Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai reports Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions of more than 2.1 million tCO2e in 2024, measured per GHG Protocol with ISO 14001 certification across all production plants. Scope 2 accounts for ~70% of operational emissions. Third-party verification is primarily limited to domestic Scope 1-2 data per the SFOC report, with less rigorous assurance overseas. Multi-year tracking is published in annual Sustainability Factbook with three-year trend data.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Scope 3 emissions are only partially reported per SFOC's benchmarking report, with no supplier-level targets disclosed. Approximately 76% of Hyundai's total GHG emissions come from vehicles sold (use-phase Scope 3). The company has begun supply chain GHG data management systems and joined Drive Sustainability, but Greenpeace noted a 6% total emissions increase in 2023 driven largely by Scope 3. Full value chain mapping is incomplete, and the Mighty Earth Lead the Charge Leaderboard scored Hyunda

Emissions Trajectory: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai's absolute global emissions increased by 6% in 2023, with an 8.7 million tonne rise that Greenpeace noted exceeded Costa Rica's total annual emissions. The company's production is growing (100 million cumulative vehicles produced by 2024) and only 34% of production is forecast to be BEV by 2029 vs. the 57.5% required for 1.5°C alignment per IEA/InfluenceMap data. BEV sales represent a single-digit share of total volumes. Absolute emissions are demonstrably rising despite EV growth.

Energy Source: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai joined RE100 in April 2022 with a target of 100% renewable energy by 2045. Czech Republic and Indonesia plants achieved RE100 via REC purchases; Turkey plant at >90% RE in 2024. Korea signed its largest PPA (444MW) in 2024 for domestic operations. India at 63% RE and targeting 100% by 2025. However, the company was criticised for planning an LNG gas plant at Ulsan just weeks after joining RE100, which Greenpeace called 'little more than greenwashing.' Global renewable percentage remains

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai runs the IONIQ Forest project (aiming for 1 million trees by 2024) and partnered with IUCN for mangrove reforestation in Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Environmental management policy includes biodiversity protection as a key management item. However, Hyundai sources coal-powered aluminum from Adaro in Indonesia (estimated 5.2M tonnes CO2/year from coal plant), its steel supply chain relies heavily on coal-based production, and Cultural Survival has documented severe impacts on indigenous commu

Resource Use & Waste: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai's Car-to-Car Project recycles end-of-life vehicle materials into new production. Hyundai Motors Brazil achieved 98% recycling rate with a zero-landfill campaign since 2018. LCA coverage reached 62.2% of total vehicle sales (36 models). Hyundai Mobis achieved Zero Waste to Landfill Gold certification at Korean plants. The 2025 report covers circular economy initiatives. However, quantified circularity targets and metrics are still developing, and supply chain material sustainability (stee

Water Impact: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai operates zero-liquid-discharge systems at its India plant, recycling 100% of water. Water recycling efforts saved 2.9 million tonnes in 2024, valued at US$1.6 billion. The company conducts financial risk analysis for water-stressed regions (e.g., projected KRW 1.3 trillion impact if 10% of Indian sales affected by water shortages). Rainwater harvesting systems operate at Korean plants with six reservoirs. Water/waste improvement targets are reported to the board-level Sustainability Mana

Targets & Commitments: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai has pledged carbon neutrality by 2045 and full electrification in major markets by 2040, with KRW 120.5 trillion investment through 2033. However, its 2045 net-zero target is NOT SBTi-validated — SFOC, InfluenceMap, and Autocar confirm Hyundai has only registered short-term targets and the net-zero pledge lacks external validation. Interim targets have had base years adjusted, creating uncertainty about progress. BEV sales remain single-digit share of total volumes. Without SBTi validati

Transparency & Accountability: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Hyundai has published annual sustainability reports since 2003, aligned with GRI and ESRS standards. A board-level Sustainability Management Committee oversees all sustainability policies. ESG performance is embedded into executive KPIs with lead independent director and 33% female board representation. The company conducts TCFD disclosure and publishes a separate Sustainability Factbook. However, climate lobbying transparency is lacking — Hyundai does not disclose memberships of key trade group

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Hyundai Motor Company score?

Starting at 8, major deductions apply. Historic $100M EPA Clean Air Act fine for emissions misreporting on 1.2M vehicles (-2). Greenwashing criticism from Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Market Forces for LNG plant after RE100 pledge and coal-powered Adaro aluminum deal (-1). Hyundai E&C coal plant construction (Quang Trach 1 Vietnam, Matarbari Bangladesh, Cirebon 2 Indonesia) with HMC as largest shareholder (-1). InfluenceMap ranked Hyundai 25th most obstructive company on climate policy

Hyundai Motor Company Sustainability Score: 23/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Hyundai Motor Company·Automotive·Seoul, South Korea·Founded 1976·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review-16 since last review

Hyundai's sustainability record is dominated by rising absolute emissions, unvalidated net-zero claims, and greenwashing. Absolute emissions grew 6% in 2023. BEV sales remain single-digit. The company lacks SBTi validation, sources coal-powered aluminum, and faces documented criticism from Greenpeace and InfluenceMap for climate obstruction and misalignment between pledges and action.

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

Automotive sector ceiling.

35 / 100

Performance score

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

40 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 35) + (0.7 × 40) = 38.5

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.6

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

23 / 100

The ten questions

Where Hyundai Motor Company is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Transparency & Accountability (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Controversies & Red Flags (1/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Self-reported

Hyundai Motor 2025 Sustainability Report — Environmental

2025

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Every score shows its working.

Where Hyundai Motor Company is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Hyundai Motor Company sits among automotive peers.

Hyundai Motor Company'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.