BMW scores 2 points higher than Volkswagen on SINK's sustainability index.
BMW is more sustainable according to SINK's open sustainability index, scoring 30/100 vs Volkswagen's 28/100 — a difference of 2 points.
Volkswagen scores 28/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Significant gaps). Volkswagen reports strong operational emissions reductions but masks worsening total impact: Scope 3 rose 4.4% to 420Mt CO2e in 2023 while intensity-only targets obscure absolute growth. Dieselgate—systematic fraud costing $33.3B+ in fines—remains the defining scandal. Lobbying misalignment and supply chain opacity compound credibility gaps.
BMW scores 30/100 on the SINK sustainability index (Significant gaps). BMW reports comprehensive operational emissions data and has achieved 100% renewable electricity at production sites since 2020. However, intensity-based climate targets mask production growth risks, nature impacts remain largely unquantified, and the company's active opposition to EU ice-phase-out regulations and membership in misaligned trade associations substantially undermine its sustainability claims.
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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