Chipotle Mexican Grill·Food Service / Restaurants·Denver, Colorado, US·Founded 1993·Last verified 31 May 2026
41
out of 100
Below expectationsPending Review

Chipotle reports comprehensive Scope 1 & 2 emissions tracking and SBTi-validated 2030 targets, but absolute total emissions have surged 26% year-on-year, driven by Scope 3 more than tripling since 2019. The company's renewable energy purchases rely on RECs without demonstrated additionality. Critical gaps: no quantified water reduction targets across supply chain, no deforestation verification, and escalating emissions undermine near-term target credibility.

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
Food Service / Restaurants sector ceiling.
45 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
53 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 45) + (0.7 × 53) = 50.6
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.82
Final score
Rounded. Below expectations.
41 / 100
The ten questions

Where Chipotle Mexican Grill is strong, and where it isn't.

Strongest on Carbon Footprint — Operations and Targets & Commitments (7/10, 7/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Water Impact (2/10, 4/10).

Where the evidence comes from

Every document used, listed.

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

[1]Self-reported
Chipotle 2024 Sustainability Report
2025
Q1Q2Q3Q4Q5Q6Q9
View →
[2]Third-party verified
Ditch Carbon—Chipotle Organization Profile
Ongoing
Q1Q2Q3Q8
View →
[3]Self-reported
Chipotle Sustainability Page
Ongoing
Q5Q6Q9
View →
[4]Public record
Chipotle Launches All-Electric, 100% Renewable Energy-Powered Restaurants
Unknown
Q4
View →
[5]Self-reported
Chipotle 2023 Sustainability Report Update
2024
Q7
View →
[6]Third-party verified
Six Fast-Food Giants Commit to Science-Based Targets, But Challenges Remain
Unknown
Q7
View →
[7]Self-reported
Chipotle Sets Science-Based Climate Goals To Reduce Carbon Emissions 50% By 2030
2021
Q8
View →
[8]Public record
BBB Programs—Chipotle Sustainability Claims
2022
Q10
View →
[9]Public record
DOJ—Chipotle Mexican Grill Deferred Prosecution Agreement
2020
Q10
View →

If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.

Chipotle Mexican Grill in context

Where Chipotle Mexican Grill sits among food service / restaurants peers.

Among the 46 major food service / restaurants brands we've scored, Chipotle Mexican Grill sits 11th of 46.

11/46
Chipotle Mexican Grill's rank
34
Industry average
19
Industry low
50
Industry high
How this score has moved

Chipotle Mexican Grill's score over time.

today

Score history begins 5 April 2026.

As Chipotle Mexican Grill's score updates, the trajectory will appear here.

We're backfilling historical scores for FTSE 100 and S&P 100 companies over the coming weeks.

What's being contested

This score is not currently being contested.

Every challenge is published. We'd rather be corrected than wrong — that's the whole point.

No challenges submitted yet. If you have evidence that contradicts this score, you can challenge any question above — cite a public source and we'll review it.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill operates fast-casual Mexican restaurants across North America. Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, it operates approximately 3,700 locations with 45,200 employees. The company emphasizes sourcing integrity and has integrated sustainability messaging into brand positioning, but faces scrutiny over greenwashing claims and supply chain environmental footprints.

Founded
1993
Headquarters
Denver, Colorado, US
Employees
~130,000
Annual revenue
~$11.3B
Company website ↗
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