Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan reports full Scope 1 (462 kt CO₂e) and Scope 2 (1,266 kt CO₂e) for FY2023 using GHG Protocol methodology. Data is third-party assured by KPMG AZSA Sustainability Co., Ltd. Multi-year tracking is available through annual Sustainability Data Books since 2004, with granular breakdown by region. However, manufacturing emissions per vehicle (0.48t CO₂e in 2023) showed only 0.5% improvement vs 2018, indicating very slow progress on operational decarbonisation.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan quantifies Scope 3 emissions across material categories, reporting approximately 116.7 million tonnes CO₂e in 2023, with products-in-use representing the largest category at nearly 100 million tonnes. The company has engaged suppliers on green steel (Nippon Steel, JFE, POSCO) and green/recycled aluminium (Kobe Steel, UACJ), and publishes Supplier Sustainability Guidelines. However, the Lead the Charge scorecard notes poor battery sustainability disclosure (4%) and no disaggregated supply

Emissions Trajectory: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan's targets are predominantly intensity-based (per vehicle produced, per vehicle kilometre). The 52% manufacturing CO₂ reduction target by 2030 (vs 2018) is intensity-based per unit, and as of 2024 Nissan has achieved only 18.92% of the planned reduction per Tracenable. The absolute Scope 1+2 target (30% reduction by 2030 from 2018) exists but total lifecycle emissions remain enormous (~118 Mt) dominated by Scope 3 use-of-sold-products. With 3.4 million vehicles sold annually, most still IC

Energy Source: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan's renewable energy usage at production sites was only approximately 11.1% as of 2021 — very low for a major global manufacturer. The company is not an RE100 member. Some on-site solar installations exist (30 MW at Huadu China, facilities in India, Egypt, Thailand, Mexico) and the Aguascalientes Mexico plant achieved 50% renewable in 2021. However, given Japan's carbon-intensive grid and Nissan's massive global manufacturing footprint, the overall renewable share is minimal with no clear n

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan's Sustainability Data Book 2025 references alignment with TNFD recommendations and TCFD. The NGP2030 programme addresses nature under its three-pillar structure. The company has assessed nature dependencies and published a Responsible Materials Sourcing Policy (July 2025). However, there is no quantified biodiversity footprint, no deforestation-free commitment with third-party verification, and the Lead the Charge scorecard noted limited concrete actions on supply chain sustainability. Th

Resource Use & Waste: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan reports 32% sustainable materials in manufacturing across major markets as of 2023, with a target of 40% by 2030. The company has a 4R battery programme (Reuse, Refabricate, Resell, Recycle) and recycled approximately 150,000 of 158,000 tonnes of manufacturing waste in 2021. Green steel and recycled aluminium procurement is expanding. However, the Lead the Charge scorecard rated Nissan 0 across all battery recycling indicators and noted it was a laggard on closed-loop systems. New vehicle

Water Impact: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan has received CDP A-list recognition for water security. Water stress is assessed at all global manufacturing sites using WRI Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. The company manages wastewater to stricter standards than local regulations, with automated water quality sensors at discharge ports in Japan. Some sites have achieved zero wastewater discharge through reverse osmosis. NGP2030 targets water usage reduction at high-risk sites. However, specific quantified water consumption data and year-on-

Targets & Commitments: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan has SBTi-validated well-below 2°C targets and committed to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C campaign (first Japanese automaker to do so). Targets include 30% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction by 2030 (vs 2018) and 32.5% per-vehicle-km reduction for Scope 3. Carbon neutrality by 2050 across lifecycle. However, the Scope 3 target is intensity-based per vehicle kilometre (not absolute), and delivery is lagging — only 18.92% of the manufacturing target achieved as of 2024. Absolute targets score hi

Transparency & Accountability: How does Nissan Motor score?

Nissan publishes comprehensive annual Sustainability Data Books (GRI-aligned since 2004), an inaugural Integrated Report in 2024, and TCFD/TNFD-aligned disclosures. A Chief Sustainability Officer (Joji Tagawa, then succeeded) reports at senior vice president level. Third-party limited assurance by KPMG AZSA. CDP A-list for climate and water. Published industry association review (third iteration in July 2025). However, no evidence of executive compensation linked to sustainability targets was fo

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Nissan Motor score?

Starting at 8. Deduct 1: In 2016, South Korean authorities accused Nissan of using a defeat device for emissions data manipulation on the Qashqai; Nissan denied it but the allegation was credible and from a regulatory body. Deduct 1: InfluenceMap documents mixed climate policy engagement — Nissan advocated to weaken the UK ZEV mandate and delay penalties by two years (2025 reporting). Deduct 1: Membership in trade associations with negative climate advocacy including JAMA (CEO is vice president)

Nissan Motor Sustainability Score: 26/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Nissan Motor·Automotive·Chūō, Japan·Founded 1965·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Nissan reports comprehensive climate data but delivery is stalled: manufacturing emissions per vehicle improved only 0.5% since 2018, and it has achieved just 19% of its 2030 reduction target as of 2024. Renewable energy adoption remains at 11%. Supply chain emissions dominate at 118 Mt CO₂e annually, yet battery recycling disclosure is zero and closed-loop systems are absent. Regulatory pushback on climate policy weakens credibility.

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.

47 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 35) + (0.7 × 47) = 43.4

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.6

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

26 / 100

The ten questions

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

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Emissions Trajectory (2/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Self-reported

Nissan Sustainability Library 2025

2025

Q1Q5Q9

Every score shows its working.

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

Every document used, listed.

Where Nissan Motor sits among automotive peers.

Nissan Motor'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.

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