RELX sustainability score: 58/100
RELX is a Dutch information analytics and publishing conglomerate headquartered in Amsterdam, operating in academic publishing (Elsevier), legal research, clinical analytics, and risk data. The company serves financial services, government, and energy sectors, with a 2024 revenue of €9.1 billion.
More about RELX
Founded in 1993 as LexisNexis parent, RELX operates a hybrid physical-digital business model.
Head office NetherlandsStaff ~36,400Revenue ~£9.4BWebsite ↗
RELX operates strong emissions reduction in operations (61% absolute cut since 2018) and holds validated 1.5°C targets, but Scope 3 emissions are flat and fossil fuel sector engagement creates material greenwashing concerns. Third-party criticism documents data services, publications, and exhibitions serving oil and gas clients while publicly claiming climate leadership.
RELX scores 58/100 (Making progress) 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 August 2026.
That places RELX joint 25th of 934 companies scored, and joint 6th of 28 in Media / Entertainment / Publishing.
What is RELX doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Transparency & Accountability (8/10, 8/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Water Impact (4/10, 4/10).
Where RELX 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 chain6/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling7/10No consistent fall over several years across its operations and supply chain.
- How clean its energy is7/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water4/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets7/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports8/10No mission-locked structure, such as B Corp certification.
- 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 RELX's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is RELX's score based on?
11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
55% of them were published by RELX itself; the rest come from independent sources.
“Gross Scope 1 emissions (tCO2e) 8,126 [2018] 4,317 [2023] 2,703 [2024] -37%”
“Reported data covers approximately 85% of occupied floor space based on electricity reporting.”
“Total Scope 1 + Scope 2 (location-based) emissions tCO2e: 83,320 [2018] 32,692 [2024] 21,466 [2025] -34%”
“Scope 3 (flights) emissions increased by 24% over 2024 as business travel returns towards expected levels”
“US Green-e certified RECs are also purchased to equal 100% of any non-renewable electricity consumed outside of the US”
“In the year, the SBTi successfully validated our targets against the 1.5°C criteria”
“60% of its suppliers by spend... will have science-based targets by 2027”
“Waste sent to/diverted from landfill (t): 45 [2023] 44 [2024] -3%”
“Elsevier and RELX provide data services to oil, gas, and coal companies”
“RELX continues to turn a blind eye to its activities that enable other entities to remain high emitters”
“alleging the information and analytics company retaliated against him and committed securities fraud”
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How does RELX compare with other media / entertainment / publishing companies?
Where RELX sits among media / entertainment / publishing peers.
Among the 28 major media / entertainment / publishing brands we've scored, RELX is tied =6th of 28, with 1 other.
Who scores higher in Media / Entertainment / Publishing?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above RELX.
Pearson has cut absolute emissions 57% since 2018 and holds SBTi-validated targets through 2050.
See the breakdown →The BBC's footprint was 345,018 tCO2e in 2025/26, mostly the programmes and services it buys, down from 404,102 t in 2019/20, partly because it made fewer productions.
See the breakdown →Auto Trader has strong operational emissions reduction (30% year-on-year) and renewable energy coverage (99%), backed by SBTi targets and third-party verification.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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