Green
Mapped: Where Are the World’s Most Sustainable Companies?
Where Are the World’s Most Sustainable Companies?
Everywhere you look, sustainability is permeating social, political, and business agendas.
In recent years, an impressive number of companies have stepped up to take a more active role in shaping a more sustainable future—not just in the environmental sense, but also by taking social and governance factors into consideration.
Today’s chart draws from the Corporate Knights Global 100, an annual ranking of the 100 most sustainable companies, to visualize exactly how many are located in each corner of the world. The companies on the list are clear winners not only because they aim to leave the world a better place, but because their stocks have also outperformed the market on average.
How is Corporate Sustainability Measured?
The researchers rely on readily available data for all publicly-listed companies with at least $1 billion in gross revenue (in PPP), as of the financial year 2018.
Companies are then screened for several key performance indicators (KPIs), including but not limited to the following categories and examples:
- Resource management
Example: GHGs and other emissions such as NOx and SOx emissions - Financial management
Example: Innovation capacity, or the percentage of R&D spending against total revenue - Employee management
Example: Women in executive management and/or on boards - Clean revenue
Example: The percentage of total revenue derived from “clean” products and services
The concentration of the most sustainable companies also varies greatly depending on where you look. Here’s a closer view of every region.
Europe: 49/100 Sustainable Companies
Europe is front-and-center in the tidal shift towards more sustainable business, driven by far-reaching regulations. With this in mind, it’s perhaps not surprising to see that Europe is a hotbed of activity.
Nearly half the world’s most sustainable companies are located in Europe. France paves the way with nine sustainable companies in the ranking, followed by Finland with six companies of 100.
Rank | Company | Industry | Country |
---|---|---|---|
#1 | Ørsted A/S | Wholesale Power | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
#2 | Chr. Hansen Holding A/S | Food and other chemical agents | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
#3 | Neste Oyj | Petroleum Refineries | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#6 | Novozymes A/S | Specialty and Performance Chemicals | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
#7 | ING Groep NV | Banks | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
#8 | Enel SpA | Wholesale Power | 🇮🇹 Italy |
#11 | Osram Licht AG | Electrical Equipment and Power Systems | 🇩🇪 Germany |
#13 | Storebrand ASA | Insurance | 🇳🇴 Norway |
#14 | Umicore SA | Primary Metals Products | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
#17 | Iberdrola SA | Wholesale Power | 🇪🇸 Spain |
#18 | Outotec Oyj | Machinery Manufacturing | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#20 | Accenture PLC | Technology Consulting Services | 🇮🇪 Ireland |
#21 | Dassault Systemes SE | Software | 🇫🇷 France |
#23 | Kering SA | Apparel and Accessory Products | 🇫🇷 France |
#24 | UPM-Kymmene Oyj | Forestry and Paper Products | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#27 | H & M Hennes & Mauritz AB | Apparel and Accessories Retail | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
#28 | Sanofi SA | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇫🇷 France |
#29 | Schneider Electric SE | Industrial Conglomerates | 🇫🇷 France |
#31 | BNP Paribas SA | Banks | 🇫🇷 France |
#32 | Kone Oyj | Machinery Manufacturing | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#33 | Verbund AG | Wholesale Power | 🇦🇹 Austria |
#34 | Valeo SA | Consumer Vehicles and Parts | 🇫🇷 France |
#35 | ERG S.p.A. | Wholesale Power | 🇮🇹 Italy |
#37 | Vestas Wind Systems A/S | Electrical Equipment and Power Systems | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
#38 | bioMérieux | Diagnostics and Drug Delivery Devices | 🇫🇷 France |
#39 | Intesa Sanpaolo SpA | Banks | 🇮🇹 Italy |
#40 | Koninklijke KPN NV | Wireless and Wireline Telecomm. Services | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
#41 | Siemens AG | Industrial Conglomerates | 🇩🇪 Germany |
#45 | Koninklijke DSM NV | Food and other chemical agents | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
#46 | Unilever PLC | Personal Care and Cleaning Products | 🇬🇧 UK |
#52 | Ericsson | Communications Equipment | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
#55 | Adidas AG | Apparel and Accessory Products | 🇩🇪 Germany |
#56 | AstraZeneca PLC | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇬🇧 UK |
#59 | Commerzbank AG | Banks | 🇩🇪 Germany |
#61 | Abb Ltd | Industrial Conglomerates | 🇨🇭 Switzerland |
#64 | Pearson PLC | Personal Professional Services | 🇬🇧 UK |
#65 | BT Group PLC | Wireless and Wireline Telecomm. Services | 🇬🇧 UK |
#66 | Metso Oyj | Machinery Manufacturing | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#69 | Assicurazioni Generali SpA | Insurance | 🇮🇹 Italy |
#70 | Acciona SA | Facilities and Construction Services | 🇪🇸 Spain |
#71 | Novo Nordisk A/S | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇩🇰 Denmark |
#73 | Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB | Banks | 🇸🇪 Sweden |
#76 | Ucb S.A. | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇧🇪 Belgium |
#79 | GlaxoSmithKline PLC | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇬🇧 UK |
#87 | BASF SE | Specialty and Performance Chemicals | 🇩🇪 Germany |
#94 | Industria de Diseno Textil SA | Apparel and Accessories Retail | 🇪🇸 Spain |
#98 | L'Oreal SA | Personal Care and Cleaning Products | 🇫🇷 France |
#99 | Kesko Corporation | Food and Beverage Retail | 🇫🇮 Finland |
#100 | Amundi SA | Investment Services | 🇫🇷 France |
Denmark’s Ørsted A/S claims the top of the leaderboard in 2020. Within a decade, the company has completely transformed its business model—shifting away from the Danish Oil and Natural Gas (DONG) company into a pure play renewable energy company. The company recognized the importance of this transition:
Running the company just for profit doesn’t make sense, but running it just for a bigger purpose is also not sustainable in the long term. Doing good and doing well must go together.
—Henrik Poulsen, CEO
Just 10 years ago, DONG was 85%-fossil fuel based, and only 15%-renewables based. Today, Ørsted has flipped these proportions. The company attributes its dramatic transformation to the societal demand for green energy, and aims to be carbon-neutral by 2025.
North America: 29/100 Sustainable Companies
In this region, the U.S. alone is responsible for 17 of the top 100 sustainable companies in the world. What’s more, of the 28 new companies to the 2020 Ranking, Canada is the homebase for nine of these entrants.
Rank | Company | Industry | Country |
---|---|---|---|
#4 | Cisco Systems Inc | Communications Equipment | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#5 | Autodesk Inc | Software | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#10 | Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp | Electric Utilities | 🇨🇦 CA |
#15 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co | Computer Hardware | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#16 | American Water | Water Utilities | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#22 | McCormick & Company | Food and Beverage Production | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#26 | Prologis Inc | Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#44 | Bombardier Inc | Aerospace and Defense Manufacturing | 🇨🇦 CA |
#47 | Sims Metal Management Ltd | Primary Metals Products | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#48 | Bank of Montreal | Banks | 🇨🇦 CA |
#49 | Cascades Inc | Containers and Packaging | 🇨🇦 CA |
#53 | Danaher Corporation | Medical Devices | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#54 | Canadian National Railway Co | Cargo Transportation and Infrastructure Services | 🇨🇦 CA |
#57 | Stantec Inc | Facilities and Construction Services | 🇨🇦 CA |
#58 | HP Inc | Computer Peripherals and Systems | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#60 | Sun Life Financial Inc | Insurance | 🇨🇦 CA |
#62 | Alphabet Inc | Internet and Data Services | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#67 | Comerica Incorporated | Banks | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#74 | Tesla Inc | Consumer Vehicles and Parts | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#77 | Workday Inc | Software | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#78 | Merck & Co Inc | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#81 | Intel Corporation | Semiconductor Manufacturing | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#82 | Analog Devices Inc | Semiconductor Manufacturing | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#83 | IGM Financial Inc | Investment Services | 🇨🇦 CA |
#84 | Canadian Solar Inc | Electrical Equipment and Power Systems | 🇨🇦 CA |
#88 | Cogeco Communications Inc | Wireless and Wireline Telecomm. Services | 🇨🇦 CA |
#91 | Teck Resources Ltd. | Metal Ore Mining | 🇨🇦 CA |
#93 | Campbell Soup | Food and Beverage Production | 🇺🇸 U.S. |
#96 | Telus Corp. | Wireless and Wireline Telecomm. Services | 🇨🇦 CA |
Cisco Systems comes in fourth worldwide, partly as a result of its clean revenues worth a stunning $25 billion. Not far behind is Autodesk, which rose an impressive 43 places since 2019. The main factor behind this leap? The software corporation now operates its cloud platforms using 99% renewable energy.
Asia: 16/100 Sustainable Companies
Over in Asia, Japan is a clear leader, boasting six sustainable companies in the list. Interestingly, the companies are from a wide range of industries, from computers (Panasonic) to cars (Toyota).
Rank | Company | Industry | Country |
---|---|---|---|
#12 | Sekisui Chemicals | Other Materials | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#25 | Taiwan Semiconductor | Semiconductor Equipment and Services | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
#36 | City Developments Ltd | Real Estate Investment and Services | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
#43 | Shinhan Financial Group | Banks | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
#50 | Advantech | Computer Hardware | 🇹🇼 Taiwan |
#63 | Capitaland Limited | Real Estate Investment and Services | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
#68 | Takeda Pharmaceutical | Biopharmaceuticals | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#72 | Konica Minolta | Computer Peripherals and Systems | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#80 | Samsung | Electrical Equipment and Power Systems | 🇰🇷 South Korea |
#85 | BYD Co. | Consumer Vehicles and Parts | 🇨🇳 China |
#86 | Kao Corp. | Personal Care and Cleaning Products | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#89 | Panasonic Corp. | Computer Hardware | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#90 | Vitasoy | Food and Beverage Production | 🇭🇰 Hong Kong |
#92 | Toyota Motor Corp. | Consumer Vehicles and Parts | 🇯🇵 Japan |
#95 | Singtel | Wireless and Wireline Telecomm. Services | 🇸🇬 Singapore |
#97 | Lenovo Group | Computer Peripherals and Systems | 🇨🇳 China |
Japanese plastics manufacturer Sekisui Chemicals comes in first in Asia, after an immense improvement of 77 positions in just one year. The company builds environmentally-friendly housing, and 28% of its revenue aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Rest of the World: 6/100 Sustainable Companies
There are a few notable mentions in other regions, too. Brazil’s Banco do Brasil remains in the top ten list, and is one of the three most sustainable companies in all of South America.
Rank | Company | Industry | Country |
---|---|---|---|
#9 | Banco do Brasil SA | Banks | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
#19 | CEMIG | Electric Utilities | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
#30 | Natura Cosmeticos SA | Personal Care and Cleaning Products | 🇧🇷 Brazil |
#42 | National Australia Bank Ltd | Banks | 🇦🇺 Australia |
#51 | Standard Bank Group Ltd | Banks | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
#75 | Westpac Banking Corp | Banks | 🇦🇺 Australia |
More than half of the companies in these remaining regions are banks. Incidentally, financial services are the biggest group in the Global 100 overall.
The Best of Both Worlds
As it turns out, you can have your cake and eat it, too.
Altogether, the Global 100 most sustainable companies have consistently outperformed*, and outlasted the average company in the MSCI ACWI (All Country World Index):
Metric | G100 | MSCI ACWI |
---|---|---|
Annualized Return | 7.3% | 7.0% |
Average Company Age | 83 years | 49 years |
*Between 2005-Dec. 31 2019
Corporate sustainability is a significant driving force for urgent climate action, and the sustainable companies on this list acknowledge the triple bottom line of not just making profit, but also creating a lasting impact on people and the planet.
Green
Ranking the Top 15 Countries by Carbon Tax Revenue
This graphic highlights France and Canada as the global leaders when it comes to generating carbon tax revenue.
Top 15 Countries by Carbon Tax Revenue
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Carbon taxes are designed to discourage CO2 emissions by increasing the cost of carbon-intensive activities and incentivizing the adoption of cleaner energy alternatives.
In this graphic we list the top 15 countries by carbon tax revenue as of 2022. The data is from the World Bank’s State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report, published in April 2023.
France and Canada Lead in Global Carbon Tax Revenue
In 2022, the top 15 countries generated approximately $30 billion in revenue from carbon taxes.
France and Canada lead in this regard, accounting for over half of the total amount. Both countries have implemented comprehensive carbon pricing systems that cover a wide range of sectors, including transportation and industry, and they have set relatively high carbon tax rates.
Country | Government revenue in 2022 ($ billions) |
---|---|
🇫🇷 France | $8.9 |
🇨🇦 Canada | $7.8 |
🇸🇪 Sweden | $2.3 |
🇳🇴 Norway | $2.1 |
🇯🇵 Japan | $1.8 |
🇫🇮 Finland | $1.7 |
🇨🇭 Switzerland | $1.6 |
🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $0.9 |
🇮🇪 Ireland | $0.7 |
🇩🇰 Denmark | $0.5 |
🇵🇹 Portugal | $0.5 |
🇦🇷 Argentina | $0.3 |
🇲🇽 Mexico | $0.2 |
🇸🇬 Singapore | $0.1 |
🇿🇦 South Africa | $0.1 |
In Canada, the total carbon tax revenue includes both national and provincial taxes.
While carbon pricing has been recognized internationally as one of the more efficient mechanisms for reducing CO2 emissions, research is divided over what the global average carbon price should be to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5–2°C by 2100 relative to pre-industrial levels.
A recent study has shown that carbon pricing must be supported by other policy measures and innovations. According to a report from Queen’s University, there is no feasible carbon pricing scenario that is high enough to limit emissions sufficiently to achieve anything below 2.4°C warming on its own.
-
Real Estate2 weeks ago
Visualizing America’s Shortage of Affordable Homes
-
Technology1 week ago
Ranked: Semiconductor Companies by Industry Revenue Share
-
Money1 week ago
Which States Have the Highest Minimum Wage in America?
-
Real Estate1 week ago
Ranked: The Most Valuable Housing Markets in America
-
Business2 weeks ago
Charted: Big Four Market Share by S&P 500 Audits
-
AI2 weeks ago
The Stock Performance of U.S. Chipmakers So Far in 2024
-
Misc2 weeks ago
Almost Every EV Stock is Down After Q1 2024
-
Money2 weeks ago
Where Does One U.S. Tax Dollar Go?