South Carolina Sustainability Scorecard
The South Carolina Scorecard is a strategic initiative designed to collect and present statewide data across four key categories: Energy, Circularity, Water and Conservation.
Developed through Sustain SC’s Metrics and Reporting Accelerator, the Scorecard provides actionable insights for business leaders, policy makers and community stakeholders to make informed decisions that align economic development with environmental responsibility.
South Carolina’s Business Landscape
86%
of companies announced by the SC Department of Commerce in 2025 have publicly available sustainability goals
X0%
of companies have net-zero commitments
Energy
Clean Energy Share
65%
of SC energy generation is from clean energy sources
307 Million
BTu per-capita in 2023
South Carolina’s Clean Energy Share is Higher Than Surrounding States
47% in Georgia
47% in North Carolina
50% in Tennessee
Energy Consumption
1,606 Trillion
BTu total in 2023
Energy Generation Mix
Energy Consumption by Sector
Circularity
Recycling and Waste
21.2%
2024 SC Recycling Rate
$6.63
Billion of Capital Investment in the SC Recycling Industry since 2021
3.8 lbs
2024 MSW Disposal Rate (lbs/person/day)
4.8 lbs
2024 MSW Generation Rate (lbs/person/day)
% of MSW Commodities Recycled by Weight
Water
Water Use and Infrastructure
5.9 Trillion
Gallons of Water Used Annually in SC
$197 Million
In Stormwater Infrastructure grants awarded in 2024
Water Use by Sector
Conservation
Land Protection
18.5%
of SC Land is protected
3.4 Million
Acres Protected
South Carolina’s Percentage of Protected Land is Higher Than Surrounding States
3% in Georgia
5% in Tennessee
13.6 % in North Carolina
Risk Reduction through Conservation
2.2 Million
Acres identified as priority conservation zones for flood risk reduction in 2024
$18 Million
invested in land conservation projects for flood resilience since 2020
