Carbon Footprint — Operations: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest reports Scope 1 (~21.1 Mt CO2e) and Scope 2 (~16.7 Kt CO2e) in its 2024 One Report using GHG Protocol methodology, with multi-year tracking. The 2023 Planet Snapshot reported 24,873,759 MT CO2e total. Disclosures are informed by GRI and SASB frameworks, and the airline is among ten airlines reporting Scope 1-3 data continuously from 2019-2022. However, there is limited evidence of independent third-party verification of emissions data specifically.

Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest quantifies Scope 3 Category 3 (upstream fuel emissions) which represents approximately 78% of its Scope 3 footprint. It also reports purchased goods and services (~996 Mt CO2e) and employee commuting (~157 Mt CO2e). However, its net zero goal explicitly excludes emissions from non-fuel products and services, limiting the coverage of material Scope 3 categories. No comprehensive supplier engagement programme for emissions reduction across full value chain.

Emissions Trajectory: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Absolute emissions are demonstrably rising: total emissions increased from approximately 24.9 Mt CO2e in 2023 to 25.6 Mt CO2e in 2024. All targets are intensity-based (per RTK), not absolute reduction targets. Southwest's 25% by 2030 and 50% by 2035 reduction goals are carbon intensity targets compared to a 2019 baseline. Per the SINK rubric, intensity improvements while absolute emissions rise cannot score above 4, and since emissions are actively rising, this scores 0.

Energy Source: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest consumed 2.19 billion gallons of conventional jet fuel in 2024, which is overwhelmingly fossil-based. The airline sources 100% renewable electricity for its Dallas corporate campus via RECs since 2021, but this is negligible compared to flight operations. SAF usage is a tiny fraction — global SAF met only ~0.3% of jet fuel demand in 2024. The 10% SAF by 2030 goal is aspirational, and in 2025 the airline gutted its sustainability/SAF teams and sold its SAFFiRE Renewables subsidiary. No

Nature & Biodiversity Impact: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest states it 'understands the importance of biodiversity' and partnered with conservation groups through donations in 2024. Its SAF procurement policy excludes palm oil and requires SAF not contribute to deforestation. Carbon offset projects include forest conservation and mangrove restoration with biodiversity co-benefits. However, there is no quantified nature footprint, no TNFD disclosure, and no systematic biodiversity risk assessment. Aviation's impacts on local air quality near airp

Resource Use & Waste: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest has set specific circularity targets: reduce single-use plastics from inflight service 50% by weight by 2025 and 70% by 2030. In 2024 it introduced bamboo cold cups (93% non-plastic) and FSC-certified birch wood stir sticks. The Repurpose with Purpose upcycling program has run for 10 years, diverting thousands of pounds of aircraft seat leather from landfill. Environmental policy includes EMS and CMS systems. However, no comprehensive waste metrics are published and no verified circula

Water Impact: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest's Environmental Policy mentions conserving water and raw materials. Historical documents reference low-flow plumbing, auto-shutoff faucets, LEED standards for water efficiency, drought-tolerant landscaping, and recycling engine wash water. The company uses an environmentally friendlier de-icing fluid. However, no quantified water footprint, water reduction targets, or water consumption data have been published. Water impact is relatively modest for an airline compared to water-intensiv

Targets & Commitments: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest has a net zero by 2050 goal but this covers only Scope 1, 2, and Scope 3 Category 3 — excluding most supply chain emissions. All interim targets are intensity-based (25% by 2030, 50% by 2035 per RTK), not absolute. Southwest has NOT committed to SBTi, while competitors Delta, United, and American have. A shareholder resolution requested 1.5°C-aligned science-based targets but Southwest has not adopted them. The airline offers carbon offsets to customers through CHOOOSE. In 2025, Southw

Transparency & Accountability: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Southwest publishes an annual integrated One Report with GRI, SASB, and TCFD frameworks. It published a Climate Advocacy report in 2024 disclosing lobbying positions. It has a dedicated Environmental Policy and has used an EMS/CMS system. A Managing Director of Environmental Sustainability role existed. However, in early 2025, Southwest cut 4 of 6 environmental sustainability team members and 3 of 4 SAF procurement staff under pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, signif

Controversies & Red Flags: How does Southwest Airlines score?

Starting at 8: No direct greenwashing lawsuits against Southwest specifically (unlike Delta's carbon-neutral class action). However, InfluenceMap identifies Southwest as part of the SAF BTC Coalition that pushed for weaker federal SAF sustainability criteria, and notes it opposes stringent SAF standards and mandatory intrastate jet fuel inclusion under California's LCFS (-1). Southwest is a member of Airlines for America and the US Chamber of Commerce, both negatively engaged on climate policy (

Southwest Airlines Sustainability Score: 23/100

Recently scored: Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis Groupe, WPP

507 companies scored·4 score updates this week

Southwest Airlines·Aerospace·Dallas, United States·Founded 1976·Last verified 21 April 2026

out of 100

Significant gapsPending Review

Southwest's sustainability posture collapsed in early 2025 when activist pressure led to gutting its environmental team and selling its renewable fuel subsidiary. Absolute emissions are rising while targets remain intensity-based only. The airline has retreated from stated climate commitments while lobbying against stronger SAF standards.

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

Aerospace sector ceiling.

38 / 100

Performance score

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

31 / 100

Raw score

Weighted average before scale penalty.

(0.3 × 38) + (0.7 × 31) = 33.1

Scale penalty

Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.

× 0.7

Final score

Rounded. Significant gaps.

23 / 100

The ten questions

Where Southwest Airlines is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain (6/10, 5/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Energy Source (0/10, 1/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Self-reported

2023 One Report — Planet Snapshot

2024

Every score shows its working.

Where Southwest Airlines is strong, and where it isn't.

Every document used, listed.

Where Southwest Airlines sits among aerospace peers.

Southwest Airlines'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.