The Wendy's Company sustainability score: 36/100
The Wendy's Company operates a global network of quick-service restaurants, primarily in North America. Founded in 1969 as a hamburger chain, it has grown to over 7,200 locations across the US and internationally.
More about The Wendy's Company
Wendy's business model relies heavily on franchised operations and a beef-centric menu, making supply chain emissions reduction central to any credible climate strategy.
Founded 1890Head office Sandy Springs, United StatesStaff ~14,500Revenue ~$2.2BWebsite ↗
Wendy's has cut operational emissions 37% since 2019 but masks stagnant total progress through intensity metrics. Scope 3—99% of emissions—barely moved in absolute terms. Renewable energy covers ~200 of 7,200+ restaurants. Supply chain biodiversity risks remain unquantified and largely unaddressed despite beef's dominance.
The Wendy's Company scores 36/100 (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 May 2026.
That places The Wendy's Company joint 512th of 934 companies scored, and 20th of 51 in Food Service / Restaurants.
What is The Wendy's Company doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Carbon Footprint: Operations and Carbon Footprint: Supply Chain (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Energy Source and Emissions Trajectory (3/10, 4/10).
Where The Wendy's Company lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
- Emissions from its own operations7/10Its own emissions aren't independently verified or tracked over several years.
- Emissions from its supply chain7/10No full value-chain map or supplier engagement programme.
- Whether its emissions are falling4/10No evidence of a year-on-year fall in its total emissions.
- How clean its energy is3/10No renewable energy tariff or major efficiency investment shown.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste4/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water6/10No water stewardship programme or verified fall in water use.
- Its climate targets6/10Its targets aren't validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports6/10No annual impact report, or no pay linked to climate targets.
- Its record on controversies7/10Points 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 The Wendy's Company's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is The Wendy's Company's score based on?
12 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
58% of them were published by The Wendy's Company itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 5 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
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How does The Wendy's Company compare with other food service / restaurants companies?
Where The Wendy's Company sits among food service / restaurants peers.
Among the 51 major food service / restaurants brands we've scored, The Wendy's Company sits 20th of 51.
Who scores higher in Food Service / Restaurants?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above The Wendy's Company.
Domino's has SBTi-validated climate targets but relies on intensity-based Scope 3 reductions while absolute emissions from operations are rising.
See the breakdown →Costa Coffee discloses emissions data only through Companies House filings, not directly, and relies on intensity-based targets despite rising absolute emissions (+30% in 2022).
See the breakdown →Nando's operates 1,200+ outlets globally with minimal public emissions data despite SBTi validation.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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