Biffa sustainability score: 40/100
Biffa is a UK waste management operator providing collection, recycling, treatment and landfill disposal. Founded in 2022 as a holding company, it operates ~11,361 staff and generated £1,894M revenue in FY25.
More about Biffa
It manages landfill sites, materials recovery facilities, and energy recovery partnerships, serving residential and commercial clients.
Founded 2022Head office United KingdomStaff ~11,361 (2025)Revenue £1,894.0M revenue (52 weeks ended 28 Mar 2025)Website ↗
Biffa operates UK waste infrastructure but remains carbon-heavy: its Scope 1 and 2 were flat in the latest year at about 509,000 tonnes, mostly landfill gas. A 2021 criminal conviction for exporting mislabelled waste to Asia, gaps in water data and unverified landfill biodiversity claims weigh on its record. SBTi targets exist, but supply-chain reductions are stalling.
Biffa scores 40/100 (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 Biffa joint 413th of 947 companies scored, and 1st of 4 in Waste & Recycling.
What is Biffa doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Targets & Commitments (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (1/10, 4/10).
Where Biffa 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 chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling5/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is5/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste6/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water1/10No figures for its water use.
- Its climate targets7/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- 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 Biffa's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Biffa's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
18% of them were published by Biffa itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Scope 1*** 483,243 492,834 539,985 583,872”
“the GasSim model for landfill gas”
“We have also committed to a supplier engagement target whereby 27.6% of our suppliers (by emissions) will have set their”
“Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions (kt)”
“Biffa says it has achieved this reduction through the “continued improvement” of its landfill gas capture”
“This was put down to its Newhurst energy recovery facility coming online at the end of the financial year.”
“As a result, Biffa closed its Washington Polymers site and Wigan Materials Recovery Facility (MRF).”
“This is the second legal action of its kind brought against Biffa in as many years.”
“We no longer export waste paper outside the OECD and will carefully review our processes to ensure they fully meet the implications of this judgment.”
“In addition to the £1.5 million fine, Biffa was ordered to pay costs of £153,827.99, and a proceeds of crime order of £38,388.”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Is this your company? Claim this profile (free)
Use this score in tenders
Send the link, or the one-page score sheet. It links back to this page and every source. Free.
Open the score sheet →Send new evidence, free
Scored low because little is published? Publish what you do and send us the link, free. If it holds up, your score changes, and the change is logged on your page.
How to send evidence →Put your score on your website, free
It shows the current score and links to this page, so it changes when the score does.
Track this score
Bidding for a public contract? Check if you need a Carbon Reduction Plan, free →
Want your own page like this?
Free, independent, every source shown. Send it to any buyer who asks about your sustainability.
How does Biffa compare with other waste & recycling companies?
Biffa is the highest-scoring waste & recycling company we've rated.
Among the 4 major waste & recycling brands we've scored, Biffa sits 1st of 4.
Who comes next in Waste & Recycling?
Biffa leads its sector. These are the next 3 down.
Veolia UK's absolute emissions are rising despite green tariffs and landfill gas capture.
See the breakdown →EMR's operational emissions have been flat since 2024 and it buys no renewable electricity, five years after joining RE100.
See the breakdown →SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK reports fragmented emissions data across inconsistent boundaries, obscuring full climate impact.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
One email, every Sunday. Score changes, new research, the stories behind the numbers. Free.
We'll send one email to confirm. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Checking a company?
Search free →Asked to prove you're sustainable?
Get your business scored, free →Been scored?
Find your page and claim it, free →Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score.