Qualcomm sustainability score: 38/100
Qualcomm supplies chips and system software for phones, cars and connected devices, most of them made by outside manufacturers, and licenses its patents. Its chip business brought in US$38,367 million and licensing US$5,582 million of its US$44,284 million revenue in its year to 28 September 2025.
More about Qualcomm
QUALCOMM Incorporated was incorporated in California in 1985 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1991. It had about 52,000 workers at 28 September 2025.
Founded 1985Head office San Diego, United StatesStaff ~52,000 (28 September 2025, year-end; full-time, part-time and temporary workers)Revenue ~US$44.3B (FY ended 28 September 2025; US$44,284 million)Website ↗
Qualcomm reported 4,461,955 tCO2e for FY2025, up from 4,126,846 t in FY2024; the figure includes outsourced chipmaking and use of its products, and its Scope 3 is not assured. Of its purchased electricity, 41.7% was under PPAs, 29.3% rested on certificates, with no bundled or unbundled split, and 29.1% was non-renewable. Its targets are SBTi-validated: 50% off Scope 1 and 2 and 25% off Scope 3 by FY2030, and net zero by FY2040. Scope 3 is about 57% above its base year. It has no water targets yet. It pays dues to trade groups named as opposing climate policy, and Greenpeace East Asia criticises its supplier action.
Qualcomm scores 38/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Companies can never pay for anything about their own score. Last verified November 2026.
That places Qualcomm joint 479th of 994 companies scored, and joint 18th of 41 in Electronics / Hardware.
What is Qualcomm doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Targets & Commitments (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Nature & Biodiversity Impact (0/10, 2/10).
Where Qualcomm lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- 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 falling0/10No evidence its emissions are falling, not even from energy bills or mileage.
- How clean its energy is5/10Less than half its energy shown to be renewable, or no transition plan.
- Its effect on nature2/10No assessment of its effect on nature, and no basic environmental policy.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets8/10No validated long-term net zero target.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies5/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
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 Qualcomm's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is Qualcomm's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
25% of them were published by Qualcomm itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scope 2, FY2025: market-based 108,765 t, location-based 311,111 t. The score uses market-based.
9 of 12 sources are independent of the company.
“Total Scope 1 — Direct GHG emissions by weight CO2e metric tons 44,871 84,465 80,589”
“to a reasonable level of assurance and materiality of 5%”
“Overall, these suppliers represent approx. 65% of category 1 emissions.”
“Nvidia, Broadcom, and Qualcomm have taken minimal steps to abate emissions from their suppliers”
“Qualcomm Incorporated commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 from a FY2020 base year.”
“BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE (THE) $ 3 50,000 $ 157,500”
“QCT utilizes a fabless production model, which means that we do not own or operate foundries”
“both Qualcomm and Broadcom still don’t have targets for their operations or supply chains.”
“six companies, including Nvidia, Broadcom, and Qualcomm, received failing grades.”
“Year : 2011”
“Without efforts across its entire supply chain, Qualcomm will not be able to deliver on its net-zero promise.”
“Qualcomm and Broadcom have yet to establish targets for either their operations or supply chains.”
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How does Qualcomm compare with other electronics / hardware companies?
Where Qualcomm sits among electronics / hardware peers.
Among the 41 major electronics / hardware brands we've scored, Qualcomm is tied =18th of 41, with 1 other.
Who scores higher in Electronics / Hardware?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Qualcomm.
Apple's total emissions fell from 23.2 Mt in FY2021 to 15.3 Mt in FY2025 but were flat from FY2024 to FY2025, and product-related Scope 3 rose in FY2025.
See the breakdown →Lenovo publishes credible climate data with third-party verification and SBTi-validated targets, but relies heavily on intensity-based Scope 3 metrics that allow absolute emissions to rise.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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