Operations

Chipotle reduces emissions, launching solar farms

Photo: Chipotle

May 7, 2025

Chipotle Mexican Grill's 2024 Sustainability Report revealed progress in key areas, including emissions reduction, community building and employee development. The brand reached its goal of transitioning 425 acres of conventional farmland to organic methods ahead of its 2025 target and reported it sourced 47 million pounds of local produce, holding all U.S. suppliers to its "Food with Integrity" standards.

In the area of people, 84% of restaurant management roles were filled through internal promotions. Chipotle also hosted 34,000 fundraisers, donating over $7 million to charities. The company introduced a workshop for hiring managers focused on attracting and retaining military veterans.

Environmentally, Chipotle achieved a 15% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2019 and aims for a 50% reduction in all greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The company sourced 61% of its electricity from renewable sources and diverted 50% of its waste from landfills. Chipotle was also named to USA Today's list of America's Climate Leaders for the second year.

Separately, Chipotle announced an agreement with Nexamp to support 15 community solar farms across Illinois, New York, Maryland and Maine. This initiative aims to bring Chipotle's total support to 90 megawatts of new solar capacity in these regions and is expected to provide savings for approximately 9,000 local families and businesses.

"How we grow our food is how we grow our future," Laurie Schalow, Chipotle's chief corporate affairs and food safety officer, said in a press release.

Chipotle has nearly 3,800 restaurants across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.