastructure upgrades, low-flow fixtures, and non-potable water substitution. Disneyland Paris reduced drinking water consumption by 24% since 2012, including saving 188,000 cubic meters of drinking water in 2024 alone through an intelligent toilet flush replacement system.

• 300M+ gallons of water saved from 2013 to 2019 at Disney properties​
• EPCOT at Walt Disney World switched its irrigation system to reclaimed water​
• Hong Kong Disneyland’s Jungle River Cruise refills from collected rainwater​
• Disneyland Paris operates a wastewater treatment plant installed in 2013, supporting water reuse across the resort​

Regenerative Agriculture

Disney’s approach to food-related sourcing centers on sustainable seafood sourcing and reducing food waste across park and resort operations. The company has embedded these commitments into its zero-waste framework rather than operating a standalone regenerative agriculture program, which represents a gap compared to consumer goods peers.​

Deforestation and Biodiversity

Disney has invested nearly $100 million in more than 30 Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) projects since 2009, protecting over 1 million acres of forests globally and supporting over 800 jobs in communities near these projects. A flagship project in Peru’s Alto Mayo region, run in partnership with Conservation International, has generated more than 8.4 million metric tons of emissions reductions since 2008, equivalent to removing 150,000 cars from the road annually.

• 9M+ trees planted through Disney-supported reforestation projects​
• 1M+ acres of forest protected globally​
• Disney Conservation Fund has supported conservation organizations across the globe for nearly 20 years​
• $48 million invested specifically in carbon-offset forestry projects since 2009, covering more than 147,000 acres​

Packaging and Circular Economy

Disney targets 30% or higher recycled content in all plastic branded products and packaging by 2030, and commits to designing all packaging for reuse, recycling, or composting. The company agreed in February 2024 to disclose plastic usage data by 2025 and publish an additional plastic reduction goal by 2026, following an agreement with Green Century Funds.

• 157K+ tons of total operational waste diverted from landfills in FY2024​
• Zero waste to landfill target for all wholly owned and operated parks, resorts, and cruise line by 2030​
• Elimination of single-use plastics on cruise ships committed by 2025
• All branded packaging to be designed for reuse, recycling, or composting by 2030​

Human Rights and Responsible Sourcing

Disney maintained 99% or higher adjusted pay equity for gender, race, and ethnicity in the U.S. in FY2024. The company requires all facilities manufacturing Disney-branded products to participate in the Higg Index or maintain a sustainable manufacturing certification by 2030.

Nutrition and Health

Disney fulfilled its $100 million commitment to reimagine the patient experience in children’s hospitals as of FY2024. While this is a significant social investment, Disney does not publish a formal nutrition strategy tied to its parks or consumer products lines.​

Community and Social Impact

Disney reached a milestone of 165,000 wishes granted in partnership with Make-A-Wish as of FY2024. Community investment through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund spans nearly 20 years and covers conservation grants to organizations globally.

Governance and Transparency

Disney’s SBTi targets were validated in 2023, and the company files annual CDP questionnaires, with its 2024 CDP response publicly available. The company reports under GRI and SASB frameworks through its annual Sustainability and Social Impact Report.

Technology and Innovation

Disney uses an internal carbon pricing mechanism, its Climate Solutions Fund, to charge business units for their GHG emissions, directing revenue into forestry and NCS investments. Disneyland Paris benefits from geothermal energy through an innovative plant at Villages Nature Paris, reducing the resort’s reliance on natural gas by 6.2%.

Global Partnerships and Advocacy

Disney is an active partner of Conservation International and has joined more than 30 NCS projects across multiple continents. The company participates in the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework and supports biodiversity-linked conservation programs through its Conservation Fund.

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/natural-climate-solutions/
https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://thewaltdisneycompany.eu/app/uploads/2023/08/2030-Environmental-Goals-White-Paper.pdf
https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf
https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/world-water-day-focus-on-the-actions-taken-by-disneyland-paris-to-protect-water-resource/

Progress vs. Target Tracker

Commitment	Target	Current Status	Assessment
Reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 46.2% vs. 2019 baseline	46.2% reduction by 2030	38% reduction achieved as of FY2024	On track
Net zero for direct operations (Scope 1 and 2)	By 2030	In progress; 38% reduction logged ​	On track (monitoring)
100% zero-carbon electricity	By 2030	25% renewable electricity at Walt Disney World as of FY2024 ​	At risk
Reduce Scope 3 emissions by 27.5% vs. 2019 baseline	By 2030	Progress not separately disclosed; covers 8 of 15 GHG categories ​	At risk
20% of suppliers to have SBTs	By 2027	Engagement ongoing; specific % not publicly disclosed ​	At risk
Zero waste to landfill for parks, resorts, cruise line	By 2030	157K+ tons diverted in FY2024 ​	On track
Eliminate single-use plastics on cruise ships	By 2025	Committed; completion status not confirmed in 2024 report ​	At risk
30%+ recycled content in plastic branded products	By 2030	Commitment active; no current % disclosed ​	Monitoring
Plastic usage disclosure	2025	Committed following Feb 2024 Green Century agreement ​	On track
Additional plastic reduction goal	2026	Scheduled for publication ​	Pending
All packaging designed for reuse, recycling, or composting	By 2030	Commitment active ​	Monitoring
Invest $100M in NCS projects	Long-term since 2009	Nearly $100M invested across 30+ projects ​	On track
9M+ trees planted	Long-term	Achieved ​	Completed
Protect 1M acres of forest	Long-term	Achieved ​	Completed
Higg Index or sustainable manufacturing certification for all product facilities	By 2030	Commitment active ​	Monitoring
Pay equity at 99%+ adjusted	Ongoing	99%+ for gender, race, ethnicity in U.S. ​	On track

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://www.sustainabilityreports.com/walt-disney/2024/sustainability-and-social-impact-report
https://tracenable.com/company/walt-disney/climate-targets
https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/

Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies

Disney uses several distinct technology and investment mechanisms to decarbonize its large physical footprint, which includes theme parks, cruise ships, resorts, and studio facilities.

Solar Energy Deployment

A new 75-megawatt solar array came online at Walt Disney World Resort in FY2024, bringing the site’s renewable electricity share to 25% of total consumption. This follows an earlier 50-megawatt solar project developed with Origis Energy USA, and forms part of a planned build-out targeting 40% solar coverage at Walt Disney World.

• Two 75-megawatt solar facilities planned or active at Walt Disney World, expected to bring renewable energy to 40% of the resort’s total power use​
• 292 acres of solar panels installed at Walt Disney World​
• Disneyland Paris has solar parking-lot canopies that reduce GHG emissions by 750 tons of CO2 annually​

Geothermal and Low-Carbon Heating

Disneyland Paris parks and the Disneyland Hotel use geothermal energy from a plant at Villages Nature Paris, covering heating needs for the resort’s hot water and space heating. This geothermal system reduced the resort’s reliance on natural gas by 6.2%.​

Internal Carbon Pricing Mechanism

Disney operates a Climate Solutions Fund, charging business units for their GHG emissions and redirecting that capital into certified forestry and NCS investments. Since 2009, this mechanism has directed $48 million into carbon-offset forestry covering 147,000+ acres of land.​

Natural Climate Solutions Portfolio

Disney’s NCS portfolio spans more than 30 certified projects across multiple continents, including the Alto Mayo REDD+ project in Peru with Conservation International, which has generated 8.4 million metric tons of emissions reductions since 2008. The portfolio supports sustainable coffee farming, reforestation, and improved forest management techniques such as selective tree removal to enable healthier forest growth.

• 9M+ trees planted across Disney-supported reforestation initiatives​
• 1M+ acres of globally protected forests​
• 800 jobs created in communities adjacent to NCS project areas​

Supplier Engagement on Scope 3

Disney targets 20% of suppliers having science-based targets by 2027, and its SBTi-validated Scope 3 strategy covers 8 of 15 GHG Protocol categories. The company uses the Higg Index as a supplier sustainability assessment framework for its branded product manufacturing base.

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/natural-climate-solutions/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/Current/2030-Environmental-Goals-White-Paper-1.pdf
https://www.agrisolarclearinghouse.org/walt-disney-world-set-to-use-40-percent-solar-energy-in-2023/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf
https://www.conservation.org/partners/disney

Measurable Impacts

Disney has published consistent ESG metrics since at least 2019, enabling multi-year trend analysis across its core environmental indicators.

Emissions Reduction Trajectory

Total Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions fell from 1,810,000 metric tons CO2e in 2019 to 1,667,148 metric tons CO2e in FY2024, representing a 38% reduction toward the 46.2% target. From FY2023 to FY2024, emissions fell 6.1%, indicating continued year-over-year progress.

• FY2024 Scope 1 emissions: 921,163 metric tons CO2e​
• FY2024 Scope 2 emissions: 572,653 metric tons CO2e​
• Total FY2024 operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2): 1,667,148 metric tons CO2e, down from ~1,774,000 estimated metric tons in FY2023​
• 2019 baseline total: 1,810,000 metric tons CO2e​

Waste Diversion

Disney diverted 157,000+ tons of operational waste from landfills in FY2024, reflecting continued momentum toward its zero waste to landfill goal for parks and resorts by 2030. The company has sustained zero waste ambitions since 2009 through reduce, reuse, recycle, donate, and behavior change programs.​

Renewable Energy Penetration

Walt Disney World Resort reached 25% renewable electricity share in FY2024 following the new 75-megawatt solar array coming online. This marks a meaningful increase from prior years, when the resort had only one completed solar array contributing to its power mix.

Water Conservation

Disneyland Paris reduced drinking water consumption by 24% since 2012 and saved 188,000 cubic meters of potable water in 2024 through intelligent toilet flush systems. Across the global portfolio, Disney has kept potable water consumption flat against a 2013 baseline, despite business growth, through conservation and infrastructure upgrades.

• 300M+ gallons of water saved across Disney operations from 2013 to 2019​
• EPCOT now uses reclaimed water for all irrigation​
• Hong Kong Disneyland’s Jungle River Cruise uses rainwater collection for refills​

Natural Climate Solutions Impact

Disney’s NCS portfolio has planted 9M+ trees and protected over 1 million acres of forest globally since 2009. The Alto Mayo project alone has generated 8.4 million metric tons of emissions reductions equivalent to removing 150,000 cars annually.

Source

https://tracenable.com/company/walt-disney/ghg-emissions
https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/disney
https://news.disneylandparis.com/en/world-water-day-focus-on-the-actions-taken-by-disneyland-paris-to-protect-water-resource/
https://www.conservation.org/partners/disney

Challenges and Areas for Improvement

Disney’s most significant gaps center on Scope 3 transparency, plastic elimination on cruise ships, renewable electricity coverage, and supplier science-based target adoption.

Scope 3 Transparency

Disney covers only 8 of 15 GHG Protocol Scope 3 categories in its SBTi-validated target, leaving significant portions of its value chain emissions outside its formal reduction framework. The company does not publish a specific current Scope 3 baseline or progress figure in its public 2024 disclosures, making it difficult to assess trajectory against the 27.5% reduction goal.

Renewable Electricity Gap

Despite the new 75-megawatt solar array, Walt Disney World Resort reached only 25% renewable electricity in FY2024. Reaching the 100% zero-carbon electricity target by 2030 requires more than tripling the current renewable share in six years across a global portfolio that includes energy-intensive theme parks, cruise ships, and studio facilities.

Single-Use Plastic on Cruise Ships

Disney committed to eliminating single-use plastics on its cruise ships by 2025. The 2024 Sustainability Report does not confirm completion of this target, and the company has not published verified data on current plastic volumes per the February 2024 Green Century agreement, which committed to plastic usage disclosure in 2025. If the cruise ship plastic elimination target has been missed, it constitutes a material shortfall given the ocean proximity risk.

Supplier Engagement

Only 20% of Disney’s suppliers are targeted to have science-based targets by 2027, which is a relatively modest ambition given that Scope 3 typically represents 70% to 90% of total corporate emissions in the media and entertainment sector. Disney has not disclosed what percentage of its supply chain spend is covered by Higg Index assessments as of FY2024.

Lagging on Absolute Scope 1 and 2 Reduction

At 38% progress toward a 46.2% target with the 2030 deadline approaching, Disney still needs to reduce emissions by approximately 153,000 additional metric tons CO2e from its FY2024 level of 1,667,148 metric tons. Achieving this will require accelerating renewable energy procurement beyond the current solar build-out, particularly for its cruise operations now subject to EU ETS carbon pricing from 2024.

Source

https://tracenable.com/company/walt-disney/climate-targets
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/disney
https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf

Future Plans and Long-Term Goals

Disney’s long-term roadmap converges on three key 2030 commitments: net zero for direct operations, zero waste to landfill for parks and resorts, and 100% zero-carbon electricity. The company also carries post-2030 ambitions to align with global net zero by 2050, consistent with its SBTi pathway and Paris Agreement commitments.

Renewable Energy Expansion

Disney continues to develop solar and geothermal projects across its global portfolio, including investments in Orlando, Paris, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Reaching the 100% zero-carbon electricity goal by 2030 will require a combination of on-site generation, power purchase agreements, and utility partnerships beyond current announced projects.

Circular Packaging and Plastics

By 2026, Disney is scheduled to publish an additional plastic reduction goal under its Green Century agreement, and by 2030 all branded product packaging will need to contain 30%+ recycled content or a lower impact alternative. The company aims for all packaging to be designed for reuse, recycling, or composting across its entire branded product line by the same date.

Supplier and Scope 3 Decarbonization

Disney’s 2027 milestone for 20% of suppliers to hold science-based targets sets a near-term benchmark, but the broader Scope 3 reduction target of 27.5% by 2030 requires scaled engagement across its full supply chain. Industry peers are pushing supplier coverage further and faster, which could pressure Disney to expand its Scope 3 category coverage beyond the current 8 of 15 categories.

Cruise Line Sustainability

Disney Cruise Line faces growing regulatory and financial pressure from EU ETS carbon pricing, which covers 40% of relevant emissions in 2024, rising to 70% in 2025 and 100% in 2026. This creates a direct cost incentive to accelerate low-carbon fuel adoption and energy efficiency improvements on its fleet.​

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://thewaltdisneycompany.eu/app/uploads/2023/08/2030-Environmental-Goals-White-Paper.pdf
https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf

Comparisons to Industry Competitors

Among major media and entertainment companies, Disney holds the most structured and science-validated sustainability program, though Comcast and Netflix each present distinct strengths worth tracking.​

Metric	Walt Disney	Netflix	Comcast (NBCUniversal)
Scope 1 and 2 reduction vs. 2019 baseline	38% as of FY2024 ​	Progress toward ~50% by 2030 ​	31% as of 2023 ​
Scope 3 reduction	27.5% target by 2030 (8 of 15 categories) ​	Matching remaining emissions with NCS from 2022 ​	12% decrease 2019 to 2023 ​
Renewable energy share	25% at Walt Disney World (FY2024) ​	Not separately disclosed	13.3% clean energy in 2023 ​
Recycled or sustainable materials in products	30%+ recycled content in plastic by 2030 ​	Not applicable (content company)	Circular economy focus via green bonds ​
Net zero target	2030 for Scope 1 and 2 (SBTi-validated) ​	Net zero ambition ongoing, NCS match from 2022 ​	Carbon neutral by 2035 for Scope 1 and 2 ​
Waste diversion rate	157K+ tons from landfill in FY2024 ​	Not separately disclosed	84,000 metric tons diverted ​
ESG risk rating (Sustainalytics)	15.7 (low risk) ​	16.0 (low risk) ​	21.8 (medium risk) ​

Disney’s 2030 net zero commitment for Scope 1 and 2 is five years more aggressive than Comcast’s 2035 carbon neutral target. Netflix matches remaining emissions with NCS from 2022 onward, a structural approach Disney applies through its Climate Solutions Fund but at a more targeted level. On waste diversion, Disney’s 157,000+ tons in FY2024 nearly doubles Comcast’s reported 84,000 metric tons, reflecting Disney’s larger physical operational footprint.

Source

https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/disney
https://about.netflix.com/en/sustainability
https://update.comcast.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/09/2024-Comcast-Carbon-Footprint-Data-Report-Final-Sept24.pdf
https://www.biz.uiowa.edu/henry/download/s24_DIS.pdf
https://update.comcast.com/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/09/2024-GreenBondReport.pdf

What to Watch: 12 to 18 Month Indicators

Three forward-looking signals will most influence Disney’s sustainability standing by mid-2027.

Plastic Disclosure Publication (2025)

Disney committed under the February 2024 Green Century agreement to publish plastic usage disclosures in 2025. If Disney publishes this data on schedule, it will be the first quantified baseline for plastic reduction tracking. If the disclosure is delayed or incomplete, it signals weak governance on material commitments and may draw shareholder scrutiny given ESG investor pressure in this area.​

• February 2024: Agreement with Green Century Funds to disclose plastic usage in specific operations​
• 2025: Scheduled publication of plastic disclosures​
• 2026: Scheduled publication of additional plastic reduction goal​

Cruise Ship EU ETS Carbon Cost Trajectory

Disney Cruise Line’s EU ETS carbon pricing exposure escalates from 40% of relevant emissions in 2024 to 70% in 2025 and 100% in 2026. How Disney manages these rising compliance costs will reveal whether it prioritizes low-carbon fuel investment on its cruise fleet or relies on allowance purchases, with direct implications for its Scope 1 emissions trajectory and net zero credibility.​

• 2024: 40% EU ETS coverage for Disney Cruise Line emissions in European waters​
• 2025: Coverage rises to 70%​
• 2026: Full 100% coverage requires either deep emission cuts or major allowance purchases​

Renewable Electricity Acceleration Toward 100% by 2030

Walt Disney World reached only 25% renewable electricity in FY2024 despite adding a new 75-megawatt solar array. The company must more than triple this share in six years, and any announcement of new large-scale power purchase agreements, offshore wind participation, or utility partnerships between now and mid-2027 will be a leading indicator of whether the 100% zero-carbon electricity goal is achievable on time.

• FY2024 status: 25% renewable electricity at Walt Disney World​
• Planned target: 40% at Walt Disney World once the second 75-megawatt solar array is fully operational​
• 2030 goal: 100% zero-carbon electricity across the global portfolio​

Source

https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf
https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/environmental-goals/
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/Current/2030-Environmental-Goals-White-Paper-1.pdf

Disney has established one of the most formally structured sustainability programs in the entertainment sector, with SBTi-validated targets, an internal carbon price mechanism, and a long-running NCS portfolio that most peers cannot match in scale or duration. The 38% Scope 1 and 2 reduction from a 2019 baseline, while solid, must accelerate in the next four years to reach the 46.2% target, particularly for cruise operations where EU ETS costs are now a material financial reality.

The most consequential gap is not emissions but transparency. Disney’s Scope 3 coverage remains at 8 of 15 categories, its plastic usage data is still unpublished, and supplier science-based target coverage is targeted at only 20% by 2027. These three gaps collectively undermine the credibility of an otherwise ambitious program.

For practitioners benchmarking or replicating Disney’s approach, three strategic takeaways stand out. First, the internal carbon pricing mechanism (the Climate Solutions Fund) is a replicable model for large organizations wanting to link business unit behavior to environmental investment. Second, Disney’s NCS portfolio demonstrates that long-term, continuous investment in certified forest protection and restoration can generate both carbon impact and community co-benefits at scale. Third, the single-use plastic commitment on cruise ships shows that time-bound, asset-specific targets (with a hard deadline such as 2025) create accountability that broad portfolio targets do not, and Disney’s current inability to confirm whether that target was met is a governance warning for any organization relying on public commitments without measurement infrastructure.

Source

https://impact.disney.com/environmental-sustainability/natural-climate-solutions/
https://tracenable.com/company/walt-disney/climate-targets
https://impact.disney.com/app/uploads/2025/05/CDP-Survey-Response-2024.pdf
https://www.greencentury.com/disney-to-increase-plastic-disclosure-goals/