Sunoco LP
SUN
Energy
2
exclusion reasons
2 themes
This page is part of our public exclusion list — a transparency tool that shows which companies we screen out and why. It is not investment advice, and it is not an accusation. But it is subject to change as our understanding of the facts evolves.
Sunoco LP is a master limited partnership primarily engaged in the distribution of motor fuels across the United States, operating as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas. The company distributes gasoline and diesel fuel through a network of branded distributors and operates a portfolio of refined product terminals and pipelines. In its most recent fiscal year, Sunoco reported revenue of $25.2 billion, derived overwhelmingly from these fossil fuel activities.
While Sunoco's operations are focused on the downstream distribution and marketing of refined products, its corporate structure and financial performance are intrinsically linked to the fossil fuel value chain. The partnership is a majority-owned subsidiary of Energy Transfer LP, a major midstream energy infrastructure company. Sunoco's business model involves the logistics and sale of petroleum products, with no announced plan to transition away from fossil fuels or significant investment in renewable energy alternatives.
Sunoco LP, a downstream fuel distributor and part of the Energy Transfer family, has a documented history of environmental violations tied to its pipeline operations. The company has been penalized for multiple oil spill incidents under the Clean Water Act, with ViolationTracker documenting specific penalties, including a $990,000 settlement with the EPA in 2017 for water pollution violations. In October 2021, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection charged Energy Transfer with environmental crimes related to the construction of the Mariner East pipeline system, for which Sunoco LP was the operator, collecting over $20 million in civil penalties for related permit violations.
The company faces ongoing legal liability for environmental damage. Sunoco LP is a defendant in multiple lawsuits, including *City & County of Honolulu v. Sunoco LP* and *County of Maui v. Sunoco LP*, which seek damages for climate change impacts and allege the company caused ecological harm. This pattern of operational incidents and subsequent legal action demonstrates a recurring failure to prevent environmental contamination.
Research Sources
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Companies appear on our exclusion list based on our investment judgment — not because they've done anything illegal. This is a difference of values and opinion, not an accusation of wrongdoing. Exclusion does not constitute a recommendation against investing in any company, and absence from the list does not constitute a recommendation to invest.
This information is provided for educational and transparency purposes only and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Data is drawn from independent watchdogs, NGOs, government registries, and Ethical Capital's ongoing research — see Research Sources for the full list.
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