Applied Materials sustainability score: 36/100
Limited independent evidence: only two independent sources cover this company. The score may change as more evidence appears.
Applied Materials makes equipment used to fabricate chips, and sells services, spares and factory software to chip plants. Its Semiconductor Systems segment brought in 73% of net revenue and Applied Global Services 23% in its year to 26 October 2025.
More about Applied Materials
Applied Materials, Inc. was incorporated in 1967 and is a Delaware corporation. It had about 36,500 regular full-time employees at 26 October 2025 and US$28.37 billion net revenue in that year.
Founded 1967Head office Santa Clara, United StatesStaff ~36,500 (26 October 2025, year-end, regular full-time)Revenue ~US$28.37B net revenue (FY ended 26 October 2025; US$28,368 million)Website ↗
Applied Materials reported 20,660,566 tCO2e for FY2025, mostly the use of its sold tools, and that size brings the 0.70x size deduction. Scope 3 rose 11% on FY2024, and Scope 1 and 2 stand 0.1% above FY2019. It matched 75% of global electricity with renewable sources; the latest split by method, for FY2024, is mostly contracts, led by a financial VPPA matched annually rather than delivered supply, with about 6% on unbundled certificates. SBTi validated its near-term targets: 50% off Scope 1 and 2 by FY2030, with an intensity-based Scope 3 target. Hazardous waste rose to 4,900 t from 500 t in FY2019. It belongs to the US Chamber of Commerce.
Applied Materials scores 36/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified November 2026.
That places Applied Materials joint 538th of 994 companies scored, and 10th of 19 in Industrial Equipment / Machinery.
What is Applied Materials doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Transparency & Accountability (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (0/10, 3/10).
Where Applied Materials lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- Emissions from its supply chain7/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling0/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature3/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets7/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports8/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
- Its record on controversies6/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is Applied Materials's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Applied Materials's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
42% of them were published by Applied Materials itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scope 2, FY2025: market-based 59,721 t, location-based 168,086 t. The score uses market-based.
7 of 12 sources are independent of the company.
“Total Scope 1 54,264 50,775 49,053 48,633 35,225”
“Total Scope 1 GHG emissions [mtCO2e]: 54,264”
“Financial (virtual) power purchase agreement (VPPA)”
“An average 10-year product lifespan is assumed.”
“While Applied does not manufacture PFAS, these substances may be found in parts, components, process chemicals”
“Applied Materials Inc. commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions”
“we employed approximately 36,500 regular full-time employees”
“Applied Materials publicly supports addressing climate change, yet the Chamber opposed the Paris climate accord.”
“The remedy at the Applied Materials Superfund Site currently protects human health and the”
“Applied Materials , Santa Clara, Calif.”
“Monitoring wells on the site are contaminated with Freon 113”
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How does Applied Materials compare with other industrial equipment / machinery companies?
Where Applied Materials sits among industrial equipment / machinery peers.
Among the 19 major industrial equipment / machinery brands we've scored, Applied Materials sits 10th of 19.
Who scores higher in Industrial Equipment / Machinery?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Applied Materials.
GEA has cut its own emissions 62% since 2019 and has SBTi-validated targets for net zero by 2040.
See the breakdown →Spirax exceeds near-term emissions targets and holds third-party verified data across Scope 1+2, but Scope 3 supply chain reduction remains unproven.
See the breakdown →ASML reported 11,643,000 tCO2e for 2025, 99.8% of it Scope 3, and the size of that footprint brings the 0.70x size deduction.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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