Darden Restaurants Sustainability Profile
Darden Restaurants, Inc., a prominent player in the American dining industry, is headquartered in the United States and operates a diverse portfolio of well-known restaurant brands. Founded in 1968, Darden has established itself as a leader in casual dining, with major operational regions across North America. The company is renowned for its flagship brands, including Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse, which offer unique culinary experiences that cater to a wide range of tastes. Darden's commitment to quality and guest satisfaction has earned it a strong market position, with notable achievements in customer service and innovation. The company continually adapts to changing consumer preferences, ensuring its offerings remain relevant and appealing. With a focus on fresh ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere, Darden Restaurants continues to thrive in the competitive dining landscape.
DitchCarbon Score
How does Darden Restaurants's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Industry Average
Mean score of companies in the Hospitality industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Industry Benchmark
Darden Restaurants's score of 30 is higher than 56% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
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Darden Restaurants's reported carbon emissions
In 2025, Darden Restaurants reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 4,882,502,000 kg CO2e globally. This figure includes 385,847,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 emissions, 447,615,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions, and a significant 4,049,040,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions, which encompasses categories such as employee commute and purchased goods and services. For the US specifically, Darden's Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas intensity was reported at about 380,000 kg CO2e per restaurant. However, detailed emissions data for the US was not disclosed for the same year. Darden has not set specific reduction targets or initiatives as part of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) or other climate pledges. The company’s emissions data is not cascaded from a parent organization, indicating that it operates independently in its reporting and commitments. Overall, Darden Restaurants is actively monitoring its carbon footprint, with a focus on transparency in emissions reporting, but lacks defined reduction targets at this time.
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| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 313,827,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 470,107,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0,000,000,000 |
How Carbon Intensive is Darden Restaurants's Industry?
How Carbon Intensive is Darden Restaurants's Location?
Darden Restaurants's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown
The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 71% of Scope 3 emissions.
Top Scope 3 Categories
Darden Restaurants's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Darden Restaurants has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
