FirstGroup sustainability score: 44/100
Making progress starts at 46. 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.
FirstGroup runs bus and rail services in the UK. In the 52 weeks to 28 March 2026, First Rail made £3,327.6 million and First Bus £1,443.6 million of its £4,751.9 million revenue.
More about FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a Scottish company, incorporated in 1995 as FirstBus plc, with its registered office in Aberdeen. It had an average of 30,995 employees in the year.
Founded 1995Head office Aberdeen, United KingdomStaff ~30,995 average (52 weeks to 28 March 2026)Revenue ~£4.75B revenue (£4,751.9M, statutory, 52 weeks to 28 March 2026)Website ↗
FirstGroup's footprint was 1,543,598 tCO2e in its 2026 financial year, and 61% of it was Scope 3, mostly purchased goods estimated from spend. Scope 1 and 2 fell 7% on a location basis but rose 3% on a market basis, because its traction electricity is largely non-renewable. 8% of its energy is renewable; its renewable electricity rests on REGO certificates. SBTi has validated a 63% absolute cut in Scope 1 and 2 by FY2035 from FY2020, but lists its net-zero commitment as removed. 25.9% of its buses are zero emission, and Grant Thornton gave limited assurance over its Scope 1 and 2 figures. No environmental fines were found since 2022.
FirstGroup scores 44/100 (Below expectations) 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 FirstGroup joint 311th of 1,043 companies scored, and joint 1st of 3 in Passenger Transport.
What is FirstGroup doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Transparency & Accountability (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (3/10, 4/10).
Where FirstGroup 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
- How clean its energy isMove to a renewable energy tariff or make a major efficiency investment.
- Its effect on natureMeasure its effect on nature and have it independently verified.
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations8/10No verified figures published with their method and a falling trend.
- 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 is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No verified figures for reuse and recycling across the business.
- Its effect on water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets7/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports8/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
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 FirstGroup's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is FirstGroup's score based on?
10 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
50% of them were published by FirstGroup itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Total Scope 1 and Scope 2 (location based) 601,308 645,369* 695,213”
“Total Scope 1, Scope 2 and selected Scope 3 emissions (market) 803,239”
“engage strategic suppliers with science based targets”
“These have been validated by the SBTi.”
“FirstGroup commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 63% by FY2035 from a FY2020 base year.”
“only six have set any targets between 2030 and their net-zero year: American Airlines Group, FirstGroup”
“We are committed to working with our divisions and other industry partners to protect, monitor and enhance biodiversity across our networks.”
“British bus operator FirstGroup and Dutch rail company NS Groep ranked third and fourth”
“comprehensive low-carbon transition plan”
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How does FirstGroup compare with other passenger transport companies?
FirstGroup shares top spot among passenger transport peers.
Among the 3 major passenger transport brands we've scored, FirstGroup is tied =1st of 3, with 1 other.
Who comes next in Passenger Transport?
FirstGroup leads its sector. These are the next 2 down.
Mobico reports Scope 1 and 2 data with third-party assurance and SBTi-validated 2035 targets, but one-year emissions reduction is unproven and ZEVs remain 9.3% of fleet.
See the breakdown →Eurostar’s Scope 1 and 2 emissions rose from 63,134 to 67,668 tonnes between 2022 and 2023, and Scope 3 rose 29%, despite joining RE100.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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