Top 10 Most Sustainable Companies In The World in 2012

Top 10 Most Sustainable Companies In The World

According to the UN World Commission on Environment and Development, sustainable development is the “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own need.”

Businesses have shifted their focus from tackling individual issues to the systematic integration of sustainable conduct into business operations and management systems. It is there more important to understand the role of the company and their behavior in a wider context.

Here is a list of 10 sustainable companies in the world.

1. Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Nordisk is a large manufacturer and marketer of pharmaceutical products and services. Created in 1989 in Denmark, it has become one of the world’s leading companies in diabetes care. They have solid experience pursuing research in pulmonary delivery systems. The company defines itself as a focused healthcare company with the broadest diabetes product portfolio.

In January of 2012, it ranked no. 1 in the global 100 most sustainable companies in the world index. It is recognized for its commitment to proactively managing environmental, social and corporate governance issues. The company ranked high amongst energy productivity, greenhouse gas productivity and employee turnover indicators to name a few.

2. Natura Cosmeticos

Natura is Brazil’s leading manufacturer and marketer of skin care, cosmetics, solar filters, hair, and perfume products. Since its conception in 1969, the company has grown to employ 800,000 consultants in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, France, Mexico, and Peru.

The company is committed to sustainable development. Antonio Luiz da Cunha Seabra, the founder, believes that it is second nature. The company allows for people to become intimate with their bodies. Peace brings change in both the mind and the soul. Increasingly, it has been steadfast at becoming socially and environmentally responsible.

3. Statoil ASA

Statoil is a petroleum company with production operations in 13 countries. In terms of its revenue, it is listed as the world’s 13th largest oil and gas company (Fortune). In April of 2012, the company decided to pre-accept a cash offer from Alimentation Couche-Tard for the shares in the listed energy and retail company. If successful, the offer would provide a premium of 53% of the current trading price.

The company was listed as #3 for a specific reason. It has worked hard to operate with zero harm to people, society, and the environment. They adhere and follow the standards for HSE, business ethics and social responsibility as well. Their persistence and efforts make this company one of the leading sustainable businesses in the energy industry.
4. Novozymes A/S

Novozymes is a Biotech company with headquarters in Denmark. Operating in over 30 countries, it is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Nordic exchange.

In January of 2012, the company was ranked no. 4 in the global 100 most sustainable companies in the world index. The company strives to lead by example by integrating sustainability into organizational practices. They create solutions that defy global challenges and incorporate as many sustainable initiatives into their own organization.

5. ASML Holding NV

This company is responsible for developing complex machines critical to the production of integrated circuits and microchips. With headquarters in the Netherlands, the company designs, creates, integrates and advertises these systems which help chipmakers not only reduce the size of the microchip, but increase the functionality as well.

The company has proven to be successful in sustainability. It has reduced their total CO2 footprint to 63.8 ktons (2011), which is a decrease by 24.9 ktons from previous years. The company is also committed to exceeding their targets to recycle non-hazardous materials.  That is not all they are doing. Now, they are trying to make their machinery energy efficient.

6. BG Group PLC

BG is a leading natural gas company located in U.K. The company in 2010 was shown to reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 8%. Since 2007, the company also proved to reduce greenhouse gasses by 769,000 tones. The company is committed to strategic water management and is focused on raising awareness about major hazards.

 

 

7. Westpac Banking Corporation

Founded in 1982, it is known as one of the “Big 4” banks in Australia. It is also the largest bank in New Zealand. As of November of 2011, it has 12.2 million customers, Australia’s largest branch networks.

This global banking company is a leader on sustainability. According to the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Index, it ranks 1 out of 190 banks in terms of its commitment, Now it ranks 7th on the 2012 global 100 list of sustainable companies.

8. Vivendi S.A.

As a French multinational mass media and telecommunication corporation, it has activities in music, television, film, publishing, the internet to name a few. The company’s contribution to sustainable development is seen in its commitment to fulfill the need to communicate and sustain curiosity and develop talent.

 

 

9. Umicore S.A./N.V.

For this metal refining company, sustainable development means economic growth and the protection of the environmental quality. Responsibility is placed on the company to become committed to ensuring the health and safety of its workers, consumers and the citizens around them.

 

 

10. Norsk Hydro ASA

This company is a leading supplier of oil and energy as well as light metals and plant nutrition. It operates in more than 60 countries across the world and employs 40,000 employees. The Norwegian company continues to defend itself as a sustainable an industrial leader. It maintains excellent risk management and compliance systems that are recognized by the global 100 index.

Their conduct attests to their beliefs and stipulates that: “We shall show respect for people and the environment, and behave in a responsible and orderly manner when balancing different considerations and dilemmas.”

Sonia Gandhi named world's 6th most powerful woman in 2012/News

Sonia Gandhi named world's 6th most powerful woman in 2012/News

 

Congress party president Sonia Gandhi was today ranked the sixth most powerful woman in the world, ahead of US First Lady Michelle Obama, by Forbes magazine in its list of 100 influential women, which was topped by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Gandhi, 65, is among the five Indian women who have been named in the 'World's 100 Most Powerful Women' list released by Forbes today. The UPA chairperson was ranked 7th last year.

Giving Gandhi company is Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo Indra Nooyi who was ranked at 12th followed by Cisco Systems Chief Technology and Strategy Officer Padmasree Warrior at 58th place, ICICI Bank Managing Director and CEO Chanda Kochhar at 59th and Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw at 80th rank.

Forbes said Gandhi the "one-time heir to the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty", successfully underwent a surgery last year and was "back in fighting spirit last month when she publicly reprimanded a fellow parliamentarian during session who had criticised her party's handling of this summer's rioting in Assam."

The longest serving chief in the Congress party's history, Gandhi has had to defend herself and the party after a spate of key assembly elections this year, blaming the drubbing on weak candidates and state party organisations.

"Lauded for overseeing heavy economic growth, she is also criticized for tolerating political corruption and failing to forge connections with India's fastest-growing demographic--younger voters," the publication said.

An avid scholar of the arts, Gandhi holds a degree in oil painting conservation.

Merkel occupied the spot of the world's most powerful woman for the second year in a row. Calling her the "Iron Lady" of Europe, Forbes said she is the lead player in the eurozone economic drama that continues to threaten global markets.

"As Greece, Spain, Italy and Portugal have teetered on the brink of an economic collapse, she (Merkel) has vowed to do everything in her power to preserve the 17-country European Union," Forbes said.

Merkel has been the German chancellor since 2005, and her recent public approval ratings soared to near 70 per cent –a good sign leading into the general election in the fall of 2013. Merkel is embracing the Internet, and last fall launched a YouTube channel, Die Bundesregierung, where she directly answers citizens' questions, the publication added.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been ranked second in the list, followed by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff at number three, New York Times Executive Editor Jill Abramson at 5 and Obama at 7.

Pepsi Co's 56-year-old Indian-origin CEO Nooyi has been ranked 12 in the list. Terming her the "superstar CEO", Forbes said Nooyi last year returned USD 5.6 billion to shareholders, when PepsiCo net revenue grew 14 per cent to USD 66 billion.

"But with gain comes pain: Languishing stock at the snack-and-soda giant and diminishing market share to rival Coca-Cola have put Nooyi in the hot seat," Forbes said.

Noting that "big changes are in the works" at Pepsi Co, Forbes said Nooyi cut three per cent of PepsiCo's global workforce to reduce costs and upped the marketing budget for core brands by USD 500 to USD 600 million.

Nooyi also reshuffled management of top executives, a move that may set up her successor.

Forbes said Cisco's 51-year-old Warrior took on the expanded role as Strategy officer in June, after five years as CTO, and "insiders say the move could indicate she's being groomed for the top spot."

Warrior is responsible for all deals activity as one of the most acquisitive firms in technology reconfigures its business strategy.

Kochhar, 50, the first woman to run ICICI Bank, oversees assets of USD 93 billion, more than 2,750 branches in India and the bank's presence in 19 countries. Kocchar joined ICICI in 1984 straight out of business school and is credited with building the bank's retail arm from scratch. In 2009, she became its youngest CEO at age 47.

"Today she's pursuing a new strategy, prioritising day-to-day banking business through its branches rather than big-ticket deals," Forbes said.

Forbes said Shaw, 59 is India's first biotech entrepreneur, who founded Biocon in 1978 when she was just 25-years-old.

Since then Biocon has become only the second Indian firm to list a one billion dollar IPO on its first day of trading and is currently the country's 11th largest pharmaceutical company with a market capitalisation of USD 66.8 billion.

Among the other power women making it to list is Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg at number 10, media mogul Oprah Winfrey at 11, singer Lady Gaga at rank 14, Myanmar's pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi (19), newly appointed Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer (21), UK's Queen Elizabeth (26), Harvard University President Drew Faust (63), actress Angelina Jolie (66) and British author J K Rowling (78).

In the crucial election year, US First Lady Michelle Obama has been more popular than her husband, Forbes said.

Michelle's positive approval ratings register at 66 per cent while her husband's term average has hovered just below 50 per cent.

"The First Lady keeps a high profile with her mission to end childhood obesity, her commitment to military families and her stylish fashion picks," Forbes said.

Sixteen women enter the list for the first time, including singer Jennifer Lopez, former US Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, Meg Whitman of HP and Marissa Mayer of Yahoo.

"This year's Power Women exert influence in very different ways, and to very different ends, and all with very different impacts on the global community," said Moira Forbes, president of Forbes Woman.

"Whether leading multi-billion-dollar companies, governing countries, shaping the cultural fabric of our lives, or spearheading humanitarian initiatives, collectively these women are changing the planet in profoundly powerful and dynamic ways."