Standard Life sustainability score: 34/100

·Insurance·Founded 1825·Last verified 30 August 2026
34
out of 100
Below expectationsPending Review-3 since last reviewThin evidence· 11 src

Standard Life scores 34/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment — scored from public data only, no company payment can change a number. Last verified August 2026.

That places Standard Life joint 394th of 658 companies scored, and 10th of 10 in Insurance.

Standard Life discloses operational emissions with 81% absolute cuts since 2019, but portfolio decarbonization targets intensity only—not absolute financed emissions. Fossil exposure is unquantified and unverified. Governance gaps include missing SBTi validation and no disclosed executive pay linkage to sustainability.

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This score is built from public data only. If your practice is stronger than your disclosure, submit evidence for review — or challenge any question, free.

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The calculation

How is Standard Life's SINK score calculated?

Same formula for every company. No curve. No private weighting.

SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale
Industry base impact
Insurance sector ceiling.
55 / 100
Performance score
Sum of the 10 rubric questions, scored 0–10 each.
46 / 100
Raw score
Weighted average before scale penalty.
(0.3 × 55) + (0.7 × 46) = 48.7
Scale penalty
Multiplier based on absolute emissions volume — physics-first.
× 0.7
Final score
Rounded. Below expectations.
34 / 100
The ten questions

What is Standard Life doing well, and where does it fall short?

Strongest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint — Operations (8/10, 6/10). Weakest on Carbon Footprint — Supply Chain and Water Impact (2/10, 3/10).

Where the evidence comes from

What evidence is Standard Life's score based on?

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

Limited data coverage. This assessment is based on 11 sources, 82% of which are self-reported by the company. Scores may change as independent evidence becomes available.

[1]Self-reported
Standard Life Sustainability Report 2025

Phoenix Group Holdings plc Sustainability Report 2024

2025
Q1Q2Q3Q6Q7
View →
[2]Public record
GreenTech Lead: Standard Life Sustainability Report 2025 Analysis

Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions declined by 12 percent year-on-year in 2025, while emissions intensity per employee improved from 0.34 tCO2e to 0.28 tCO2e.

2025
Q1Q2Q3Q4
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[3]Self-reported
Standard Life — Net Zero Journey

81% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions versus our 60% target, well ahead of a net zero trajectory.

Ongoing
Q3Q4
View →
[4]Self-reported
Standard Life — Responsible Investments

We will reduce the carbon intensity of our listed equity and credit assets by 25% where we can exercise control and influence.

Ongoing
Q2
View →
[5]Self-reported
Standard Life — What is Stewardship and How Can It Make a Difference

We strengthened our approach to nature by expanding company research and engagement on nature related topics, including biodiversity, deforestation and water scarcity.

Ongoing
Q5
View →
[6]Self-reported
Standard Life — 2025 Sustainability Report Press Release

The plan broadens beyond carbon, reflecting an integrated approach that incorporates nature, just transition and adaptation and resilience.

2025
Q5Q7
View →
[7]Self-reported
Phoenix Group — Our Operations Sustainability

Waste and recycling – We will implement sustainable waste management practices including reducing the amount of single use plastics.

Ongoing
Q6Q7
View →
[8]Self-reported
Standard Life Climate Report 2023

SBTi or the UN Race to Zero campaign.

2023
Q8Q9
View →
[9]Self-reported
Standard Life — Reports, Policy & Membership

Find out more about our sustainability strategy and ambitious targets. We've also published a separate data appendix.

Ongoing
Q9
View →
[10]Third-party verified
Insure Our Future — P&C Insurance Scorecard

The 2024 Scorecard on Insurance, Climate Change, and the Energy Transition, assessing the 30 global (re)insurers on their fossil fuel policies.

Ongoing
Q10
View →
[11]Self-reported
Standard Life — Sustainability Disclosure Labelling Implementation Press Release

To protect against greenwashing, it introduced an anti-greenwashing rule which reinforces that sustainability-related claims must be fair, clear, and not misleading.

2025
Q10
View →

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

Standard Life in context

How does Standard Life compare with other insurance companies?

Standard Life sits at the bottom of the insurance pack.

Among the 10 major insurance brands we've scored, Standard Life sits 10th of 10.

10/10
Standard Life's rank
46
Industry average
34
Industry low
59
Industry high
How this score has moved

Has Standard Life's score changed?

today

Score history begins .

As Standard Life'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

Has Standard Life's score been challenged?

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 Standard Life

Standard Life plc is a UK-based life insurance, pensions, and investment management company managing £300bn in assets for 12 million customers. Founded in 1825 and headquartered in Edinburgh, it serves primarily institutional and retail retirement savings markets. The company merged with Phoenix Group in 2019.

Founded
1825
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Employees
~6,431 (2015)
Annual revenue
~£5.5B
Company website ↗
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