Bloomsbury Publishing sustainability score: 57/100
Better than 76% of Media / Entertainment / Publishing
Leading practice starts at 60. The highest score on SINK is 71.
Limited independent evidence: only two independent sources cover this company. The score may change as more evidence appears.
Bloomsbury Publishing is a London-listed publisher of fiction, non-fiction and children's books and of academic and professional titles, in print and digital formats. It reported £325.9 million of revenue for the year to 28 February 2026, with about 1,238 employees.
Founded 1986Head office London, United KingdomStaff ~1,238 (2026)Revenue £325.9 million revenue (FY ended 28 Feb 2026)Website ↗
Bloomsbury reports Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions with every relevant category quantified, mostly paper and printing, and has SBTi-validated near-term targets. Its total fell to 46,962 tCO2e in 2025/26 after rising in the two years before, which it puts down mainly to lower production and print on demand. Its figures are not independently assured, its renewable electricity relies partly on unbundled certificates, and it publishes no water or waste quantities.
Bloomsbury Publishing scores 57/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified November 2026.
That places Bloomsbury Publishing joint 34th of 1,070 companies scored, and 8th of 30 in Media / Entertainment / Publishing.
What is Bloomsbury Publishing doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Carbon Footprint: Operations (8/10, 7/10). Weakest on Water Impact and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 4/10).
Where Bloomsbury Publishing lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Its effect on waterMonitor its water use and take measures to reduce it.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles wasteReport measurable waste or recycling targets publicly.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain7/10No 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 is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water2/10No monitoring of water use, or no measures to reduce it.
- Its climate targets6/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports7/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
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 Bloomsbury Publishing's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Bloomsbury Publishing's score based on?
8 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by Bloomsbury Publishing itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) GHG emissions for 2025/2026 were 71 tCO2e.”
“Bloomsbury UK removed 6 gas boilers and replaced them with a heat pump and electric radiators at our offices in Bedford Square.”
“CDP has also given us a score of A- for our Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA).”
“Bloomsbury’s total Scope 3 emissions for 2024/2025 were 85,630 tCO2e (2023/2024: 83,931 tCO2e).”
“with Bloomsbury taking home the inaugural Sustainability Initiative Award.”
“Sustainability Initiative Award: Bloomsbury Publishing, U.K.”
“Bloomsbury Publishing has embedded sustainable principles into all aspects of its operations over the last few years and substantially reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2022.”
“seven million books – over 16,000 stocked titles – were relocated to Hachette UK Distribution by 1st April.”
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 band, sector rank and 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 Bloomsbury Publishing compare with other media / entertainment / publishing companies?
Where Bloomsbury Publishing sits among media / entertainment / publishing peers.
Among the 30 major media / entertainment / publishing brands we've scored, Bloomsbury Publishing sits 8th of 30.
Who scores higher in Media / Entertainment / Publishing?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Bloomsbury Publishing.
Auto Trader has strong operational emissions reduction (30% year-on-year) and renewable energy coverage (99%), backed by SBTi targets and third-party verification.
See the breakdown →Informa has achieved genuine absolute emissions reductions in Scope 1 and 2 but total emissions rose in 2024 due to acquisitions and expanded operations.
See the breakdown →RELX operates strong emissions reduction in operations (61% absolute cut since 2018) and holds validated 1.5°C targets, but Scope 3 emissions are flat and fossil fuel sector engagement creates material greenwashing concerns.
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. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it.