Auto Trader is the UK's leading digital marketplace for vehicle sales, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Manchester.
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Auto Trader has strong operational emissions reduction (30% year-on-year) and renewable energy coverage (99%), backed by SBTi targets and third-party verification. Weaknesses: only one year of clean absolute reduction across the full group; Scope 3 methodology relies on broad EEIO estimates; and the company operates a dominant UK vehicle marketplace facilitating predominantly ICE sales, creating structural complicity in high-emission goods distribution.
Auto Trader Group plc scores 59/100 (Making progress) on SINK's independent climate assessment, scored from public data only. Fees pay for the review, never the result. Last verified October 2026.
That places Auto Trader Group plc joint 17th of 847 companies scored, and 3rd of 19 in Media / Entertainment / Publishing.
Where Auto Trader Group plc sits among media / entertainment / publishing peers.
Among the 19 major media / entertainment / publishing brands we've scored, Auto Trader Group plc sits 3rd of 19.
Its three lowest-scoring questions, and what the evidence didn't show.
No quantified nature footprint, no TNFD disclosure, no deforestation-free commitment.
No quantified water usage data, water reduction targets, or water pollution risks identified in FY2024–FY2025 reports.
Total emissions declined 6% year-on-year (98,941t FY2024 to 93,168t FY2025).
A score changes when the evidence does. We use new published evidence at the next rescore. Evidence that isn't public can count through an evidence review.
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Get in touch →Strongest on Energy Source and Carbon Footprint — Operations (9/10, 7/10). Weakest on Nature & Biodiversity Impact and Water Impact (4/10, 4/10).
The 2 companies in the sector scoring nearest above Auto Trader Group plc.
Sky reports comprehensive climate and environmental data with third-party verification, achieving a 40% absolute emissions reduction since 2018 toward its SBTi 50% target.
See the breakdown →Pearson has cut absolute emissions 57% since 2018 and holds SBTi-validated targets through 2050.
See the breakdown →Auto Trader Group plc's score has moved from 62 to 59 across 3 recorded reviews, down 3 points.
Aggregator sweep, source-fix pass: dead cited URLs re-sourced and broker citations replaced with primaries; re-scored under pinned code 9196601.
Re-classified Ride-hailing / Mobility Platforms[30] -> Media / Entertainment / Publishing[60]; score 41->50
Initial score at platform launch
The formula and all 11 sources.
Same ten questions for every company. No private weighting.
SINK = (0.3 × Base + 0.7 × Performance) × Scale11 sources used in this assessment. All publicly available. Each row shows which of the ten questions it informed.
“Scope 1: 116 | Scope 2 (location based): 204 | Total (Scopes 1 and 2): 320 [FY2025 tonnes CO₂e]”
“EcoAct has independently assessed and verified Auto Trader's GHG emissions following verification standard ISO 14064-3:2019”
“Our calculations estimate our GHG emissions during the year were 6% lower at c.93.2k tonnes of CO₂ across Scopes 1, 2 and 3 (2024: 98.9k tonnes)”
“All of our offices are on renewable energy tariffs. | % renewable: 99% [FY2025]”
“Reported energy and GHG emissions data is compliant with SECR requirements and has been calculated in accordance with the GHG Protocol and SECR guidelines”
“target of reducing our absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions by 46.2% before 2030 (from a 2023 base year)”
“This year, for the first time the reduction in emissions will form part of our remuneration policy”
“Autotrader has recently introduced a sustainability rating to its new car reviews on the platform”
“Autotrader adds new sustainability rating to editorial car reviews as part of its commitment to help consumers make more environmentally friendly vehicle choices”
“Auto Trader has both near- and long-term Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated targets aligned with the most stretching 1.5°C scenario”
“Auto Trader Group | 2024: C | 2025: B [CDP Climate scores]”
If you believe a source has been misread or a newer version exists, submit a challenge.
Auto Trader is the UK's leading digital marketplace for vehicle sales, founded in 1975 and headquartered in Manchester. The platform connects private sellers, dealers, and buyers, generating revenue primarily through dealer advertising and subscription services. It operates as a media and publishing business within the automotive sector, with subsidiary Autorama providing vehicle financing and lease services.
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