Sustainability Comparison

Shell vs TotalEnergies Sustainability: SINK Score Comparison

TotalEnergies scores 1 point higher than Shell on SINK's sustainability index.

Question-by-question

How each category compares

Category
Shell
TotalEnergies
Carbon Footprint — Operations
6/10
6/10
Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain
3/10
4/10
Emissions Trajectory
3/10
2/10
Energy Source
2/10
3/10
Nature & Biodiversity Impact
3/10
3/10
Resource Use & Waste
3/10
4/10
Water Impact
4/10
5/10
Targets & Commitments
2/10
2/10
Transparency & Accountability
5/10
5/10
Controversies & Red Flags
1/10
1/10
Frequently asked

Shell vs TotalEnergies, answered.

Which is more sustainable, Shell or TotalEnergies?

TotalEnergies is more sustainable according to SINK's open sustainability index, scoring 18/100 vs Shell's 17/100 — a difference of 1 points.

What is Shell's SINK sustainability score?

Shell scores 17/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Significant gaps). Shell reports verified Scope 1+2 cuts but driven by asset sales, not decarbonisation. Scope 3 coverage is selective and excludes petrochemicals. The company uses phantom carbon credits, withdrew from SBTi, eliminated its 2035 target, and actively opposes climate policy through trade associations. Greenwashing convictions and lawsuits compound a fundamentally unaligned net-zero claim.

What is TotalEnergies's SINK sustainability score?

TotalEnergies scores 18/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Significant gaps). TotalEnergies claims climate leadership while expanding oil and gas production 3% annually and maintaining flat absolute emissions. A 2025 Paris court ruling found the company engaged in greenwashing. Scope 3 emissions remain unchecked at 400+ Mt CO₂e, intensity targets mask production growth, and operations in sensitive ecosystems displace communities and contaminate water.

How does SINK compare Shell and TotalEnergies?

Both companies are rated on the same 10-question SINK rubric: Scope 1/2/3 carbon footprint, energy source, nature and biodiversity, resource use, water, emissions trajectory, science-based targets, transparency, and controversies. Scores are 0–100, based on public data, and fully reproducible.

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