Panera Bread, officially known as Panera LLC, is a prominent player in the fast-casual dining industry, headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1987, the company has grown significantly, with a strong presence across North America, offering a diverse menu that includes freshly baked bread, salads, and soups. Renowned for its commitment to quality, Panera Bread distinguishes itself through its clean ingredients and innovative menu options, catering to health-conscious consumers. The brand has achieved notable milestones, including the introduction of its "Panera Cares" community model and a robust digital ordering system. With a market position as a leader in the fast-casual segment, Panera Bread continues to set trends in the industry, focusing on sustainability and customer experience, making it a favourite among diners seeking wholesome, delicious meals.
How does Panera Bread'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.
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.
Panera Bread's score of 42 is higher than 66% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2023, Panera Bread reported total carbon emissions of approximately 2,036,980,000 kg CO2e. This figure includes Scope 1 emissions of about 90,449,000 kg CO2e, primarily from mobile and stationary combustion, and Scope 2 emissions of approximately 124,388,000 kg CO2e. The majority of their emissions, about 1,822,142,000 kg CO2e, fall under Scope 3, which encompasses emissions from franchises, purchased goods and services, and other indirect activities. Comparatively, in 2022, total emissions were about 2,108,625,000 kg CO2e, indicating a slight reduction in emissions year-on-year. The company has not set specific near-term or long-term reduction targets and is not currently committed to a net-zero goal. However, Panera Bread is a member of the BA1.5 initiative, which aims to align corporate strategies with climate science. The emissions data for Panera Bread is cascaded from its parent company, Panera Bread Company, reflecting its status as a current subsidiary. The company has disclosed emissions across all three scopes, demonstrating transparency in its climate impact reporting.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 107,730,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 | 00,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 174,627,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | 2,135,307,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Panera Bread's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 3% last year and decreased by approximately 15% since 2019, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. 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 58% of Scope 3 emissions.
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.
Panera Bread 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.


Common questions about Panera Bread's sustainability data and climate commitments