The Wall Street Journal released a new ranking of the top 100 sustainably managed companies in the world after assessing over 5,500 publicly traded businesses. A staggering 77 percent of the companies on the list are internationally-headquartered businesses. Twenty-three GBA members appear on this list, with Sony, Philips and Merck KGaA (EMD Serono) ranking in the top four. Also included in the top 100 are Iberdrola (AVANGRID), Ericsson, Mahindra, Nestlé, Kering, Samsung, ABB Inc., Shell Oil Company, Total, HeidelbergCement (Lehigh Hanson), Umicore, Solvay, TSMC, RELX, SAP, Randstad, Hitachi, Ltd., Sasol, Schneider Electric and Bayer. Explore the full WSJ sustainable management ranking.
Sony holds the number one spot on the list for its ability to create long-term shareholder value through its leadership and governance practices. Sony’s mission, explains Chief Executive Kenichiro Yoshida, “[is to] work to be part of the solution for sustainability risks at large, and not just for issues it faces within the company.” Mr. Yoshida also states, “For us to continue with this kind of business, the planet and society must be sustainable and healthy.”
The Global Business Alliance is comprised of members who have long prioritized sustainability and environmental consciousness. According to the Thrive Report, GBA members are global leaders in reducing the carbon footprint of their products, with scores that more than double the U.S. average. GBA members are also leaders in generating social good, exceeding the U.S. average by 17 percent. In fact, over the past decade, international companies have increased their charitable contributions by 123 percent, compared to the U.S. average of 19 percent.
Through responsible environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and policies, as well as supporting corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, international companies are outperforming the average U.S. private-sector company in those respects and making a positive impact on U.S. communities. Furthermore, a new Dow Jones Sustainability Index reveals that of the 61 industry group leaders that comprise the index, 62 percent are international companies that operate in the United States.