Ricardo plc, commonly known as Ricardo, is a leading engineering consultancy headquartered in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1915, the company has established a strong presence in key operational regions including Europe, North America, and Asia. Specialising in the automotive, rail, and energy sectors, Ricardo offers innovative solutions in engineering, environmental consultancy, and product development. With a commitment to sustainability and efficiency, Ricardo's core services include advanced vehicle engineering, powertrain development, and emissions reduction strategies. The company is recognised for its pioneering work in low-carbon technologies and has achieved notable milestones, such as significant contributions to the development of electric and hybrid vehicles. As a trusted partner in the industry, Ricardo continues to enhance its market position through cutting-edge research and a focus on delivering unique, high-quality services.
How does Ricardo'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 Other Services 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.
Ricardo's score of 88 is higher than 93% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Ricardo reported total carbon emissions of approximately 139,633,000 kg CO2e globally, with specific breakdowns of 2,725,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1, 914,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 (market-based), and a significant 135,994,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. In the UK, their emissions for the same year were about 4,273,000 kg CO2e for Scope 1 and 1,380,000 kg CO2e for Scope 2 (market-based). Ricardo has set ambitious reduction targets, committing to a 46.2% reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by FY2030/31 from a FY2019/20 baseline. Additionally, they aim to reduce absolute Scope 3 emissions by 27.5% by the same year. The company also plans to increase its annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 74% in FY2019/20 to 90% by FY2025/26. For the near term, Ricardo has established specific targets for 2022-2025, aiming for a 15% reduction in Scope 1 emissions and an 85% reduction in Scope 2 emissions. These targets are part of their broader commitment to align with the UN Paris Agreement's goals. Data for Ricardo's emissions is cascaded from their parent company, Ricardo plc, which is responsible for the overall emissions reporting and climate commitments. The company is actively working towards achieving these targets while maintaining transparency in their emissions data and reduction initiatives.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 4,343,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 | 0,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 2,016,000 | 0,000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 | 000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | - | - | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
Ricardo's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 13% last year and increased by approximately 35% since 2022, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Nearly all of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing nearly all emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 92% 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.
Ricardo has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
Common questions about Ricardo's sustainability data and climate commitments