Alongside the UK’s 10 most eco-friendly businesses, published by The Independent, the feature also included ten-of-the-best global organisations. The Ethical Investment Research Services (EIRIS) continued to use their renowned methods of selection to ensure that candidates were in compliance with a variety of necessities before even being considered. The global list was publishes in order as follows:
1. Vestas Wind Systems
2. Svenka Cellulosa
3. ABN-Amro
4. MTR
5. Ericsson
6. Westpac Banking
7. Kingfisher
8. Phillips
9. BT Group
10. Sanyo
There are some familiar names in the global listing, however for all those who are unsure of why these companies actually made the cut, here is the top-ten (in ranking order) with some additional information, to help give these companies more of an identity.
Vestas Wind Systems
The Danish manufacturer of wind turbines is not only the world’s leading producer – 30,000 of its turbines are generating electricity globally and its systems are 80% recyclable – Vestas also sources 68% of all its energy requirements from renewable sources. And with the production and shipping time-frame for the turbines, they are able to generate in 6–8 months the equivalent energy required for these processes; making these turbines carbon neutral.
Svenska Cellulosa
This Swedish company is Europe’s largest forest owner, all of which is managed to FSC standards, with all of the paper production under FSC criteria too. SCA implements clear policies on avoiding unlawful logging and others incorporating water emissions, and replacing oil and coal with carbon neutral fuels. It is also renowned for its high rates of waste recovery.
ABN-Amro
The Dutch banking company have made it a key objective to integrate environmental issues and active concerns into all business discussions and policy to ensure its contribution to a sustainable society. The firm’s environmental management system (EMS) is aimed at forecasting environmental developments directly related to its commercial activities. ABNs EMS is set on a trajectory to deal with environmental and social risk issues covering the oil and gas sector, mining, forestry, dams and the nuclear power industries.
MTR
The railway company based in Hong Kong is one of the founding signatories of the HK Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Charter. MTR is committed to its role of providing stewardship in CSR practices and promoting the principles of responsibility by implementing a stringent EMS.
Ericsson
The telecommunications group is based in Sweden and is involved in a Design for Environment programme, which shows designers how environmental design can also put emphasis on reducing energy consumption. Ericsson also aims to minimise the impact of electronic goods and appliances on the environment, through its involvement with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment schemes. It also carries out in-depth lifecycle analysis (LCA) assessments on the majority of its products to ensure a positive environmental outcome.
Westpac Banking
The Australian banking group makes sustainability an integral component to its EMS and core business activity. The company has also taken on the Equator Principles, a succinct framework for managing environmental and social project risk in finance. Westpac also offers a range of Socially Responsible Investment products.
Kingfisher
Owners of UK outlet chain B&Q, the firm works closely with WWF and the Tropical Forest Trust on the issues that currently surround timber production. The national retailer also implicates targets for zero waste in stores and exceptional rates of FCS certification of timber. The DIY-chain also operates an EMS over its chemical usage.
Phillips
Sustainability has been deeply embedded into this Dutch electronic company. It has policies in place that manages its organisation and culture, manufacturing process, product design and business strategy. Phillips has also set an objective of zero net energy buildings, energy efficiency and chemical content of products, and sustainability issues addressed to include recycling schemes and lifecycle analysis.
BT Group
BT has exceeded its wholesale estate targets for reducing the use of electricity. It also has achieved significant reductions on water and waste. But it receives its highest praise through signing a three-year contract in 2005 that saw nearly all of BT’s UK electricity come directly from renewable sources.
Sanyo
The second Japanese-based electronics company, Sanyo has embedded sustainability policies into the core of its business activity, and currently recycles 99.8% of its waste. It includes zero emission targets in the areas of waste and chemical-substance emission, and its product certification system is evidence that progress is being made towards their targets.
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This post was written by Ryan Whatley on August 15, 2008