Meyer Burger Technology

Does the core business genuinely avoid or reduce emissions, or build climate resilience? Share of revenue that is actually 'green'. Fossil-dependent models score low.

HJT solar module manufacturing is a genuine emissions-avoidance business at the product level, with European-made modules carrying a lower embodied-carbon footprint than Chinese imports, but the company's collapse and liquidation of its manufacturing assets means real-world GW-scale impact was never achieved.

Credible, science-based targets (SBTi), a real net-zero plan with progress to date, and CDP disclosure — not just a dated press release.

Meyer Burger self-reported a 50% Scope 1+2 reduction target by 2030 (2021 baseline) and a net-zero goal by 2050, and achieved a modest 6.7% Scope 1 reduction 2022–2023, but no SBTi validation of targets was confirmed, CDP disclosure status is unclear, and the company's insolvency has rendered forward-looking targets moot.

Operational footprint, labour and social practices, and governance quality across the company's own operations and supply chain.

Meyer Burger published GRI-aligned sustainability reports and joined the UN Global Compact, but its 2024 annual report was repeatedly delayed and never formally published before insolvency; mass layoffs of over 900 workers across US and German sites in 2025 represent a significant social governance failure, and a workforce sexual harassment flag appears in third-party ESG databases.

Quality of disclosure, independent third-party verification, and how much hard data backs the company's claims.

The 2023 Sustainability Report followed GRI standards and disclosed Scope 1 and 2 emissions with some granularity, but Scope 3 coverage was thin, no independent third-party assurance of emissions data was confirmed, the 2024 annual report was never published before collapse, and SBTi validation — flagged by analysts as needed — was never obtained.

Controversies, litigation, pollution, fossil-fuel lobbying, conflict-zone involvement and governance scandals. Higher means cleaner.

Meyer Burger's collapse involved alleged contract breaches (DESRI termination citing breaches), an unpaid US Customs duty of $5.1 million, repeated delays to financial disclosures, a fivefold increase in net losses concealed until late 2024, and leadership instability including an abrupt CEO resignation — collectively constituting serious governance and financial integrity failures.