Sustainalytics

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Newsweek Green Rankings Published

It’s that time of year again! The fourth annual Newsweek Green Rankings list has arrived, rating the largest publicly traded companies in the United States and across the globe on their environmental performance. Newsweek collaborated with Trucost and Sustainalytics to compile companies’ overall Green Score from three component scores: Environmental Impact, Environmental Management and Environmental Disclosure, weighted at 45%, 45% and 10% respectively.

The top 5 U.S. Companies are:

  1. IBM
  2. Hewlett-Packard
  3. Sprint Nextel
  4. Dell
  5. CA Technologies

To read more about the top 15 U.S. companies and see their scores, please click here.

The top 5 global companies are:

  1. Santander Brasil
  2. Wipro
  3. Bradesco
  4. IBM
  5. National Australia Bank

To read more about the top 15 global companies and see their scores, please click here.

Companies are also ranked according to industry, including Consumer Goods, Healthcare, Energy, Professional Services and Utilities (20 total). There are even lists such as Least Green Companies (BlackRock), Most Transparent Companies (UPS) and Reputation and Reality Winners list (IBM).

Scores were calculated using the same methodology as 2011 for comparability, in order to create a baseline for these companies and provide an environmental benchmarking tool to them and other stakeholders. To see the full lists please click here.

What do you think? Any surprises from the 2011 rankings? Do you agree or disagree with the top ranked companies? Least green companies? Let us know!

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2011 Newsweek Green Rankings out today

Since the first Newsweek Green Rankings came out two years ago, a ‘green economy’ was high on everyone’s to do list. Since then, momentum has slowed way down and major government decisions have been non-decisions. However, many of the world’s largest companies have swum against this tide. Even in our weakened economy, big players have attacked green initiatives head on – implying that corporate responsibility is here to stay.

Many top executives understand that corporate responsibility is not only good for the environment but even better for business. Reducing waste reduces costs, something companies are looking to achieve every day. They also know resources are limited – water, land and minerals are finite. Companies that are dependent on these resources for their business are trying to figure out ways to use less, recycle more and consume alternative sources of fuel to sustain themselves.

This year’s Green Rankings are composed of two lists: 500 U.S. companies and 500 global companies that highlight leaders and laggards in sustainability. The data was analyzed by Trucost and Sustainalytics, leading environmental research firms, and assesses companies’ environmental footprint, management and disclosure. Collectively, the companies surveyed are responsible for more than 6 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year – nearly equivalent to all emissions produced annually by the U.S.

Overall, the Rankings suggest that the U.S. is lagging behind the rest of the world. This is especially true regarding transparency, as Europe’s regulatory environment requires companies to disclose non-financial data.

To read the full article please click here. To see the full methodology please click here. To see the full list of U.S. companies please click here. To see the full list of global companies please click here.

What do you think? Do you think the companies at the top are deserving? Are there any companies from the bottom you think should be higher, or companies that are left off altogether? Discuss!

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Al Gore to speak at Social Investment Forum Conference next week

Next week, Barb Brown and Margie Flynn are attending the Social Investment Forum 2011 Conference: “Responsible Investing: Impact & Innovation” at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Al Gore, Chairman and Co-founder of Generation Investment Management, is the keynote speaker at the Conference Kickoff dinner on June 9. GIM is a partnership focused on a new approach to sustainable investing. Mr. Gore has many accolades and credits to his name, and no doubt will be interesting to listen to.

BrownFlynn is proud to be a sponsor of this year’s SIF Conference, and feels it will be a worthwhile and informative event. UBS is the lead sponsor, with other sponsors such as Bloomberg, PAX, MSCI, Calvert, Boston Common Asset Management, TIAA-CREF, Towers Watson, Walden Asset Management, Campbell’s, Nasdaq OMX and more.  Some speakers include:

  • Elizabeth Warren, Special Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  • Luis Aguilar, Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
  • Janet Cowell, State Treasurer, North Carolina
  • Michael Jantzi, CEO, Sustainalytics
  • Roger Urwin, Global Head of Investment Content, Towers Watson
  • Dave Stangis, Vice President of CSR and Sustainability, Campbell Soup Company

For more information about the conference and to register (there’s still time!) please click here. Hope to see you there!