the 15 best companies for the planet

7/29/2019 The 15 Best Companies for the Planet

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The 15 Best Companies For The PlanetKamelia AngelovaandJay Yarow|Sep. 23, 2009, 8:37 AM|113,607|3

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Who's greenwashing, and who's seriouswhen it comes to the environment?

Here's the 15 best companies for the environment based on acomplicated methodologythatassessed environmental impact, green policies and reputation.Newsweekcame up with therankings after working with environmental consultants for over a year.

There's plenty of diversity at the top of the heap, with representatives from retail, bankingand tech.

Ironically, the top two companies are both technology companies. While their businesspractices are green, their products aren't particularly green when you think about it.

Dell's computers are powered by dirty energy for the most part. And as you can see themajority of the worst companies for the environment are the utilities powering your gadgets.

Regardless, Dell and these other companies are doing a lot to support renewable energy,and reduce emissions.

The 15 best companies for the environment

15. Sprint Nextel
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Sprint has set an ambitious goal for 90% of its suppliers to be in compliance with

its environmental standards by 2017. Some of these standards include an

absolute greenhouse gas emission reduction.

The companies energy management program has resulted in reducing energy

use by an average of more than nine percent each year for over six years.

Sprints energy reduction in 2008 equates to 21,400 tons of CO2, or:

Taking 3,918 passenger cars off the road for one year.

Reducing oil use by 49,744 barrels per year. Saving the electricity used in 2,967 households each year. Preserving 149 acres of forest.

[viaNewsweek.]

14. Sun Microsystems
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Sun eliminated 23% of its U.S. GHG emissions between 2002 and 2007, and it

plans to reduce GHG emissions from its global operations by 20%

by 2015.The company requires environmental management accreditation from all

main suppliers, and it is working to improve its energy efficiency, since 90 % of its

carbon footprint comes from energy consumption. Sun regualrly posts its total

energy use and GHG emissions by facilityon its website.

[viaNewsweek.]

13. Wells Fargo

Since 2005, Wells Fargo has run a $5 billion financing program for green

businesses, solar and wind energy projects and green building. The company
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also supports environmental nonprofits that focus on renewable energy and

green building. Other green initiatives include purchasing copy paper that is at

least 30% post-consumer waste.

[viaNewsweek]

12. Cisco Systems

Cisco's facilities in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the U.K.

used 100% renewable energy in 2008, while energy use of its overall European

operations was 80% renewable. In the U.S., the company's green energy

concumption was only 32%.

[viaNewsweek.]

11. Johnson Controls
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The company designs products to improve the fuel efficiency of automobiles and

jointly opened the world's first plant dedicated to manufacturing lithium-ion

batteries. Selected by Ford as the battery supplier for a plug-in vehicle it planned

to release in 2010. It has committed to reducing its energy use by 50%

[viaNewsweek.]

10. Starbucks

Starbucks uses recycled paper products and organic, shade-grown coffee. It has

pledged to incorporate green building standards in all construction by 2010. While

the company has encouraged all of its suppliers to commit to preserving the
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environment and be mindful of energy and water uses, Starbucks itself has been

accused of water waste.

[viaNewsweek.]

9. Applied Materials

The chip-maker purchases renewable energy and has expanded its solar

manufacturing business - creating a solar-panel shaded parking lots at its

facilities. While Applied Materials is making great progress in energy

consumption, its water use is substantial.

[viaNewsweek.]

8. Bristol-Myers Squibb

It's aggressively trying to cut greenhouse gases by 10% compared to 2001 levels.It's also working on a number of other environmentally friendly initiatives.

[viaNewsweek.]

7. Nike
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Forget the sweatshops baby! Nike is uber-green. It even makes a basketball

shoe from "environmentally preferred materials" like recycled polyester. It has a

whole line of sustainable goods. It also invests in renewable energy and says

Newsweek, "Code of conduct requires over 650 contract factories in 52 countries

to have written environmental policies."

[viaNewsweek.]

6. State Street

Hmmm. While asset management isn't really thought of as green, State Street is

doing its best to reduce electricity use and air travel. (We bet their employees
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hate that! No travel, turn off the lights!) The company is also looking at how many

emissions it produces.

[viaNewsweek.]

5. IBM

Since 1971, the company has had environmental policies. It's entire "smart"

business is built around making money and creating a sustainable planet. All of

its employees take environmental awareness training sessions. This company is

serious about doing right by the environment.

[viaNewsweek.]

4. Intel
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Intel purchases more renewable energy than any other corporation in the world.

Improving the efficiency of its chips is of equal importance to improving the speed

of the chips. It's also cutting back on toxic stuff and waste.

[viaNewsweek.]

3. Johnson & Johnson

For almost 20 years, the company has worked to reduce its waste, and become

more sustainable. It isn't planning of going carbon neutral, but it has the largest

fleet of hybrids in the world, and it has strong environmental goals.

[viaNewsweek.]

2. Dell
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Dell has been an outspoken company when it comes to the environment,

regularly battling rivals for the title of "greenest." Its computers will be using 25%

less energy by 2010, and its headquarters is powered entirely by renewable

energy. It is a carbon neutral company and it leads the industry in recycling its

products.

[viaNewsweek.]

1. Hewlett-Packard

Expect to see this in ad campaigns. HP has a plan in place to cut down

greenhouse gas emissions, and it was the first IT company to report those

emissions. It's cut back on toxic substances (though not enough to sate

Greenpeace, apparently.) It's also been aggressive with recycling.

[via Newsweek.]

Read more:http://www.businessinsider.com/the-15-best-companies-for-the-environment-

2009-9?op=1#ixzz2JIHIhCKk
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the 15 best companies for the planet

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