According to latest trends, customers are making purchases prioritizing environmental impact. Our decision to work with companies that share our commitment to environmental protection comes at a time when the option is becoming increasingly obvious. It can be difficult to distinguish between companies that are legitimately eco-friendly and the ones that are simply hopping on the environmental bandwagon and gradually labelling themselves ‘eco-friendly’.
Given the gravity of the current climate crisis, it is critical that we maintain our high environmental expectations and applaud businesses that continue to prioritise and work at the forefront of environmental innovation.
When one hears about other businesses’ environmental obligations, we know that ‘eco-friendly’ means a lot more than simply not harming the climate. Environmental consciousness is woven into every part of the company’s brand for businesses that are genuinely eco-friendly.
Environmentally friendly companies not only produce products that are sustainable and sourced ethically, but they also follow environmentally friendly manufacturing and production methods. Environmentally friendly companies are also working to fully change the landscape of businesses’ involvement and responsibility in environmental protection.
In their battle against climate change, Eco-friendly companies go beyond their products. In addition to engraining sustainability within their core business functions, they also work to protect the environment by advocating for sustainable policies, raising environmental consciousness and encouraging local involvement in conservation efforts, collaborating with other campaigns and groups, and more.
Here are the top ten most sustainable companies in 2022:
- Schneider Electric
- Ørsted
- Nvidia
- Neste
- Stantec
- McCormick & Company
- Kering
- Metso Outotec
- American Water Works Company
- Cisco Systems Inc
1. Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric, has been recognized as one of the world’s most eco-friendly companies. The European energy and automation MNC was recognized for its expedient and continuous commitment to ESG – environmental, social, and governance challenges, rising from 29th place in 2020.
Schneider Electric is contributing in lowering CO2 emissions and reducing the rise of temperature of the Earth by emphasizing on innovative and renewable disruptors. Their initiatives are helping in preventing overheating of the Earth’s atmosphere and producing environmentally friendly goods that are enabling better access to energy.
Schneider Electric Chair and CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire stated that the foundation of their strategy is to establish a business and organization that is sustainable. Schneider has always been committed to the ESG concerns, and they continue to set higher standards for themselves, as well as their customers and partners.
2. Ørsted
Ørsted was named the world’s second most sustainable firm after pledging to battle climate change with renewable energy. Despite falling from first place overall in 2020, the Danish power company remains the world’s most sustainable energy firm, a designation it has held for three years.
The company, also known as one of the largest renewable energy developers, has transitioned from using fossil fuels to renewable energy for their operations and has set its target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Read more: “Net-Zero by 2070”: #COP26 Climate Deal, Here Are the 5 Biggest Talking Points
Since the company has been consistently ranking high in the Global 100 list, Ørsted CEO Mads Nipper states that it reflects both their dedication to drive a profitable and sustainable business and their resolution to become a catalyst for green energy transformation. He also asserted that in order to be instrumental in the battle against climate change – and to stay in business – every company must adapt a sustainable business model.
3. Nvidia
Nvidia is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of semiconductor chips. It is one of the world’s leading designers of graphics processing units (GPUs) and system on chip units (SOCs) for the gaming, mobile, and automotive industries.
As a manufacturer of chips, and at that scale, Nvidia has a massive carbon footprint. It mines materials, its factories and labs are power-hungry and consume a lot of water. However, Nvidia is renowned for its sustainability practices, operating at power efficiencies as high as 35%. By 2025, it has pledged to increase its renewable energy usage to 65%.
The manufacturer is also 100% Responsible Minerals Assurance Process-compliant. Besides environmental stewardship, it is also renowned for its generous medical plan and paid parental leave policy.
4. Neste
Neste is a global leader in sustainability, renowned for its renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, chemical recycling to reduce plastic waste, and innovation in refining raw materials into renewable fuels. The Finnish firm went from third to fourth place in a year, but it is still on the Corporate Knights Global 100 Index for the 15th year in a row, which is far longer than any other global energy firm.
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According to Peter Vanacker, Neste President and CEO, the company’s goal of making the world a better place for our children motivates them to strive for greater heights every day. Numerous businesses are constantly upgrading their sustainability initiatives, making it increasingly challenging to make the list each year. It’s encouraging to see more businesses actively incorporating sustainability into their operations.
5. Stantec
Stantec is not just one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies, but it also leads the way in North America. Half of the company’s overall score came from clean earnings and clean investment, which are commodities and services that have a proven environmental and social impact.
Stantec President and CEO Gord Johnston stated that their outstanding track record on sustainability is the product of their people’s profound commitment and excellent leadership across their worldwide operation. Their teams are working to improve sustainability in their own operations, as well as assisting clients in setting and achieving their sustainability objectives.
6. McCormick & Company
McCormick & Company may be regarded as the world’s sixth most sustainable firm, but it is also the food industry’s leader. The packaged and processed foods industry in the United States has risen 16 spots to its highest place since the index’s inception five years ago.
Read more: Lab-Grown Meat Is the “Clean” Food the World Needs. So, What’s the Beef?
According to Lawrence E Kurzius, McCormick & Company Chairman, President, it has never been more crucial to join hands towards the future of flavour and to reduce their influence on the planet. The company is committed to generating clean revenue, delivering renewable energy projects, and transitioning to 100% circular packaging.
7. Kering
The only luxury corporation to make to the top ten sustainable companies’ list is Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Ulysse Nardin, and Pomellato’s parent company.
Kering maintained its strong position when evaluated against 24 quantitative KPIs, including resource management, people management, financial management, clean revenue and investment, and supplier performance. Sustainability is advocated at every governance level, from the Board of Directors to the House managers, in order to shape the future of luxury.
According to Conservation International CEO, Dr. M Sanjayan, Kering’s pledge to safeguard the environment on which it relies is a huge leap for the fashion industry, and it represents a massive gateway for the luxury sector to influence masses and help reimagine fashion and luxury goods.
8. Metso Outotec
Metso Outotec, a global leader in sustainable technology and services, catering to recycling industries, aggregates and mineral processing industries, is ranked 8th on the Global 100 Index. The Finland-based corporation has set a variety of ambitious targets, including limiting global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius, in order to make a positive impact on the earth as a sustainable leader.
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Metso Outotec’s Senior Vice President Business Development, Piia Karhu stated that for their aggregates and metals and minerals industry customers, their focus is on producing sustainable goods and services. They accelerate sustainable innovation together by collaborating with their customers, partners, and communities.
9. American Water Works Company
American Water is one of the world’s most eco-friendly companies because of its leadership and transparency. The US company, which was founded in 1886 and employs over 6,800 employees, is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company in the world.
Despite serving 15 million people in 46 states, the corporation saves 12.5 billion litres of water every year thanks to its efficiency techniques. It has also committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
According to Walter Lynch, President and CEO of American Water, providing consistent supply of safe, clean, and affordable water to their customers, as well as treating their wastewater, is just one part of their commitment to constantly improve their business’s sustainability and create a greater societal impact.
10. Cisco Systems Inc
Cisco is one of the world’s leading developers and manufacturers of networking hardware, software, and telecommunication equipment. It is also one of the world’s most eco-friendly companies.
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It is remarkably energy-efficient across its supply chain, from sourcing materials, designing products, and consuming electricity to promoting fair hiring and securing data. Cisco claims that 80% of its electricity (operations only) is clean. It has also reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by nearly 50%. (Scope 1 refers to emissions generated by direct, owned sources like company vehicles. Scope 2 refers to indirect sources like cooling or heating systems. While Scope 3 emissions are caused by the remaining aspects in the value chain like employee commute and waste management.)
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