Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Linde score?

Linde's 2024 Sustainable Development Report (published June 2025) discloses total GHG emissions of 37.4 million MT CO₂e for 2024, down from 38.1 million MT CO₂e in 2023 and 38.8 million MT CO₂e in 2022 (ESG Data Overview, December 2024). Scope 1 for 2023 was ~16.6 million MT CO₂e (per DitchCarbon citing Linde data); 73% of Scope 1 is natural gas used as feedstock for hydrogen production (CDP 2024 response). Scope 2 market-based was approximately 875,000 MT CO₂e in 2023. Reporting follows GHG Pro

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Linde score?

Linde publishes a full Scope 3 inventory with all relevant categories — confirmed in the 2022 Sustainable Development Report and CDP 2024 response, where it is described as one of a small number of companies to publish a complete Scope 3 inventory. Third-party data (DitchCarbon) reports 2023 Scope 3 at approximately 25.4 billion kg CO₂e (~25.4 million MT). However, the CDP 2024 response acknowledges that supplier identification and value chain mapping is 'in the very early stages for the majorit

Emissions Trajectory: How does Linde score?

Absolute GHG emissions (Scope 1+2) have declined year-on-year: 2021 baseline (~39.8Mt implied), 2022: -2.8%, 2023: -4.4% (38.1 Mt), 2024: -6.2% (37.4 Mt) vs 2021 baseline per 2024 Sustainable Development Report. This is a consistent multi-year absolute reduction trajectory. The SBTi-validated target is 35% absolute reduction by 2035 from 2021. However, the target covers only Scope 1 and 2 — Scope 3 has no validated reduction target and the value chain mapping is early-stage. The reduction rate o

Energy Source: How does Linde score?

In 2024, Linde sourced 47% of its total electricity consumption from low-carbon sources (2024 Sustainable Development Report, June 2025), up from approximately one-third in 2022. Active procurement includes 25-year PPAs signed in China with GEG and CTG for 320 GWh/year of renewable energy (February 2024), and long-term power contracts in India tripling renewable use. In eight European countries, all electricity purchases from the grid are zero-carbon (Climate Transition Plan, July 2023). No RE10

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Linde score?

Linde's 2024 CDP response explicitly states: 'Linde does not have dependencies on biodiversity for our products and we do not have significant impacts on biodiversity from our operations. Therefore, there are not targets associated with biodiversity at this time.' No TNFD-aligned disclosure was found. Linde references a 'Position Statement on the Importance of Ecosystems' and acknowledges the claim that it has no material biodiversity impact. However, as a large global industrial operator using

Resource Use & Waste: How does Linde score?

Linde's Zero Waste Program has 451 sites diverting 90%+ of waste from landfills as of 2024, beating its 2028 target of 450 sites four years early (2024 Sustainable Development Report). In 2023, productivity efforts diverted more than 250 million pounds of waste from landfills. The program is now being extended to all production sites globally. Measurable circular targets exist and are being tracked publicly. However, Scope 3 supply chain material footprint is not fully assessed, and the primary

Water Impact: How does Linde score?

Linde uses water primarily for cooling processes and hydrogen production. More than 75% of global freshwater withdrawal is returned to its source at same or better quality (CDP 2024 response). In 2023, 500 million gallons of water were saved through sustainability initiatives. A new 2035 target was introduced in 2024 to reduce water withdrawal intensity 20% at high-water-use sites in water-stressed areas, with 64 sites in scope (CDP 2024 response). In 2023, Linde reported zero significant fines

Targets & Commitments: How does Linde score?

Linde's SBTi near-term target — 35% absolute reduction in Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2035 vs 2021 baseline — was validated by SBTi in October 2022 and confirmed as Paris-aligned. This is an absolute (not intensity) target. A 2050 climate neutrality ambition is stated. A $3 billion decarbonisation investment commitment was announced in 2024. No SBTi net-zero validated target exists and Scope 3 has no validated reduction target. No evidence of meaningful offset reliance found. Score of 6 refle

Transparency & Accountability: How does Linde score?

Linde has a Board Sustainability Committee with formal charter responsibilities for climate, water, and environmental matters; sustainability is reviewed at 80%+ of Board meetings (CDP 2024 response). Annual Sustainable Development Reports are published (2022, 2023, 2024 all available), CDP Climate Change responses are published, and annual third-party external audit of ESG metrics is performed. GRI Standards-aligned reporting confirmed (2022 SDR). TCFD-aligned disclosures exist including scenar

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Linde score?

Violation Tracker (Good Jobs First) records $171 million in penalties across 128 records since 2000 for Linde and predecessor entities, indicating a pattern of regulatory violations. In 2023, Linde reported zero significant environmental fines (CDP 2024 response), suggesting recent compliance improvement. On lobbying: InfluenceMap's LobbyMap (updated Q2 2025) finds Linde's direct engagement with specific climate policies 'limited and predominantly negative,' citing opposition to strict RFNBO req

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Linde Sustainability Score: 32/100

◌ Pending Review

⚗️ ChemicalsGBBelow expectations

~65,300 employees~$33B revenue37.4Mt CO₂e totalRanked #343 of 503Website ↗

Linde is a chemicals company headquartered in GB with total reported emissions of 37.4Mt CO₂e per year. Based on our 10-question rubric, Linde scores 32/100 — rated as below expectations on sustainability for a company of its size and profile.

SINK Score Breakdown

How we calculated Linde's score using our formula: (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale Penalty

Base Impact

Chemicals industry ceiling

Performance

54/100

10 questions scored below

Scale Penalty

0.7x

emissions volume multiplier

SINK Score

(0.3 × 25 + 0.7 × 54) × 0.7 = 32

Emissions Breakdown

Scope 1

16.6Mt

Direct emissions

Scope 2

875Kt

Energy (purchased)

Scope 3

25394.5Mt

Value chain

Total

37.4Mt

CO₂e per year

10-Question Rubric Breakdown

Click any question to see the reasoning, sources and community challenges.

7/10

Carbon Footprint — Operations

5/10

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain

6/10

Emissions Trajectory

5/10

Energy Source

3/10

Nature & Biodiversity Impact

5/10

Resource Use & Waste

5/10

Water Impact

6/10

Targets & Commitments

7/10

Transparency & Accountability

Q10

5/10

Controversies & Red Flags

Community Verification

0 verifications · 0 challenges · Scored using SINK editorial review

Last scored: 11 Apr 2026

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