Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Pre-split Kellogg Company reported Scope 1 & 2 emissions through CDP and Better Days Promise, showing a 31.1% absolute reduction since 2015 and a 32.8% reduction by 2022 reporting. However, specific tonnage figures for the most recent years are behind paywalls or reported only in aggregate (Statista shows ~873Kt total GHG in 2019). The CDP Climate disclosure (2023) confirms GHG Protocol methodology and multi-year tracking. Post-split, WK Kellogg Co is still establishing its own baseline and has

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

The Carbon Trust completed a Scope 3 emissions inventory from 2015 to 2021 for Kellogg, identifying ingredients and packaging as the main emission hotspots. The company engaged suppliers representing 77% of global spend to report emissions through CDP Supply Chain. A 13% absolute reduction in Scope 3 was reported as of December 2021. A bespoke Scope 3 calculation tool was designed. This represents substantive supply chain engagement with methodology, though post-split data for WK Kellogg Co is n

Emissions Trajectory: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Pre-split Kellogg Company demonstrated meaningful absolute reductions: 31.1% in Scope 1&2 since 2015 and 13% in Scope 3 as of 2021. The company exceeded its initial emissions target one year early. These are genuine absolute reductions, not intensity-only. However, trajectory data post-split (October 2023) is limited — WK Kellogg Co is still establishing baselines. The reduction trend from the legacy entity was positive, but there is no current verified trajectory for the successor entities. Sco

Energy Source: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Pre-split Kellogg reported 40.3% renewable electricity in 2022. Kellanova signed a long-term wind energy VPPA in 2021 for ~360 GWh annually and was forecasting 90% renewable in North America by end of 2024. European operations achieved 100% renewable via RECs. However, European RECs are unbundled, limiting additionality. WK Kellogg Co (cereal business) has not yet published standalone renewable energy data. The company's Indian facility had 60% renewable from on-site solar. Overall a moderate tr

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Kellogg has significant nature exposure through agricultural supply chains (rice, wheat, corn, sugar, palm oil, soy). The company launched a Global Deforestation Policy with a 'Protect, Restore and Fund' framework and committed to FSC-certified packaging. It supported 485,000 farmers in sustainable agriculture. However, Palm Oil Detectives and Rainforest Action Network have criticised Kellogg's palm oil sourcing, noting purchases from mills linked to deforestation. The company had RSPO certifica

Resource Use & Waste: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Kellogg reported 23% reduction in food waste since 2016 (as of December 2021) against a target of 50% by 2030. The company committed to 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging, achieving 98% recyclable or recycle-ready packaging by 2024. These are measurable targets with documented progress. However, the company remains a large-scale producer of processed packaged goods in a fundamentally linear model. Score reflects genuine waste reduction efforts and packaging commitments with measu

Water Impact: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Kellogg reported a 17% reduction in water use in high water stress regions since 2015, against a target of 30% by 2030. The company assessed water risk profiles at all facilities using internal surveys and external data including WRI Aqueduct. Total water use was ~11.3 million cubic meters in 2019. As a food manufacturer, water is used both in production and as an ingredient, making it a material issue. Targets and monitoring are in place with specific focus on high-stress regions, but no third-

Targets & Commitments: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Pre-split Kellogg had SBTi-validated targets: 45% absolute Scope 1&2 reduction by 2030, 15% absolute Scope 3 reduction by 2030 (from 2015 baseline). Kellanova subsequently committed to SBTi net-zero by 2050, which was approved. These are absolute targets with science-based methodology. However, post-split WK Kellogg Co stated it would 'initiate its own SBTi process' but has not yet had targets validated. The legacy SBTi targets were for the combined entity. Score reflects strong historical commi

Transparency & Accountability: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Pre-split Kellogg Company reported publicly since 2008, disclosed to CDP annually, reported against SASB and GRI frameworks, and published TCFD-aligned disclosures. A Chief Sustainability Officer was in place with Board-level Social Responsibility Committee oversight. Sustainability metrics were linked to executive compensation through performance incentives. Post-split, WK Kellogg Co appointed a Chief Wellbeing and Sustainable Business Officer and released a 2024 Sustainable Business Report. Ho

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) score?

Starting at 8. Deduct 2 for credible NGO criticism of palm oil sourcing practices — Palm Oil Detectives and Rainforest Action Network identified purchasing from mills linked to deforestation, with Global Witness reporting tainted palm oil from Papua New Guinea plantations was sold to Kellogg's among others. Deduct 1 for GMO/Toxin Free USA greenwashing accusations regarding health claims on packaging (Froot Loops, Frosted Mini-Wheats). Deduct 1 for the lawsuit against the Mexican government over

Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) Sustainability Score: 40/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova)·Food & Beverage (non-meat)·Battle Creek, Michigan, US·Founded 1906·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Below expectationsPending Review

WK Kellogg Co inherited solid historical emissions reductions and science-based targets from pre-split Kellogg, but post-October 2023 the company has failed to establish standalone environmental baselines or validated commitments. Palm oil sourcing remains credibly linked to deforestation despite policy revamps. The 40/100 score reflects real past progress obscured by present data gaps and unresolved supply chain integrity issues.

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 & Beverage (non-meat) sector ceiling.

50 / 100

Performance score

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

48 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 50) + (0.7 × 48) = 48.6

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.82

Final score

Rounded. Below expectations.

40 / 100

The ten questions

Where Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (6/10, 6/10). Weakest on Controversies & Red Flags and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (3/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Self-reported

Kellogg Company On Track to Fulfill Environmental Sustainability Commitments

2021

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Every score shows its working.

Where Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova) sits among food & beverage (non-meat) peers.

Kellogg Company (now WK Kellogg Co / Kellanova)'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.