Chipotle Mexican Grill sustainability score: 41/100
Chipotle Mexican Grill operates fast-casual Mexican restaurants across North America. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, it operates approximately 3,700 locations with 45,200 employees.
More about Chipotle Mexican Grill
The company emphasizes sourcing integrity and has integrated sustainability messaging into brand positioning, but faces scrutiny over greenwashing claims and supply chain environmental footprints.
Founded 1993Head office Denver, Colorado, USStaff ~130,000Revenue ~$11.3BWebsite ↗
Chipotle reports comprehensive Scope 1 & 2 emissions tracking and SBTi-validated 2030 targets, but absolute total emissions have surged 26% year-on-year, driven by Scope 3 more than tripling since 2019. The company's renewable energy purchases rely on RECs without demonstrated additionality. Critical gaps: no quantified water reduction targets across supply chain, no deforestation verification, and escalating emissions undermine near-term target credibility.
Chipotle Mexican Grill scores 41/100 (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 May 2026.
That places Chipotle Mexican Grill joint 384th of 934 companies scored, and 14th of 51 in Food Service / Restaurants.
What is Chipotle Mexican Grill doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Targets & Commitments (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (2/10, 4/10).
Where Chipotle Mexican Grill lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling2/10No 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 nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- 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 Chipotle Mexican Grill's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Chipotle Mexican Grill's score based on?
9 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
44% of them were published by Chipotle Mexican Grill itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 5 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
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 Chipotle Mexican Grill compare with other food service / restaurants companies?
Where Chipotle Mexican Grill sits among food service / restaurants peers.
Among the 51 major food service / restaurants brands we've scored, Chipotle Mexican Grill sits 14th of 51.
Who scores higher in Food Service / Restaurants?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Wagamama reports emissions and renewable energy procurement but lacks absolute reduction targets and third-party verification.
See the breakdown →Greggs has solid emissions reporting and renewable energy progress, but absolute operational emissions are flat despite 41.8% intensity gains.
See the breakdown →Sodexo's total emissions fell 3% in fiscal 2025 and 19% since 2017, short of its interim 2025 goal and behind the path to its SBTi-validated 2030 target.
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.