Amazon vs Walmart: A Data-Driven Ethics Comparison
Amazon and Walmart are the two largest retailers on Earth. Between them, they employ over 3.5 million people and touch nearly every consumer supply chain on the planet. If you own an index fund, you almost certainly hold both.
But how do they compare on ethical integrity? Not in their sustainability reports or PR campaigns — in the data that matters. Court filings. Regulatory penalties. Investigative journalism. NGO reports.
We scored both companies across 11 independent ethical dimensions using independently sourced, cited evidence processed through our scoring methodology. No corporate self-assessments. No ESG questionnaires.
Here is what we found.
The Full Scorecard
| Dimension | Amazon (AMZN) | Walmart (WMT) | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Better Health for All | +30 | +30 | Tied |
| Fair Money & Economic Opportunity | -20 | +10 | Walmart |
| Fair Pay & Worker Respect | -30 | -30 | Tied |
| Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing | -40 | -30 | Walmart |
| Honest & Fair Business | -30 | -20 | Walmart |
| Kind to Animals | 0 | -20 | Amazon |
| No War, No Weapons | -30 | 0 | Walmart |
| Planet-Friendly Business | +30 | -30 | Amazon |
| Respect for Cultures & Communities | 0 | 0 | Tied |
| Safe & Smart Tech | -30 | +10 | Walmart |
| Zero Waste & Sustainable Products | +10 | -20 | Amazon |
| Average Score | -10.0 | -9.1 | Walmart |
Walmart leads in 5 dimensions. Amazon leads in 3. They tie on 3. Both companies sit in negative territory overall — Walmart at -9.1 and Amazon at -10.0.
The averages are remarkably close. But the underlying risk profiles are starkly different.
Where They Diverge Most
1. Planet-Friendly Business: Amazon +30, Walmart -30
This is the widest gap between the two companies on any single dimension — a 60-point spread.
Amazon scored +30 on our Planet-Friendly Business assessment. According to our analysis, Amazon matched 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable sources by 2023, seven years ahead of its original target. The company has invested in over 500 wind and solar projects across 27 countries. While questions remain about the full scope of its emissions footprint, the renewable energy commitment is substantial and independently verifiable.
Walmart scored -30. According to our data, the company has acknowledged it may miss its 2025 and 2030 emissions reduction targets due to policy, infrastructure, and technology challenges. While operational emissions (Scopes 1 and 2) decreased by 19.3% relative to 2015, they increased by 3.9% in 2023. For the world's largest retailer, the gap between climate ambition and climate performance is notable.
For investors focused on environmental impact, this is a material divergence between two companies in the same sector.
Explore what Planet-Friendly Business measures ->
2. No War, No Weapons: Amazon -30, Walmart 0
Amazon scored -30 on our No War, No Weapons dimension. According to our data, Amazon Web Services has secured multiple contracts with the U.S. Department of Defence, including a $22 million cloud services contract with the U.S. Army, a share of the Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) contract with a ceiling up to $9 billion, and a $723.9 million contract for additional defence cloud infrastructure.
Walmart scored 0. Its core retail business is not tied to defence or military applications. The company does not engage in the production or supply of weapons, and no significant connections to military contracting were identified in the public record.
This dimension highlights a structural difference between the two companies. Amazon's cloud computing division actively serves military clients. Walmart sells consumer goods. Their business models expose them to fundamentally different ethical risks.
3. Safe & Smart Tech: Amazon -30, Walmart +10
Amazon scored -30 on Safe & Smart Tech. According to our analysis, Amazon has faced criticism and fines for worker surveillance practices, including a 32 million euro fine in France for violating GDPR by tracking employee productivity. Questions around data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and the handling of user data from devices like Alexa and Ring contribute to this score.
Walmart scored +10. According to our data, Walmart introduced a Responsible AI Pledge emphasizing transparency, security, privacy, fairness, accountability, and customer-centricity. While Walmart handles significant customer data through its retail operations, the independent evidence available suggests a more measured approach to technology deployment compared to Amazon's expansive tech ecosystem.
The difference reflects the scope of each company's technology footprint. Amazon is a technology company that sells retail. Walmart is a retailer that uses technology. That distinction matters for data privacy risk.
Learn what Safe & Smart Tech measures ->
4. Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing: Amazon -40, Walmart -30
Both companies score negatively on ethical sourcing, but Amazon's score is worse.
Amazon's -40 reflects a pattern documented in public records. According to our analysis, Amazon has faced fines related to warehouse labour practices, including a $5.9 million penalty in California for violating warehouse quota laws. India's National Human Rights Commission has scrutinized Amazon over harsh working conditions at its facilities.
Walmart's -30 stems from a different set of concerns. On the positive side, Walmart has committed to responsible recruitment practices by 2026, emphasizing that workers should not bear recruitment costs. The Walmart Foundation has awarded grants to Fair Trade USA to enhance worker education. However, ongoing supply chain labour issues across its vast global supplier network keep the score negative.
Neither company has clean supply chains based on the independent evidence available. But Walmart's structured approach to responsible recruitment gives it a slight edge in this dimension.
Where They Agree
Some dimensions show little or no difference between Amazon and Walmart.
Fair Pay & Worker Respect: Both Score -30
Both retail giants scored -30 on Fair Pay & Worker Respect. The reasons differ, but the outcome is the same.
Amazon has increased base wages for U.S. workers to over $22 per hour as part of a $2.2 billion initiative. But a study found that warehouse workers in counties with Amazon operations earn 26% less than the average for all workers in those areas. The pace of warehouse work and injury rates remain subject to ongoing scrutiny.
Walmart faces its own challenges. According to our data, the CFPB is suing Walmart over alleged illegal pay practices affecting delivery drivers, who reportedly faced fees and delays accessing their earnings. Reports of a pregnant employee being fired after requesting accommodations point to potential discrimination concerns.
For the two largest private employers in the United States, a shared score of -30 on worker rights is a significant finding.
Explore what Fair Pay & Worker Respect measures ->
Better Health for All: Both Score +30
This is the single strongest shared result. Both Amazon and Walmart scored +30 on Better Health for All.
Amazon launched RxPass, a $5 monthly subscription for generic medications, and its expansion to Medicare patients could save them nearly $2 billion annually. Amazon's partnership with Eli Lilly to dispense medications reflects a growing role in healthcare access.
Walmart expanded virtual healthcare services to approximately 1 million employees and their families. The company partnered with CareSource to address racial health disparities and has invested in community health initiatives targeting underserved populations.
Both companies are using their scale to improve healthcare affordability. On this dimension, the data gives credit where it is due.
Respect for Cultures & Communities: Both Score 0
Neither company had sufficient independently verifiable evidence to score on this dimension. A score of 0 means we found no clear signal in either direction — it does not mean a clean record.
Fair Money & Economic Opportunity: The Walmart Edge
One dimension where Walmart clearly outperforms Amazon is Fair Money & Economic Opportunity. Walmart scored +10 while Amazon scored -20 — a 30-point gap.
Walmart supports financial literacy initiatives and provides capital to small businesses, particularly those owned by minorities. Its "Grow with US" programme offers training, mentorship, and financial resources to small businesses.
Amazon's mixed record on this dimension reflects the tension between its marketplace platform — which provides millions of small sellers access to customers — and documented concerns about the competitive dynamics of that marketplace. Amazon provides access, but questions persist about whether the terms of that access are fair.
Honest & Fair Business: Amazon -30, Walmart -20
Neither company scores well on governance, but Amazon's record is weaker.
Amazon's -30 reflects multiple regulatory proceedings. According to our data, the California Labour Commissioner's Office fined Amazon $5.9 million for violating the Warehouse Quotas law. The FTC has filed a lawsuit against Amazon, accusing the company of deceptive practices. The company's antitrust exposure spans multiple jurisdictions.
Walmart's -20 reflects a longer institutional track record. Walmart has a Responsible Sourcing programme established in 1992, a Human Rights Statement updated in 2024, and an Ethics and Compliance programme built on nine core foundations. However, ongoing regulatory issues in areas like pay practices prevent the score from reaching neutral territory.
The Verdict
Walmart's average score of -9.1 is marginally higher than Amazon's -10.0. In the context of our -100 to +100 scale, this gap is narrow. Neither company passes the bar of ethical neutrality.
But averages obscure what matters. These two companies fail in fundamentally different ways.
Amazon's biggest risks: Military contracting (-30 on No War, No Weapons), ethical sourcing (-30 on Fair Trade), data privacy and surveillance (-30 on Safe & Smart Tech), and governance and regulatory penalties (-30 on Honest & Fair Business).
Walmart's biggest risks: Environmental performance (-30 on Planet-Friendly Business), supply chain sourcing (-30 on Fair Trade), animal welfare (-20 on Kind to Animals), and sustainable products (-20 on Zero Waste).
Amazon's biggest strengths: Environmental commitment (+30 on Planet), healthcare access (+30 on Health), and waste reduction (+10 on Zero Waste).
Walmart's biggest strengths: Healthcare access (+30 on Health), financial inclusion (+10 on Fair Money), safe technology (+10 on Safe & Smart Tech), and no military exposure (0 on No War, No Weapons).
An investor choosing between them on ethical grounds is choosing between two different risk profiles. Amazon carries more regulatory and privacy risk. Walmart carries more environmental and supply chain risk.
The data is here. The decision is yours.
How We Score Companies
Mashinii scores companies across 11 ethical dimensions using independently sourced data — court filings, regulatory actions, investigative journalism, and NGO reports. Scores range from -100 to +100. A score of 0 means insufficient independent evidence to assess. Every score is backed by cited sources.
We do not use corporate self-assessments or ESG questionnaires. Learn more about our methodology ->
What Should You Do?
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Explore the full Amazon breakdown: View Amazon's Score ->
Explore the full Walmart breakdown: View Walmart's Score ->