Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle reports Scope 1 (~158,526 tCO2e) and Scope 2 market-based (~45,337 tCO2e) for 2024, tracked over multiple years with GHG Protocol methodology. The 2024 Sustainability Report provides breakdown and trend data. A 15% reduction in Scope 1&2 from 2019 baseline is reported. However, no explicit mention of third-party verification/limited assurance was found in public summaries, which limits score to 7 rather than 8.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle reports Scope 3 emissions totalling ~4,865,709 tCO2e for 2024, up from ~3,823,128 tCO2e in 2023 and a 2019 baseline of ~1,419,298 tCO2e. The company has quantified material Scope 3 categories and has supplier engagement programmes including local sourcing (47M lbs local produce), transitioning farmland to organic, and investment in supply chain decarbonisation. Score reflects quantified Scope 3 with methodology, but the dramatic rise in Scope 3 (more than tripling since 2019) raises que

Emissions Trajectory: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Despite a 15% reduction in Scope 1&2 from the 2019 base year, total emissions including Scope 3 rose dramatically: from ~4.0M tCO2e in 2023 to ~5.1M tCO2e in 2024 (~26% increase in one year). The 2019 Scope 3 baseline was ~1.4M tCO2e, meaning Scope 3 has more than tripled while the company expanded from ~2,900 to ~3,726 restaurants. Absolute total emissions are clearly rising. Per SINK methodology, when total emissions are rising, Q3 cannot score above 4. The trajectory is demonstrably worsening

Energy Source: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle purchased 61% of its electricity from renewable energy sources in 2024, up from 51% in 2023 and 40% in 2022. However, the company's 2024 report footnote states this 'consists of purchases of certified renewable energy certificates, as well as a small contribution from on-site solar generation.' Reliance on RECs without demonstrated additionality caps at 6 per SINK methodology. The Nexamp community solar agreement (75 MW across 15 farms) and new all-electric restaurant design with roofto

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle has demonstrated awareness of nature dependencies through its agricultural supply chain. It transitioned 425 acres of conventional farmland to organic, invested in regenerative agriculture practices, and supports local sourcing (47M lbs local produce in 2024). 100% of US suppliers held to Food with Integrity standards. However, no TNFD-aligned disclosure was found, no deforestation-free commitment with third-party verification, and no quantified nature footprint. The company's food supp

Resource Use & Waste: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle diverted 50% of waste from landfill in 2024. The company has composting programmes at over 1,000 locations, biodegradable serviceware, bowls and bags from compostable natural fiber materials, and art from recycled rice husks and cactus-based faux leather. Chipotle aims to reduce landfill waste by 5% against a 2020 baseline and explores closed-loop packaging solutions. These are measurable circular targets with reported metrics, warranting a score in the 5-6 range. However, the rapid exp

Water Impact: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle set its first formal water goal in 2023, targeting watershed conservation and restoration in priority regions identified using the WRI Aqueduct tool. The company has deployed low-flow dish sink sprayers across 3,000+ restaurants and manages water through recovery, reuse, recycling, and wastewater disposal. However, the Ceres report on fast-food companies found none of the six companies studied, including Chipotle, had set enterprise-level targets to reduce water consumption across their

Targets & Commitments: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle has SBTi-validated near-term targets to reduce absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year, classified as 1.5°C-aligned. These are absolute targets covering all scopes. The company uses a reduction-first approach with no evidence of offset reliance. However, the target lacks a net-zero long-term component, and actual absolute emissions have risen sharply since the 2019 baseline (Scope 3 more than tripled from ~1.4M to ~4.9M), raising serious questions a

Transparency & Accountability: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Chipotle publishes annual sustainability reports (2024 report published May 2025) covering emissions, energy, waste, water, and supply chain. Executive compensation has been tied to Brand Purpose/ESG goals since 2021, with an annual bonus of up to 15% linked to progress. The company reports to CDP and provides TCFD-aligned disclosure. Board oversight of sustainability exists through the food safety and sustainability governance structure. Score of 6 reflects dedicated sustainability leadership,

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Chipotle Mexican Grill score?

Starting at 8. In 2022, the National Advertising Division (NAD) recommended Chipotle modify certain Real Foodprint sustainability claims to clarify that metrics were based on average assessment not specific purchases, and to clarify which parts of the supply chain had reduced emissions — a minor advertising modification request, not an upheld greenwashing finding (deduct 1). An academic paper from 2016 critiqued Chipotle's marketing as potentially greenwashing, though this was educational analys

Chipotle Mexican Grill Sustainability Score: 41/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Chipotle Mexican Grill·Food Service / Restaurants·Denver, Colorado, US·Founded 1993·Last verified 25 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

Chipotle reports comprehensive Scope 1&2 data and SBTi-validated 2030 targets, but absolute emissions are soaring: Scope 3 has tripled since 2019 while total emissions rose 26% in 2024 alone. Renewable energy reliance on unverified RECs and missing supply-chain water targets expose critical weaknesses in execution against stated ambitions.

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

Food Service / Restaurants sector ceiling.

45 / 100

Performance score

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

53 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 45) + (0.7 × 53) = 50.6

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

41 / 100

The ten questions

Where Chipotle Mexican Grill is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Targets & Commitments (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Water Impact (2/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Third-party verified

Ditch Carbon - Chipotle Organization Profile

Ongoing

Q1Q2Q3Q8

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[2]Self-reported

Chipotle 2024 Sustainability Report

2025

Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6Q9

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[3]Public record

ESG Today - Chipotle All-Electric Renewable Energy Restaurants

Unknown

View →

[4]Self-reported

Chipotle Corporate Sustainability Page

Ongoing

Q5Q6Q9

View →

[5]Self-reported

Chipotle 2023 Sustainability Report Update

2024

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[6]Third-party verified

Ceres - Six Fast-Food Giants Commit to Science-Based Targets

Unknown

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[7]Self-reported

Chipotle Sets Science-Based Climate Goals

2021

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[8]Public record

BBB Programs - Chipotle Sustainability Claims Review

Unknown

Q10

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[9]Public record

DOJ - Chipotle Mexican Grill $25M Settlement

2020

Q10

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If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Chipotle Mexican Grill in context

Where Chipotle Mexican Grill sits among food service / restaurants peers.

Among the 46 major food service / restaurants brands we've scored, Chipotle Mexican Grill sits 11th of 46.

11/46

Chipotle Mexican Grill's rank

Industry average

Industry low

Industry high

8Beefeater (Whitbread PLC)

9Wagamama

10Greggs

11Chipotle Mexican Grill

12Toby Carvery

13Domino's Pizza, Inc.

14Pret A Manger

15Costa Coffee

16Nando's

17The Wendy's Company

18Tortilla Mexican Grill

33Gourmet Burger Kitchen

36Itsu

41Dunkin'

42Papa John's International

43Burger King

44Chick-fil-A

45Subway

46Five Guys Enterprises

How this score has moved

Chipotle Mexican Grill's score over time.

Score history begins 5 April 2026.

As Chipotle Mexican Grill's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill operates ~3,726 fast-casual restaurants across the US, specializing in customizable bowls, burritos, and tacos. Founded in 1993, it pioneered fast-casual dining and positions itself as a sustainability leader in quick-service food through local sourcing and supply-chain transparency initiatives.

Founded

1993

Headquarters

Denver, Colorado, US

Employees

~130,000

Annual revenue

~$11.3B

Company website ↗

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