WhatsApp sustainability score: 44/100
Making progress starts at 46. The highest score on SINK is 71.
WhatsApp is a messaging platform owned by Meta Platforms, serving 3.14 billion users globally with end-to-end encrypted communication. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Menlo Park, it operates as a software service entirely dependent on Meta's data center infrastructure with minimal direct environmental footprint but substantial embedded impact from hardware and electricity consumption.
Founded 2009Head office Menlo Park, United StatesStaff ~1,900Revenue ~$1.7BWebsite ↗
WhatsApp publishes zero environmental data of its own, relying entirely on Meta parent-level disclosure. Meta reports strong renewable energy claims now questioned by US state attorneys general over unbundled REC reliance. Scope 3 emissions are rising despite operational improvements, and WhatsApp's 3.14 billion users drive growing data center water and electricity demand Meta cannot sustain on current trajectories.
WhatsApp scores 44/100 (Below expectations) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Scores are free. Nobody can pay to change a score, speed it up or hide it. Last verified May 2026.
That places WhatsApp joint 306th of 1,023 companies scored, and 24th of 69 in SaaS / Digital Services.
What is WhatsApp doing well, and where does it fall short?
Strongest on Controversies & Red Flags and Energy Source (7/10, 6/10). Weakest on Emissions Trajectory and Transparency & Accountability (3/10, 3/10).
Where WhatsApp lost points
For each question that lost points, the evidence our public rubric looks for that we didn't find.
What would raise this score
- Whether its emissions are fallingShow its emissions are falling.
- How openly it reportsPublish sustainability data and name someone responsible for it.
- Emissions from its supply chainMeasure most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions.
Every question that lost points
- Emissions from its own operations5/10No full Scope 1 and 2 figures worked out to the GHG Protocol.
- Emissions from its supply chain4/10Most of its supply-chain (Scope 3) emissions aren't measured.
- Whether its emissions are falling3/10No evidence its emissions are falling.
- How clean its energy is6/10Less than 90% of its energy shown to be renewable.
- Its effect on nature4/10Its effect on nature isn't measured or independently verified.
- How it uses materials and handles waste5/10No measurable waste or recycling targets reported publicly.
- Its effect on water5/10No measured water footprint with reduction targets.
- Its climate targets5/10Its targets aren't science-based or committed to the Science Based Targets initiative.
- How openly it reports3/10No published sustainability data, or no one named as responsible for it.
- Its record on controversies7/10Points deducted for controversies or its business model. The finding is under question 10.
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Anyone can send us new evidence, free. How to send it.
How is WhatsApp's SINK score calculated?
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × ScaleWhat evidence is WhatsApp's score based on?
15 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
27% of them were published by WhatsApp itself; the rest come from independent sources.
Scored on 6 April 2026 under an earlier version of our method. We're re-checking it under the current method.
11 of 15 sources are independent of the company.
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How does WhatsApp compare with other saas / digital services companies?
Where WhatsApp sits among saas / digital services peers.
Among the 69 major saas / digital services brands we've scored, WhatsApp sits 24th of 69.
Who scores higher in SaaS / Digital Services?
The 3 companies in the sector scoring nearest above WhatsApp.
Meta matches its electricity with renewable power purchases, but its location-based Scope 2 has risen nearly 150% since 2019 and it left RE100 in 2026 over new gas power for AI data centres.
See the breakdown →Splunk's most recent published emissions inventory covers FY22 (February 2021 to January 2022): Scope 1 374 tCO2e, Scope 2 2,437 tCO2e (market-based) and Scope 3 7,570 tCO2e, with an external assurance statement.
See the breakdown →Which companies moved this week, and why.
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