4 green business that are helping the planet

Sustainability

May 25

Green pursuit. Companies drive their businesses into more sustainable perspectives and this would be attracting more investors. — **Green pursuit.** Companies drive their businesses into more sustainable perspectives and this would be attracting more investors.

In my latest post I was thinking over the sustainable leaders concept. The CEOs and the companies that work to have a special approach to the planet. I mentioned that, the Sustainable leadership in companies is: when leaders of businesses (often CEOs or CFOs) manage companies with environmental, society, and long-term sustainable development goals in mind. They tend to produce policies and actions to reduce the impact that pollution and Co2 emissions produce in the world. This is often referred to as PPP, or the triple bottom line: people, planet, profit. Thus, turning businesses into green companies.

We will see some examples of well-known companies - and their CEOs - that are taking steps forward to protect the environment, but first: Do you know that there is a tool that capital markets use to evaluate the social and environmental impact of a company? Do you know that this attracts investors into more sustainable companies?

I’m talking about…

The ESG rating

ESG (environment, society and governance) rating measures the societal and sustainability impact of every business activity. As investors are now looking for companies that manage their impact on the environment and society at large, this rating helps them to invest responsibly.

Bloomberg, S&P Dow Jones Indices, JUST Capital, MSCI and Refinitiv are just a few of the most well-regarded ESG research companies. Scores generally follow a 100-point scale.

So it’s really simple: The higher the score, the better a company performs in fulfilling the different ESG criteria. Scores may vary among firms, which may employ different analytical data and weighting schemes.

One of the most remarkable classification is given by the Corporate Knights’ Global 100 Index, which is considered a benchmark for corporate sustainability every year. The Global 100 companies is a ranking that represents the top one percent firms in the world on sustainability performance. The 2021 index, which assessed over 8,080 different companies last year, was revealed online at the World Economic Forum’s virtual annual meeting in Switzerland this late January.

There is a really large list with companies and CEOs who are taking the lead to fight against climate change, so it’s significant to recognize the great work they are doing around the globe. On many occasions you may see only bad news in the press or covered on TV but, out there, there are thousands of professionals struggling to achieve the commitment of reduce CO2 emissions to avoid the increase of 1,5 degree on temperature that may cause catastrophic consequences to our Planet.

Below, you have a small review of some of the worldwide top ranked sustainable companies.

Schneider Electric

A clear presentation of their vision, goals and culture development to achieve and exceed the requirements for the reduction of the Global Emissions, not only by providing products that help the Planet, but also by inspiring a culture of sustainability, society, and governance towards their employees and their customers.

A highly awarded company not only by their positive environmental approach from Dow Jones and Corporate Knights, but also for their diversity and inclusion leadership by the Financial Times, Gender Equality by Bloomberg.

Their CEO said:

“The core of our strategy is to build a sustainable business and company. [...] Schneider has long embraced those issues, and we keep raising the bar for ourselves, and for our customers and partners.”
Jean-Pascal Tricoire, Schneider Electric Chair and CEO.

Orsted

In just 10 years, they have transformed from one of the most carbon-intensive energy companies in Europe to being ranked as the world’s most sustainable energy company in the Corporate Knights Global 100 Index – three years in a row. They offer wind power, solar energy and storage, and renewable hydrogen to countries and companies around the world.

“We aspire to be one of the true catalysts of systemic change to a greener society by continuing to prove that there is no long-term trade-off between sustainability and financial value creation.”
Declared Mads Nipper, ex CEO of Grundfoss, and Vice Chairman of the Royal Crown, in their webpage.

Their priority is fighting climate change and creating a more sustainable world to transform the global energy system from fossil fuels to renewable energy. They are world leaders in renewable energy, and they offer clean energy solutions to support countries and companies in their journey to reduce carbon emissions.

Their business were based on the use of fossil fuels, but according to their determination they are about to reduce 100% of the usage of coal by the latest of 2023, and generate 100% of green energy by 2025.

Orsted is succeeding in their way to become Carbon Neutral by the year 2025.

Banco do Brasil

Here you have only the largest bank by assets in Brazil and Latin America but also, Banco do Brasil is one of the most sustainable companies in the region. Founded 212 years ago, the firm aims to be inclusive and digitally transform society through providing access to the internet and contributing to education through stimulating innovation and entrepreneurs.

Their Environmental Value Creation program is a state of art plan with clear targets and visible results on how this Bank from Brazil is taking over the battle against climate change, by reducing CO2 emission and water, electricity, paper and plastic consumption as well as many more initiatives like changing traditional light bulbs to led lamps.

The environmental Value Creation program is part of a more ambitious CSR Plan, where they are also tackling elements on diversity, ethics, investment in sustainable agriculture and many more. They participated in a vast number of meetings and also invested in a wide variety of eco-friendly companies.

Alfa Laval

This company is driving its commitment with the world as well, always giving a green perspective to every project in the agenda. You can read more on Alfa Laval’s sustainability projects.

Schneider Electric world’s most sustainable energy company the largest bank by assets in Brazil and Latin America