Cisco Systems sustainability score: 46/100

Cisco reports verified FY2024 Scope 1 (33,683 tCO₂e) and Scope 2 market-based (28,418 tCO₂e) emissions with ISO 14064-3:2019 limited assurance. Scope 1+2 declined 74% from FY2019 baseline by FY2024, reaching 90% reduction in FY2025. Granular disclosure, multi-year tracking, and reduction-first trajectory.

Cisco reports Scope 3 across 10 of 15 GHG Protocol categories (17.1M tCO₂e FY2024), verified by third-party limited assurance since FY2022. 90% of component/manufacturing/logistics suppliers by spend have public GHG reduction targets. 168 supplier sites completed GHG reporting in FY2025. Active CDP Supply Chain Program with 10+ years engagement.

Scope 1+2 down 74% (FY2024) and 90% (FY2025) versus FY2019 baseline. Total emissions fell from 26.7M tCO₂e (FY2019) to 17.7M tCO₂e (FY2024), a 22% YoY absolute decrease. Scope 3 reduced 35% against a 30% by FY2030 target. Remaining emissions burden: >17M tonnes annually, primarily product use-phase energy.

Cisco achieved 96% renewable electricity in FY2024 and 100% in FY2025 (~1.4M MWh) across all owned and leased facilities globally. RE100 member with multiple long-term PPAs: 15-year VPPA Spain, 92MW hybrid PPA India, 180MW solar PPA Texas. Piloting biodiesel and renewable natural gas for Scope 1 reduction.

Cisco Foundation committed $100M over 10 years to ecosystem regeneration, including Amazon rainforest protection (86M acres via ASHA). ISO 14001:2015 certification covers environmental impacts. No formal TNFD-aligned disclosure or quantified nature footprint published. Supply chain mining and component manufacturing carry inherent nature risks without explicit mitigation quantification.

100% of new products and packaging incorporate Circular Design Principles by FY2025, exceeding 75% foam reduction target (78% achieved). Takeback and Reuse Program operational; published LCAs for networking equipment; won 2025 Reuters Global Sustainability Award for Circularity. 50% recycled plastic target not fully met; 64% of suppliers with zero-waste certified sites.

Cisco withdrew 2,389 cubic metres globally in FY2025 (low baseline). Bangalore campus is zero-discharge facility. Monitors water stress using WRI Aqueduct: 37% of use from stressed areas. Partners with Alliance for Water Stewardship; 21 supplier sites engaged in ICT Water Checklist Program FY2025. Third-party limited assurance on water data.

Net-zero by 2040 validated by SBTi under Corporate Net-Zero Standard (July 2022), one of first tech hardware companies. Achieved 90% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction by FY2025 (target met). Scope 3 35% reduction by FY2024 against 30% by FY2030 target. All targets absolute, not intensity-based. Reduction-first approach with carbon removals only for residual 10%.

Annual Purpose Report with comprehensive Purpose Reporting Hub; reports to CDP annually; GRI and SASB frameworks; third-party limited assurance on Scope 1-3, water, waste per ISO 14064-3. Chief Sustainability Officer appointed FY2023. Product-level LCAs and PCFs public. TCFD-aligned disclosure embedded. Board-level oversight exists. Not a B Corp or mission-locked entity.

No significant environmental fines >$10,000 in past four fiscal years. No greenwashing lawsuits, regulatory actions, or credible NGO criticisms of environmental claims found. InfluenceMap rates climate policy engagement as positive but limited. Minor misalignment: member of US Chamber of Commerce, which has historically opposed some climate legislation. Discloses trade memberships but lacks detailed position alignment.