Better Health for All

Qualcomm, through its Qualcomm Life subsidiary, engages in various health-related initiatives, including developing wearable health technologies for monitoring and promoting healthier lifestyles

, connected health solutions for real-time patient monitoring and personalized treatment , remote home health monitoring for chronic disease management , medication management , and digitizing clinical trial data . There is no evidence of revenue from products with negative health outcomes. The company's core business does not involve direct health products requiring price accessibility, pharmaceutical patents, food products, addiction mitigation, or direct conduct of clinical trials, leading to 'not applicable' scores for those KPIs. However, the provided articles do not offer quantitative data such as the percentage of the firm's product portfolio with health impact, frequency of user harm, R&D investment share in health, or specific metrics on data protection standards, which are required to score most other KPIs.

Fair Money & Economic Opportunity

Qualcomm is a technology company focused on wireless technologies, integrated circuits, and intellectual property licensing, not a financial institution. As such, it does not offer lending, deposit, or other direct financial services to consumers. Therefore, KPIs related to consumer financial products, pricing, fees, loan books, debt, or financial data management are not applicable. While Qualcomm engages in programs like the WEAVE program, which provides business training to women entrepreneurs, and a Small Business Accelerator Program for U.S. businesses

, the provided evidence does not offer the specific quantitative data (e.g., percentage of loan book, measured credit score improvements, or percentage of profit reinvested in community finance) required to score KPIs such as inclusion initiatives, wealth-building outcomes, profit reinvestment, or financial literacy initiatives against the rubric's thresholds.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

Qualcomm's 2023 Corporate Responsibility Report highlights its commitment to fair pay and worker respect, emphasizing sustainable supply chain management and adherence to the RBA Code of Conduct.

As a Full Member of the RBA, Qualcomm requires suppliers to adopt the RBA Code. The company aims to audit 100% of primary suppliers by 2025, having achieved 88% as of 2023. RBA audits in the past two years identified 62 non-compliance findings among direct primary manufacturing suppliers, for which corrective action plans were implemented. In the 2022-2023 KnowTheChain benchmark, Qualcomm scored 20 out of 100 for addressing forced labor in its supply chains. Qualcomm has a Human Rights Statement and an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, conducts regular third-party human rights impact assessments, and requires employee training on its Code of Business Conduct, which includes a dedicated Business Conduct Hotline. Since 2000, Qualcomm has incurred penalties totaling $27,016,540, including $19,500,000 for employment discrimination and $16,540 for workplace safety violations. In 2016, the company settled for $7.5 million over Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

By 2023, 88% of Qualcomm's primary semiconductor manufacturing suppliers were receiving biennial audits.

Over the past two years, these audits identified 62 non-compliance issues, comprising 19 minor, 40 major, and 3 priority violations, for which corrective actions were implemented. Qualcomm requires these suppliers to adhere to the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) Code of Conduct, including completing the RBA Self-Assessment Questionnaire, with all primary suppliers rated as low-risk in 2023. The company also conducts due diligence for conflict minerals (tin, tantalum, tungsten, and gold) in line with OECD Guidance, reporting no instances of financing armed groups in 2023.

Honest & Fair Business

Qualcomm agreed to a $75 million settlement in June 2024 to resolve accusations of anticompetitive practices.

The company's S&P Global ESG Score was 57 as of October 2025. Qualcomm maintains a comprehensive FCPA and Anti-Corruption Policy that applies company-wide, including to all employees, officers, directors, and third parties through contract provisions. This policy prohibits bribes, corrupt payments, and other improper influence, and is supported by regular mandatory training and risk-based due diligence on relevant business partners, vendors, and suppliers. The company regularly reviews its anti-corruption program for suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness. Qualcomm also has a formal whistleblower policy, which includes a 24-hour third-party managed hotline allowing anonymous reporting where local law permits, and strictly prohibits retaliation against individuals raising good faith concerns. Concerns are addressed promptly and thoroughly, and mandatory ethics training is provided. The company reported $0 in fines or penalties related to confirmed incidents of corruption, discrimination, or cybersecurity breaches during 2022, 2023, and 2024.

Kind to Animals

Qualcomm's core business in the semiconductor and technology sector means it does not engage in activities directly related to animal welfare, such as animal testing, factory farming, or the use of animal-derived ingredients.

Therefore, most animal welfare KPIs are not applicable. While the company collaborated on a documentary to raise awareness about endemic species, this initiative does not provide measurable biodiversity impact data required by the rubric. Additionally, the company's renewable energy usage, while positive for the environment, does not provide specific metrics for wildlife conservation impact.

No War, No Weapons

Qualcomm has collaborated with the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School to explore 5G and AI technologies for Navy operations

. The company is also developing advanced 7nm and sub-7nm chips for U.S. military systems under the RAMP-C program . Between 2000 and 2020, Qualcomm received approximately $35 million in defense contracts for program management and telecommunications support . Additionally, Qualcomm commits to sourcing minerals responsibly, adhering to OECD guidance, to prevent its supply chain from contributing to human rights violations .

Planet-Friendly Business

Qualcomm has committed to achieving net-zero global emissions across Scopes 1, 2, and 3 by 2040, with interim targets to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 25% by 2030, using 2020 as the base year.

The company has joined the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) Business Ambition for 1.5°C. By 2023, Qualcomm achieved its 2025 GHG emissions reduction goal two years ahead of schedule, reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by over 35% compared to a 2014 baseline. This was supported by procuring 100% renewable energy in San Diego and a solar PPA in Bangalore, which led to a 17,500 metric ton CO2 equivalent reduction. The company also aims to audit 100% of its primary semiconductor manufacturing suppliers for conformance to its Supplier Code of Conduct by 2025, having completed 88% by 2023.

Respect for Cultures & Communities

The provided articles describe Qualcomm's community engagement initiatives, such as the expansion of its Thinkabit Lab program to its 23rd site in New Bedford, Massachusetts, aimed at STEM education

. The company also implemented smart agriculture programs in rural China and India , involving a projected 5,000 farmers in China and over 48,000 downloads of the FarmPrecise app in India . However, the articles do not provide specific, quantifiable data points that align with the defined KPIs for 'Respect for Cultures & Communities,' such as the number of formal partnerships with indigenous groups, percentage of revenue reinvested locally, cultural appropriation incidents, or cultural impact assessment protocols.

Safe & Smart Tech

Qualcomm's on-device AI solutions, including a partnership announced in October 2024, are designed to keep user data local on devices, enhancing privacy and security by minimizing data exposure and reducing reliance on cloud processing

. This approach grants users greater control over their information . The company emphasizes responsible AI practices, focusing on privacy, security, and transparency , and advocates for ethical frameworks, clear policies, and regular reviews to address ethical implications . Qualcomm also engages with industry organizations to advance responsible privacy and security practices and collaborates with organizations like Truepic and the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) to verify the authenticity of digital content .

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

Qualcomm has implemented several waste reduction initiatives, including reuse and recycling programs

, an upgraded data collection system for waste diversion , and e-waste donation programs . The company also collaborates with Sensitech to develop connected technologies aimed at reducing supply chain waste . Qualcomm's business units actively manage hazardous waste through recycling and donation programs .