Ford Motor Company sustainability score: 30/100

Ford reported Scope 1 (1.11 Mt CO2e) and Scope 2 market-based (1.36 Mt CO2e) for 2023 via third-party verification and GHG Protocol methodology. Data shows 49% reduction from 2017 baseline by end of 2024 with multi-year tracking. Granular facility-level breakdown available but limited public granularity in 2024 free-access data.

Scope 3 totaled ~361 Mt CO2e in 2024, down from ~384 Mt in 2023, with Category 11 (use of sold products) accounting for 80.95%. Ford engages 466 suppliers via CDP Supply Chain and collaborates with GM and Honda on standardized reporting. 25% supply chain reduction target by 2030 set in 2025. Scale remains enormous and largely driven by downstream ICE vehicle combustion.

49% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction from 2017 baseline by end of 2024 shows genuine year-on-year decline. Scope 3 fell from ~384 Mt (2023) to ~361 Mt (2024) but target is intensity-based (50% per vehicle-km by 2035), not absolute, meaning total Scope 3 can rise with vehicle sales growth. Operational progress masked by dominant supply chain category.

70.5% carbon-free electricity in global manufacturing operations in 2023; Cologne plant runs on 100% certified renewable electricity and biomethane. Targets 100% locally sourced renewable energy for manufacturing by 2035 and 100% carbon-free electricity for Michigan facilities by 2027. Additionality of some renewable procurement remains unclear.

2024 Integrated Report lacks TNFD-aligned nature disclosure. Ford engages raw material supply chain risks (nickel, cobalt, lithium) through audits and Supplier Code of Conduct. Uses agricultural by-products (soy foam, coffee chaff) in materials. No quantified biodiversity footprint, no deforestation-free commitment with third-party verification, no formal TNFD reporting.

Zero waste to landfill target for 2030; aspires to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030. Uses soy foam (25M+ vehicles since 2007), coffee chaff partnerships, and aims for 100% recycled and renewable plastics. First Movers Coalition member committing to 10% near-zero steel and aluminum purchases. Full circularity and closed-loop systems not yet realized.

76.2% freshwater reduction since 2000 baseline, exceeding targets ahead of schedule. Monitors water discharge at 100% of sites; engaged 466 suppliers on water data in 2022. Chennai and Sanand plants achieve near-zero discharge through recycling. Third-party assessments and CDP Water Security submissions confirm credible year-on-year reductions.

SBTi-validated targets: 76% absolute Scope 1+2 reduction by 2035 (vs 2017) and 50% Scope 3 reduction per vehicle-km by 2035 (vs 2019). Carbon neutrality by 2050. New 25% supply chain reduction target set in 2025. Intensity-based Scope 3 metric allows total growth if sales increase. No reliance on offsets evident. Due for SBTi five-year review.

25+ years of annual Integrated Sustainability reports now aligned with CSRD/ESRS and TCFD; 2024 report includes double materiality assessment. Reports to CDP on climate and water; assessed by Climate Action 100+. Board sustainability oversight exists. Executive compensation linkage to targets unclear; lobbying disclosure falls short per InfluenceMap assessment.

EPA Clean Air Act settlement ($7.8M) for defeat device allegations. InfluenceMap finds Ford's climate advocacy only partially Paris-aligned; sits on US Chamber of Commerce board (negative climate alignment) and holds memberships in oppositional trade associations including ACEA and NAM. Advocated to weaken CAFE standards per 2024 InfluenceMap automaker analysis. Green Century criticized insufficient supply chain emissions efforts.