Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific discloses Scope 1 (~11.57Mt CO2e) and Scope 2 (~45.8Kt CO2e) for 2023, using GHG Protocol methodology with multi-year tracking. The company has reported on environmental activities since 1996 and publishes annual sustainability reports. However, no evidence of third-party verification of emissions data was found, and the granularity of breakdown by facility/operation type is limited in publicly available summaries.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific reported Scope 3 emissions of ~5.94Mt CO2e for 2023 and stated it mapped all scope 3 indirect carbon emissions for airlines and ground operations in Hong Kong in 2022. The Corporate SAF Programme engages corporate customers on aviation-related emissions. However, comprehensive supplier engagement beyond SAF partnerships and sustainable seafood procurement is not evident. The majority of material Scope 3 categories appear quantified but with limited detail on methodology.

Emissions Trajectory: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Absolute emissions are rising significantly as Cathay Pacific recovers from COVID and expands operations. The Group generated over 5Mt CO2 in 2022, and Scope 1 emissions alone reached ~11.57Mt in 2023. ASK increased 30.6% YoY in 2024, and the airline is expanding to 100+ destinations. The 2030 target is intensity-based (12% carbon intensity reduction from 2019), not absolute. Intensity targets while absolute emissions are clearly rising means this cannot score above 4, and the rising trajectory

Energy Source: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Jet fuel combustion dominates Cathay Pacific's energy use (>99%). SAF comprised only 0.3% of global aviation fuel in 2024, and Cathay's SAF consumption by programme partners reached ~6,270 tonnes in 2024 — negligible against total fuel consumption of millions of tonnes. Solar panels on Cathay City HQ save ~150 tonnes CO2/year, which is negligible. A pledge to cut ground emissions by 32% by 2030 and exploring renewable energy for premises exists, but no RE100 membership and no reported renewable

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific states it aspires to 'protect biodiversity in terms of what we serve and what we carry.' In 2023, 73% of seafood purchased was certified sustainable and traceable (315 tonnes). The Sustainable Development Policy mentions monitoring biodiversity impact. However, no TNFD disclosure, no quantified nature footprint, no deforestation-free commitment, and no formal biodiversity assessment has been published. Awareness exists but no substantive action beyond sustainable seafood procureme

Resource Use & Waste: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific has actively reduced passenger-facing single-use plastics from 7.7 to 2.6 pieces per passenger (2019–2024), with a target of 1.5 by 2025. A cabin waste reduction target of 30% by 2030 from 2019 baseline is set. The airline introduced recycling workflows at HK airport and recycled over 1.4 million plastic bottles in 2024. Life cycle analysis was conducted for SUP products. Metal cutlery replaced plastic. These are measurable initiatives but remain in early stages without fully clos

Water Impact: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific's Sustainable Development Policy mentions monitoring water consumption as part of environmental commitments, but no quantified water footprint, specific water reduction targets, or water consumption data was found in any public source. Aviation is not a highly water-intensive industry compared to manufacturing, but catering and ground operations do consume water. The company shows awareness but no measurable management or disclosure.

Targets & Commitments: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific has committed to net-zero by 2050 and set a near-term carbon intensity target of 12% improvement from 2019 levels by 2030 (761 to 670 gCO2/RTK). It targets 10% SAF usage by 2030 and 32% ground emissions reduction by 2030 (from 2018). However, these are self-set targets, not SBTi-validated. The primary target is intensity-based, not absolute, while the airline is rapidly expanding capacity. The Fly Greener offset programme uses Gold Standard credits. No SBTi commitment means a cap

Transparency & Accountability: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Cathay Pacific has published annual sustainability reports since 2006 and comprehensive Sustainable Development Reports since 2009. The company aligns with TCFD recommendations and was ranked in the top 8% of companies in the airline subsector for sustainability performance (S&P Global, 2024). A dedicated sustainability team exists with board-level oversight. However, no evidence of executive compensation linked to sustainability targets was found, and no CSRD-level disclosure or mission-locked

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Cathay Pacific Airways score?

Starting at 8. Deduction of 1: In January 2025, ClientEarth included Cathay Pacific among 71 airlines warned over potential greenwashing regarding SAF and net-zero claims. Deduction of 1: Cathay Pacific fully supports and aligns with IATA's strategy, and IATA has been identified by InfluenceMap as opposing inclusion within the Paris Agreement and binding GHG regulations for aviation. Deduction of 1: The company uses intensity-based targets while pursuing aggressive capacity expansion, which cons

Cathay Pacific Airways Sustainability Score: 25/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Cathay Pacific Airways·Aerospace·Hong Kong·Founded 1946·Last verified 25 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Cathay Pacific discloses emissions comprehensively but is expanding capacity while setting only intensity targets—absolute emissions rising 131% since 2022. SAF usage negligible at 0.3% of fuel. Greenwashing red flags include intensity-only targets during expansion, alignment with IATA's Paris Agreement opposition, and ClientEarth's 2025 warning.

No challenges currently filed

The calculation

Every score shows its working.

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale

Industry base impact

Aerospace sector ceiling.

38 / 100

Performance score

Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.

35 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 38) + (0.7 × 35) = 35.9

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.7

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

25 / 100

The ten questions

Where Cathay Pacific Airways is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (6/10, 5/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Water Impact (1/10, 2/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

15 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which rubric questions it informed.

[1]Third-party verified

Ditch Carbon — Cathay Pacific Profile

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q3Q8

Every score shows its working.

Where Cathay Pacific Airways is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Cathay Pacific Airways sits among aerospace peers.

Cathay Pacific Airways's score over time.

This score is not currently being contested.

Related companies worth a look.

We'll let you know when the score moves.

Which companies moved this week, and why.