- Sustainability Strategy and Goals
- Progress vs. Target Tracker
- Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies
- Measurable Impacts
- Challenges and Areas for Improvement
- Future Plans and Long-Term Goals
- Comparisons to Industry Competitors
- Premium Audio and Automotive Audio ESG Peer Metrics
- What to Watch: 12 to 18 Month Indicators
HARMAN International, a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, is a global leader in connected technologies for the automotive, consumer, and professional audio markets, with brands including JBL, Harman Kardon, Mark Levinson, AKG, Soundcraft, and Crown. The company published its 2025 Sustainability Report in November 2025, its most recent annual ESG disclosure, structured around four pillars: Planet, People, Purpose, and Leadership, under its “Sound Purpose” ESG platform. In a pivotal governance shift, HARMAN moved in 2024 from a carbon-neutrality-through-offsetting model to a science-based emissions-reduction framework, setting new 2032 Scope 1+2 and Scope 3 targets anchored in a freshly verified 2024 GHG baseline, with all GHG data verified by a third party for the first time.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com
https://sustainability.harman.com/sustainability.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/HARMAN-2025-Sustainability-Report.pdf
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
Sustainability Strategy and Goals
HARMAN’s sustainability framework, branded as Sound Purpose, integrates climate action, people and community investment, and ethical governance across its automotive, lifestyle, and professional divisions. The 2025 Sustainability Report marks HARMAN’s formal transition away from carbon offsetting toward verifiable science-based reductions aligned with the Paris Agreement, with new 2032 targets baseline-set in 2024 and backed by third-party verified GHG data. The strategy also aligns with Samsung Electronics’ group-level sustainability commitments and HARMAN’s own Climate Pledge signatory status, under which it committed to net-zero carbon by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement.
Net Zero and Carbon Emissions
HARMAN’s revised 2032 targets call for a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, both against a 2024 baseline. Third-party verification of the 2024 GHG baseline, conducted by an independent body and formally published in FY2024, provides the most credible emissions foundation in HARMAN’s reporting history.
- FY2024 Scope 1: 11,656 metric tons CO2e (third-party verified)
- FY2024 Scope 2 (location-based): 57,952 metric tons CO2e (third-party verified)
- FY2024 Scope 2 (market-based): 21,261 metric tons CO2e (third-party verified)
- FY2024 Scope 3 total: approximately 5,711,917 metric tons CO2e across eight disclosed categories
- Scope 3 Category 1 (Purchased Goods and Services): 2,362,482 metric tons CO2e, the single largest emissions source
- Scope 3 Category 11 (Use of Sold Products): 2,616,743 metric tons CO2e, the second-largest Scope 3 category
- Scope 3 Category 12 (End-of-Life Treatment of Sold Products): 203,026 metric tons CO2e
- Scope 3 Category 4 (Upstream Transport and Distribution): 349,129 metric tons CO2e
- Prior 2021 Scope 1+2 (pre-verification): approximately 69,358 tCO2e (Scope 1: 9,952 tCO2e; Scope 2: 59,407 tCO2e)
- SAF pilot with Geodis for the Székesfehérvár Electronics site avoided 4,297 tCO2e on the Shanghai-to-Hungary route in 2024
- Sustainable Marine Fuel trial with Hellman for Vietnam-to-Hungary lane reduced emissions by 16.96 tCO2e in 2024
- Rail modal shift in Consumer Audio Group reduced freight carbon by 50% on applicable corridors in 2024
- Localized JBL EON700 plastic enclosure sourcing avoided an estimated 239 ocean shipping containers in 2024
Water Stewardship
HARMAN has implemented active water reduction programs at its global automotive manufacturing sites, with the 2019 baseline used for water targets consistent with legacy environmental commitments. A closed-loop water recycling system at PCB cleaning operations is the most quantitatively significant water reduction technology in the company’s current portfolio.
- All global automotive sites reduced water intensity by 11% compared to the 2019 baseline
- Querétaro, Mexico facility implemented a closed-loop gray water concentration system recycling more than 95% of water used in PCB cleaning back into the production process
- Additional water reduction measures include optimization of air humidification systems and social water-saving initiatives at production facilities
- No formal absolute water consumption target with a specific cubic meter or percentage reduction figure beyond the 11% intensity improvement has been publicly disclosed for the broader global footprint
- HARMAN participates in the RBA Responsible Environment Initiative (REI), which covers water stewardship alongside decarbonization and circular materials
Regenerative Agriculture
HARMAN does not operate in agriculture or food systems, and regenerative agriculture is not a material ESG topic within its published sustainability framework. The company’s bio-based material adoption for products, including thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) power cords to replace PVC, represents the closest connection to bio-based and agricultural residue supply chains.
- Five new products launched in 2024 with power cords using thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a more environmentally lower-impact plastic than PVC
- Bio-based and low-carbon material pilots are underway across plastics, metals, and composites in HARMAN’s materials innovation teams
- No formal commitment to agricultural supplier standards, deforestation-linked raw material traceability, or regenerative land use investment is disclosed in available 2025 Sustainability Report summaries
Deforestation and Biodiversity
HARMAN has not published a standalone biodiversity commitment or deforestation policy, but the Querétaro, Mexico facility has planted over 200 trees to enhance local biodiversity as part of its site-level sustainability council program. Conflict minerals due diligence through the Responsible Minerals Initiative provides indirect governance over supply chain raw materials sourced from regions that frequently overlap with deforestation hotspots.
- Querétaro facility planted over 200 trees as part of its biodiversity and resource efficiency program
- HARMAN participates in the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) for traceability of tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold (3TG) minerals in its supply chain, applying OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains
- FSC or equivalent certified paper packaging adopted across new product launches in consumer audio lines
- No formal SBTN alignment, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commitment, or nature-positive investment publicly disclosed
Packaging and Circular Economy
HARMAN’s circular economy program spans product design, packaging, materials innovation, and closed-loop recycling, with quantified recycled content certification from SCS Global Services covering 14 JBL and 6 Harman Kardon products as of 2025. The company uses a Repairability Index across its consumer product portfolio, with 29 new products in 2024 scoring 7 out of 10 or higher, a metric directly tied to product lifespan extension and circular design.
- JBL XTREME 4: 38% PCR (post-consumer recycled) materials; 98.2% natural fiber-based packaging; repairability index 7.4/10; cradle-to-grave carbon footprint 39.9 kg CO2e
- ONYX STUDIO 9: 46% PCR materials; 97.8% natural fiber-based packaging; repairability index 7.8/10; cradle-to-grave carbon footprint 34.6 kg CO2e
- SCS Global Services certified recycled content for 14 JBL and 6 Harman Kardon products to date
- JBL Clip 4 Eco: 37% total recycled content certified by SCS
- JBL Charge 6: 29% total recycled content certified by SCS (valid May 2025 to April 2026)
- Since 2019 to 2024: 15 products containing recycled aluminum, 17 PVC-free products, 34 products using recycled plastics, 34 products using recycled fabric, and 100 products in packaging sourced from responsible suppliers
- JBL FLIP 7: 77% post-consumer recycled plastic construction with 100% recycled fabric speaker grille
- Packaging void fill shifted from polyethylene air pillows to shredded recycled cardboard, reducing an estimated 12,798 kg CO2e in 2024
- 25 new products launching in 2025 designed to consume less than 1 watt of standby power
- Manaus, Brazil facility achieved platinum UL2799 Zero Waste to Landfill certification in 2025
- Querétaro facility achieved 51% waste reduction and 35% cut in waste bags since 2019 through 23 resource efficiency projects
Human Rights and Responsible Sourcing
HARMAN’s supply chain governance framework aligns with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, and the RBA Code of Conduct. As an RBA affiliate member since 2022, HARMAN applies a risk-based due diligence process including supplier self-assessments, risk mapping, and independent third-party audits at manufacturing facilities.
- RBA affiliate member since 2022; three automotive manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Hungary have undergone RBA Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits
- Supplier Code of Conduct enforces zero-tolerance policies on forced labor, child labor, harassment, discrimination, and unsafe working conditions, with remediation plans for violations
- Participates in the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI), Responsible Labor Initiative (RLI), and Responsible Environment Initiative (REI) as part of RBA membership
- Automated IT tools monitor sanctions, restricted parties, and geopolitical risks in real time for trade compliance
- Querétaro facility holds RBA Factory Lead designation, reflecting leadership in supply chain social and environmental responsibility
- HARMAN complies with the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act and equivalent disclosure obligations in applicable jurisdictions
- Annual Global Trade Compliance Week conducted for all global employees for two consecutive years
Nutrition and Health
HARMAN operates in audio, automotive, and professional technology markets with no involvement in food, beverage, or nutrition products. Health contributions operate through employee safety programs and community engagement.
- All automotive locations are ISO 14001 certified, and ISO 45001 health and safety management systems are in place across manufacturing sites
- Employee health and safety performance tracked across global operations; Total Recordable Incident Rate data published in sustainability reporting
- HARMAN’s Wellbeing programs include mental health, inclusion, and safety training initiatives across its global workforce
- Querétaro’s 80-cent campaign connects employees to local healthcare and social service organizations
Community and Social Impact
HARMAN’s community impact operates through its Sound Purpose platform’s People and Purpose pillars, covering STEAM education access, workforce inclusion, and local community investment near manufacturing sites. The Querétaro sustainability council in Mexico operates as HARMAN’s most integrated community-facing sustainability model, combining renewable energy, waste reduction, tree planting, and social welfare into a single site-level program.
- Querétaro facility planted over 200 trees, achieved 51% waste reduction, and runs a social water-saving initiative as part of its community sustainability program
- HARMAN partners with local organizations in Manaus, Brazil, where the facility achieved UL2799 platinum Zero Waste to Landfill certification in 2025
- New Laem Chabang, Thailand facility designed for approximately 1,200 workers on completion, with human-centric features embedded in facility design under ESR Group’s Bio-Circular-Green strategy
- HARMAN’s workforce inclusion, training, and safety programs are documented in the People pillar of the 2025 Sustainability Report
Governance and Transparency
HARMAN’s ESG governance is led by the President and CEO, who cascades sustainability targets to the Senior Leadership Team and an ESG Steering Committee comprising the CEO, CFO, CLO, and CHRO. Quarterly performance reporting against sustainability goals flows from business units to the ESG Steering Committee and CEO, embedding climate governance in executive decision-making.
- Third-party GHG verification of full Scope 1, 2, and 3 inventory completed for FY2024, representing the first comprehensive independent assurance of HARMAN’s GHG data
- ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certified at all automotive locations
- ISO 45001 Health and Safety certification in place at manufacturing sites
- Plans in place to achieve ISO 50001 Energy Management System certification; as of 2025, seven of ten manufacturing sites completed an alternative energy audit and installed Energy Management Systems
- Double materiality assessment in progress; results to shape HARMAN’s future strategy and disclosures for CSRD alignment
- RBA affiliate member since 2022; VAP audits completed at three automotive facilities
- Amazon Climate Pledge signatory since November 3, 2021
- No CDP annual score publicly confirmed in available 2025 report summaries
Technology and Innovation
HARMAN’s sustainability technology agenda spans four domains: low-carbon facility engineering, SAF and SMF logistics fuel pilots, product lifecycle assessment and SCS certification, and circular design at product level.
- Magnetic levitation chiller system replacing lithium bromide air conditioning at Suzhou, China facility, eliminating gas use and improving energy efficiency
- Solar panel installations at Querétaro (9% of electricity), Pune, and Juarez sites generating 6.7% to 15.8% of each facility’s total electricity consumption in 2024
- Shenzhen warehouse fully powered by renewable electricity since Q3 2023, supporting both Professional and Consumer divisions
- Arvato warehouse in Heijen, Netherlands, generates 10,000 MWh of solar electricity per year, covering facility consumption plus 3,300 households
- DSV logistics center in Horsens, Denmark, features the world’s largest rooftop solar installation, hosting HARMAN’s Professional division operations from October 2024
- SAF pilot with Geodis: 4,297 tCO2e avoided on Shanghai-to-Hungary Automotive route in 2024
- Cradle-to-grave LCAs published for flagship consumer audio products including JBL XTREME 4 (39.9 kg CO2e) and ONYX STUDIO 9 (34.6 kg CO2e)
- SCS Global Services certified recycled content verified for 14 JBL and 6 Harman Kardon products
Global Partnerships and Advocacy
HARMAN’s global sustainability partnerships span logistics providers, green building partners, certification bodies, and industry coalitions.
- Amazon Climate Pledge signatory since November 3, 2021, committing to net-zero by 2040
- RBA affiliate member since 2022; participates in RMI, RLI, and REI initiatives
- SCS Global Services: certified recycled content across 20 consumer audio products (14 JBL, 6 Harman Kardon)
- ESR Group partnership for LEED Gold-targeted Laem Chabang, Thailand facility (completion targeted late 2025)
- Geodis, DSV, Hellman, and APL Logistics: logistics decarbonization partners for SAF, SMF, electric trucking, and renewable warehousing programs
- ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certifications at all automotive manufacturing sites
- ISO 50001 in progress: seven of ten sites have completed alternative energy audits and installed EMS
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/leadership.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/harman
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
https://www.theasset.com/article/51759/harman-starts-plant-construction-at-esr-thailand-park
https://www.esr.com/news/esr-invests-in-thailands-economic-growth-with-first-plant-build-for-harman/
Progress vs. Target Tracker
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/sustainability.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
Key Sustainability Innovations and Technologies
HARMAN’s sustainability technology portfolio in FY2024 concentrates on five areas: decarbonizing logistics through alternative fuels, circular product design with verified recycled content, ultra-low standby power in consumer audio, zero-waste manufacturing certification, and a LEED Gold-targeted greenfield automotive facility.
Sustainable Aviation and Marine Fuel Pilots: HARMAN’s SAF pilot with Geodis on the Shanghai-to-Székesfehérvár, Hungary route is the most impactful single-initiative logistics decarbonization action in the 2025 report, avoiding 4,297 tCO2e in 2024. The Sustainable Marine Fuel trial with Hellman on the Vietnam-to-Hungary lane reduced emissions by 16.96 tCO2e. These pilots, combined with the shift from air to rail for Consumer Audio freight (50% carbon reduction on applicable corridors) and the introduction of electric trucks for Shenzhen first-mile logistics (2 tCO2e saved in 2024), form a multi-modal logistics decarbonization architecture that is replicable across the broader supply chain.
SCS-Certified Recycled Content and Product LCAs: HARMAN is one of the few consumer audio brands to commission SCS Global Services third-party recycled content certification at a product level, with 14 JBL and 6 Harman Kardon products certified as of 2025. Cradle-to-grave LCAs for the JBL XTREME 4 (39.9 kg CO2e per unit) and ONYX STUDIO 9 (34.6 kg CO2e per unit) establish a product-level carbon benchmark that enables design engineering teams to target lower-carbon successors. The JBL FLIP 7 uses 77% post-consumer recycled plastic with a 100% recycled fabric grille, and the JBL Clip 4 Eco uses 37% total recycled content, placing HARMAN’s JBL brand among the leaders in recycled content integration in the mass-market consumer audio category.
Sub-1 Watt Standby Power Design: Twenty-five new products launching in 2025 were designed to consume less than 1 watt of standby power, a feature embedded during the FY2024 design cycle. This represents a structural reduction in Category 11 (Use of Sold Products) Scope 3 emissions, which at 2,616,743 tCO2e is the single largest Scope 3 category in HARMAN’s verified FY2024 inventory. Scaling standby power reduction across the full consumer audio portfolio is the highest-leverage product-design lever for Scope 3 reduction available to HARMAN.
Magnetic Levitation Chiller Replacement: The replacement of the lithium bromide air conditioning system at the Suzhou, China facility with water-cooled magnetic levitation chillers eliminates gas refrigerant use entirely while improving energy efficiency. Seven of ten manufacturing sites have installed Energy Management Systems as of 2025, providing real-time data for operational optimization and forming the monitoring infrastructure required for ISO 50001 certification across the full site network.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
https://www.jbl.com/on/demandware.static/-/Sites-masterCatalog_Harman/default/dwf2df7d2e/pdfs/JBL_CLIP_4_ECO_Harman_2023_SCS-RC
https://jblstore.co.id/en/stories/lifestyle/sound-with-a-conscience-jbls-eco-friendly-speakers/
Measurable Impacts
HARMAN’s FY2024 ESG data delivers the company’s most comprehensive and credible sustainability measurement to date, with Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG inventories independently verified for the first time, supplemented by multi-year waste, water, and circular product metrics.
Carbon Emissions (FY2024, Third-Party Verified):
- Scope 1: 11,656 tCO2e
- Scope 2 (location-based): 57,952 tCO2e
- Scope 2 (market-based): 21,261 tCO2e
- Scope 3 total (eight categories): approximately 5,711,917 tCO2e
- Scope 3 breakdown: Purchased Goods and Services: 2,362,482 tCO2e; Use of Sold Products: 2,616,743 tCO2e; End-of-Life Treatment: 203,026 tCO2e; Upstream Transport: 349,129 tCO2e; Business Travel: 30,536 tCO2e; Employee Commuting: 32,414 tCO2e; Capital Goods: 94,217 tCO2e; Fuel and Energy Activities: 21,953 tCO2e; Waste in Operations: 1,417 tCO2e
- For reference: FY2021 Scope 1+2 (unverified): approximately 69,358 tCO2e
Logistics Decarbonization (FY2024):
- SAF pilot (Geodis, Shanghai-to-Hungary): 4,297 tCO2e avoided
- SMF trial (Hellman, Vietnam-to-Hungary): 16.96 tCO2e avoided
- Rail modal shift in Consumer Audio: 50% carbon reduction on applicable corridors
- JBL EON700 localized sourcing: 239 ocean shipping containers avoided
- Packaging void fill shift: 12,798 kg CO2e avoided
- Electric trucks, Shenzhen first-mile: approximately 2 tCO2e avoided
Water (Automotive Sites, vs. 2019 Baseline):
- Water intensity reduction: 11% vs. 2019 across all global automotive sites
- Querétaro PCB closed-loop system: over 95% of cleaning water recycled back into production
Waste (vs. 2019 Baseline):
- Manaus facility: UL2799 Platinum Zero Waste to Landfill certification achieved 2025
- Querétaro facility: 51% waste reduction; 35% reduction in waste bags; targeting 90% landfill diversion
Product Circularity:
- SCS-certified recycled content: 14 JBL, 6 Harman Kardon products
- JBL XTREME 4: 38% PCR content; 39.9 kg CO2e cradle-to-grave footprint
- ONYX STUDIO 9: 46% PCR content; 34.6 kg CO2e cradle-to-grave footprint
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/harman
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
Challenges and Areas for Improvement
HARMAN faces five material sustainability challenges: the structural dominance of Scope 3 product-use emissions in its total carbon footprint, limited renewable electricity penetration at manufacturing facilities, the early-stage status of its RBA audit coverage, the pace of LEED and ISO 50001 certification rollout, and the absence of a disclosed absolute water reduction target beyond intensity improvement.
Scope 3 Product-Use Dominance: Use of Sold Products at 2,616,743 tCO2e and Purchased Goods and Services at 2,362,482 tCO2e together account for approximately 87% of HARMAN’s verified FY2024 total emissions footprint of approximately 5,744,834 tCO2e (including Scope 1+2 market-based). Achieving the 30% Scope 3 reduction target by 2032 requires reducing approximately 1,713,575 tCO2e across these two dominant categories alone, a target that demands standby power reductions across the full product portfolio, supply chain decarbonization at scale, and upstream supplier renewable energy adoption. The sub-1 watt standby power design milestone for 25 products launching in 2025 is a meaningful start, but the scale of the Scope 3 challenge requires this to become a portfolio-wide engineering standard rather than a product-by-product initiative.
Limited Renewable Electricity Penetration at Manufacturing Sites: Solar generation at Querétaro (9%), Pune, and Juarez (6.7% to 15.8%) represents partial on-site renewable generation at only three of HARMAN’s ten manufacturing sites. The 100% renewable electricity target for all factories by 2030, aligned with RE100, requires a step-change expansion of on-site solar, PPA procurement, or REC purchasing across North American, European, and Asian facilities. Additional solar projects are under evaluation at Dandong, Suzhou, and Chonburi, but no timeline, completion date, or percentage coverage target for each site has been publicly committed.
RBA VAP Audit Coverage Gap: Three of HARMAN’s automotive manufacturing facilities in Mexico and Hungary have completed RBA Validated Assessment Program audits. The total number of manufacturing facilities subject to RBA VAP audit requirements is not publicly quantified, and no timeline for completing VAP audits across the full manufacturing footprint has been disclosed. With HARMAN’s new Thailand facility (Laem Chabang) scheduled for completion in late 2025, the audit coverage gap will widen unless the program is scaled proportionally.
ISO 50001 Certification Pace: Seven of ten manufacturing sites have completed alternative energy audits and installed Energy Management Systems as of 2025. ISO 50001 certification, which requires formal energy management systems, regular audits, and measurable energy reduction targets, is planned but not yet achieved at any site. The remaining three sites without EMS and the absence of a firm ISO 50001 completion timeline represent a governance gap in energy management credibility, particularly as HARMAN pursues its 50% Scope 1+2 reduction target.
Water Target Specificity: The 11% water intensity reduction across automotive sites versus 2019 has been achieved, but no forward-looking absolute water reduction target, water risk mitigation plan for high-risk sites, or facility-level water consumption data has been publicly quantified in available 2025 report summaries. HARMAN’s participation in the RBA REI program provides a framework for expanding water stewardship, but without a formal numeric target, this commitment lacks the accountability level expected of a company with manufacturing facilities in water-stressed regions including Mexico, India, and Southeast Asia.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/leadership.html
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/harman
Future Plans and Long-Term Goals
HARMAN’s forward commitments span three time horizons: 2030 renewable electricity, 2032 science-based emissions reduction targets, and 2040 carbon neutrality across all scopes under the Amazon Climate Pledge.
Key 2030 Targets:
- 100% renewable electricity at all global manufacturing facilities (RE100-aligned)
- Solar expansion under evaluation at Dandong, Suzhou, and Chonburi (Thailand) sites
- ISO 50001 Energy Management certification across all manufacturing sites
- Zero industrial waste to landfill at all automotive manufacturing sites
Key 2032 Science-Based Targets:
- 50% reduction in Scope 1+2 emissions vs. 2024 baseline
- 30% reduction in Scope 3 emissions vs. 2024 baseline
- Supplier alignment with SBTs, renewable energy, low-carbon materials, and recycled content as part of value chain engagement strategy
Key 2040 Commitment:
- Carbon neutrality across all scopes under the Amazon Climate Pledge
Near-Term FY2025 and FY2026 Priorities:
- Complete and commission Laem Chabang, Thailand facility to LEED Gold standard
- Launch 25 new products with sub-1 watt standby power
- Complete double materiality assessment and integrate results into CSRD-aligned reporting
- Expand RBA VAP audit coverage to remaining automotive manufacturing sites
- Scale SCS recycled content certification to additional JBL and Harman Kardon product lines
HARMAN occupies a strategically more advanced ESG position than Bose among private and Samsung-subsidiary audio peers. The first comprehensive third-party verified Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG inventory, multi-modal logistics decarbonization pilots, and LEED Gold facility investment collectively place HARMAN approximately two to three years ahead of Bose on climate governance maturity. Against its parent Samsung Electronics’ DX Division, which achieved 93.4% renewable electricity at major manufacturing sites in 2023, HARMAN’s current on-site solar penetration of under 16% at its best-performing sites reveals the scale of the renewable energy gap that must close to meet the 2030 100% target.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/sustainability.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/harman
https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/media/pdf/Samsung_Electronics_Sustainability_Report_2025_ENG.pdf
Comparisons to Industry Competitors
HARMAN’s direct ESG comparators in the premium audio and connected automotive technology segment are Bose Corporation, Sony Group (audio and automotive audio), and Sonos. All four are comparable in product adjacency, with Bose and Sonos operating only in consumer audio and HARMAN and Sony spanning both consumer and automotive markets.
Premium Audio and Automotive Audio ESG Peer Metrics
HARMAN holds a clear lead over Bose on Scope 3 transparency, having published a fully third-party verified category-level Scope 3 inventory compared to Bose’s unverified, category-undisclosed position. Sony leads both on renewable energy penetration (35.3% globally vs. HARMAN’s sub-16% at best-performing sites) and Scope 3 target ambition (45% product-use reduction by 2035 vs. HARMAN’s 30% total Scope 3 by 2032). HARMAN leads all three on SCS-certified recycled content at the product level, with verified PCR percentages publicly available for 20 named products.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://assets.bosecreative.com/m/257b15763ec67741/original/BOSE_2024_ESG_Report.pdf
https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/csr/library/reports/SustainabilityReport2024_environment_E.pdf
https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/media/pdf/Samsung_Electronics_Sustainability_Report_2025_ENG.pdf
What to Watch: 12 to 18 Month Indicators
Three signals between March 2026 and September 2027 will most directly determine whether HARMAN’s science-based sustainability transition accelerates to match its stated ambition or stalls at the baseline-setting phase.
1. Scope 3 Product-Use Reduction Trajectory in the FY2025 and FY2026 ESG Reports: HARMAN’s verified FY2024 Scope 3 Use of Sold Products stands at 2,616,743 tCO2e, the single largest emissions category. The 25 new products launching in 2025 with sub-1 watt standby power represent the first quantifiable product design intervention targeting this category. The FY2025 ESG report (expected November 2026) will be the first to show whether this design specification is translating into a measurable reduction in the Use of Sold Products Scope 3 category versus the 2024 baseline. If the FY2025 Category 11 figure declines materially, it will confirm that the standby power initiative is the right scale of intervention. If it increases or holds flat, HARMAN will need to demonstrate a portfolio-wide low-energy-use product design mandate to stay on the 30% Scope 3 reduction pathway by 2032.
2. Laem Chabang, Thailand Facility LEED Gold Achievement and Renewable Energy Systems Commissioning (Expected: Late 2025 to Mid-2026): The 47,000 m² Laem Chabang facility, scheduled for completion in late 2025, targets LEED Gold certification and incorporates renewable energy generation, electrified logistics fleets, and water efficiency systems from design stage. LEED Gold confirmation from the US Green Building Council, expected in FY2026 ESG reporting, will demonstrate HARMAN’s ability to translate green building targets into certified outcomes at a new-build scale. The facility will also serve as the benchmark for whether additional solar expansion projects at Dandong, Suzhou, and Chonburi proceed in 2026 and 2027, making it a leading indicator for the pace of HARMAN’s 100% renewable electricity manufacturing target by 2030.
3. Double Materiality Assessment Results and CSRD Disclosure (Expected: FY2025 or FY2026 Report): HARMAN’s double materiality assessment is in progress as of the 2025 Sustainability Report, with results planned to shape future ESG strategy and CSRD-aligned disclosures. The outcome of this assessment will determine whether HARMAN formally expands its reporting scope to include physical and transition climate risk under TCFD, biodiversity impacts under SBTN, and detailed human rights due diligence under the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). As a Samsung Electronics subsidiary with significant European automotive OEM customer relationships, HARMAN faces direct regulatory pull from CSRD Scope 3 reporting requirements that cascade through its customer supply chains. If the FY2025 or FY2026 report includes a formal double materiality disclosure aligned with ESRS standards, it will confirm HARMAN’s readiness for the European regulatory environment that governs a material portion of its automotive revenue.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/sustainability.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://www.theasset.com/article/51759/harman-starts-plant-construction-at-esr-thailand-park
https://www.esr.com/news/esr-invests-in-thailands-economic-growth-with-first-plant-build-for-harman/
HARMAN’s 2025 Sustainability Report marks a genuine inflection point in the company’s ESG trajectory. The decision to abandon carbon neutrality through offsetting in favor of science-based targets, combined with publishing the first third-party verified Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG inventory, positions HARMAN materially ahead of Bose and closer to Sony on climate governance credibility. The full Scope 3 category breakdown, with Use of Sold Products at 2,616,743 tCO2e representing the largest single emissions source, is an act of transparency that most consumer audio peers have not yet matched, and it sets up a clear, trackable accountability framework for the 30% Scope 3 reduction target by 2032.
The structural challenge is renewable energy penetration. Three manufacturing sites with on-site solar at 6.7% to 15.8% of electricity needs represent a promising start but an insufficient pace for a 2030 100% renewable manufacturing target. HARMAN’s parent Samsung Electronics reached 93.4% renewable electricity at major manufacturing sites in 2023, demonstrating that the 2030 target is achievable at group scale, but HARMAN’s subsidiary-level program requires dedicated PPA procurement, expanded REC coverage, and accelerated solar deployment across the remaining seven sites to close this gap in four years. The absence of a site-by-site renewable energy roadmap with percentage milestones and commitment dates is the key missing element in the Planet pillar that limits confidence in the 2030 deadline.
Three strategic takeaways for practitioners benchmarking or replicating HARMAN’s approach: First, publishing a third-party verified, category-level Scope 3 inventory as the first disclosure act under a new science-based framework is the highest-credibility starting move available to any company transitioning from aspirational net-zero claims to accountable reduction governance, and HARMAN’s FY2024 verification statement is a directly replicable template for mid-cap B2B technology manufacturers. Second, SCS Global Services certification of recycled content at the individual named product level is a commercially differentiated sustainability communication tool that provides verifiable evidence of circular material claims, and HARMAN’s 20-product certified portfolio demonstrates that this level of product-level accountability is achievable at scale within a large multi-brand audio portfolio. Third, multi-modal logistics decarbonization combining SAF, SMF, rail modal shift, localized sourcing, electric trucking, and renewable warehousing partnerships creates a diversified Scope 3 Category 4 reduction architecture that is more resilient to fuel availability and cost volatility than any single logistics intervention, and HARMAN’s 2024 pilot portfolio is a practical model for any consumer electronics company with global manufacturing and distribution operations.
Source
https://sustainability.harman.com/pdf/FY2024-GHG-Verification-Statement.pdf
https://sustainability.harman.com/planet.html
https://sustainability.harman.com/leadership.html
https://www.scsglobalservices.com/news/harman-leads-the-way-in-sustainable-innovation-with-durable-recyclable-products
https://www.samsung.com/global/sustainability/media/pdf/Samsung_Electronics_Sustainability_Report_2025_ENG.pdf
