NIO Scores Another Notch In Its Green Belt

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NIO has had a string of announcements recently focused on its green credentials and recognition for them. While all electric vehicles are inherently greener and cleaner, some EV companies are more focused on implementing sustainability principles throughout the company, while others are, well, they’re just there to make money. With what we’ve seen from the company, NIO seems to be in the former group.

“On January 22, 2025, Corporate Knights, a renowned independent media and investment research company based in Toronto, Canada, has released its 2025 Global 100, the ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations. NIO has once again earned a place on this prestigious list, ranking 13th out of 8,359 evaluated companies worldwide,” NIO writes. “This marks a significant leap of 37 spots compared to last year, securing NIO the top position among global automotive companies.

The ranking takes into account “25 key performance indicators, including sustainable revenue, sustainable investments, employee management, and supplier performance.” From the resources used in the vehicles, to the efficiency of the cars, to household recycling programs, NIO is focused on pursuing environmental leadership. Hence, “NIO earned perfect scores in sustainable revenue and two other KPIs, achieving its best performance since first being included in the ranking three years ago.”

Whether it’s for PR or because the company leadership is passionate about protecting the environment, sustainability leadership is core to NIO. It’s a big part of NIO’s identity. Here’s more from the company on why it felt it deserved this distinction:

“As a member of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), NIO is committed to its mission of ‘Blue Sky Coming, Shaping a Sustainable and Brighter Future Together.’ Sustainability is integrated into the company’s core values and business decisions. In 2023, NIO became the first Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) company to join the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the first to respond to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) questionnaire. The company is also advancing closed-loop resource utilization at the vehicle level and driving innovative recycling programs such as BLUE SKY LAB. In 2024, NIO’s factory was named the Green Factory by the Anhui Province, and the company was recognized on the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s (MIIT) list of Green Supply Chain Management Enterprise. These achievements underscore NIO’s leadership in sustainable supply chain strategies and its collaborative efforts with partners to promote sustainability across the value chain.

“In the realm of social responsibility, NIO launched the Clean Parks, a global ecological co-building initiative, leveraging its expertise in clean energy to support the adoption of smart electric vehicles in natural conservation areas worldwide. Through partnerships with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), NIO has contributed to the development of clean energy infrastructure in 19 ecological conservation sites, including Sanjiangyuan National Park and Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. […]

“Since 2021, NIO has published its annual ESG report, providing comprehensive insights into its ESG management, practices, and performance. In 2024, NIO was included in the FORTUNE CHINA ESG IMPACT LIST, achieved an MSCI ESG rating of AA, and was positioned among the top tier of the global automotive industry. Furthermore, NIO provided mobility services for VIPs and officials at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29). Going forward, NIO will remain steadfast in its commitment to corporate social responsibility and global sustainability, striving to create a brighter, greener future for all.”

In short, if you’re going electric primarily for environmental and societal reasons, NIO is one of the companies in China that should really be on your options list.