Top 10 Most Sustainable Companies for 2026

Introduction

With the world becoming more environmentally conscious, eco-friendly companies are experiencing increased success. 

As per the latest trends, customers are making purchases that prioritize environmental impact. Their decision to work with companies that share a commitment to environmental protection comes at a time when the option is becoming increasingly obvious. It can be difficult to distinguish between companies that are legitimately eco-friendly and those that are simply hopping on the environmental bandwagon and gradually labeling themselves ‘eco-friendly.’  

Given the gravity of the current climate crisis, it is critical for businesses to maintain high environmental expectations, and businesses that continue to prioritize and work at the forefront of environmental innovation should be applauded. We all know that ‘eco-friendly’ means a lot more than simply not harming the climate. Environmental consciousness is woven into every part of the company’s brand for genuinely eco-friendly businesses. 

Read More: ESG Data Sources

What Makes a Company Sustainable?

A company’s sustainability level is shaped by its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) commitments. These three factors act as guiding pillars that support responsible decision-making and influence long-term corporate governance. As organizations strengthen these pillars, they also strengthen their ability to operate responsibly and create value for stakeholders.

Three Pillars of Business Sustainability

The core pillars of sustainability are environment, social responsibility, and economic impact. These ideas are often described as people, planet, purpose, and profits.

• People include employees, customers, communities, and those connected to the organization.
• The planet reflects the physical environment as well as natural resources that support life and production.
• Purpose explains why an organization exists and how it contributes to society.
• Profit represents more than revenue because it also considers a business’s influence on the environment and communities

Environmentally friendly companies put these principles into action by producing sustainable and ethically sourced products while following environmentally responsible manufacturing practices. Moreover, environmentally responsible organizations are gradually reshaping how businesses participate in environmental protection. They pursue sustainability fully by aligning product design, operations, and supply chains with responsible practices.

As they continue their efforts to address climate change, eco-friendly companies often go beyond meeting basic requirements. They embed sustainability into long-term business functions, advocate for stronger policies, raise environmental consciousness, and encourage community involvement in conservation activities. They also collaborate with other groups and campaigns to expand their positive impact.

To identify the best of these companies, we have factored in parameters on how innovative their technology is or how sustainable their operational practices are. 

Most Sustainable Companies

• Schneider Electric 
• Ørsted 
• Nvidia 
• Cisco Systems Inc 
• Keysight Technologies KEYS 
• Neste 
• Stantec 
• McCormick & Company 
• Kering 
• Metso Outotec 
• American Water Works Company 

Schneider Electric 

Recognized as the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, Schneider Electric is one of the world’s most eco-friendly companies. This French energy-solutions powerhouse, Schneider Electric, is the world’s most sustainable company of 2025. The organization bagged the top spot in this year’s Corporate Knights Global 100 ranking, moving up from seventh place last year because of its high level of sustainable investment and revenue-leading performance on gender diversity and the low carbon intensity of its production. 

Schneider Electric is contributing to lowering CO2 emissions and reducing the rise in the Earth’s temperature by emphasizing innovative and renewable disruptors. Their initiatives are helping to prevent overheating of the Earth’s atmosphere and producing environmentally friendly goods that enable better access to energy.  

Schneider Electric Chair and CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire stated that the foundation of their strategy is to establish a business and organization that is sustainable. Schneider has always been committed to ESG concerns, and it continues to set higher standards for itself, as well as their customers and partners.  

Ørsted 

As one of the most sustainable companies, Ørsted has pledged to battle climate change with renewable energy. Ørsted offers energy products to its customers and is the only energy enterprise globally with a net-zero emissions target. The company, also known as one of the largest renewable energy developers, has transitioned from using fossil fuels to renewable energy for its operations and has set its target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.   

Ørsted aims to provide a net-positive biodiversity impact from all new renewable energy projects it will commission from 2030. The company has consistently ranked high on the Global 100 list. The brand’s vision reflects both its dedication to driving a profitable and sustainable business and its resolution to create a world that runs entirely on green energy. They are catalysts for green energy transformation and are instrumental in the battle against climate change.  

Read More: “Net-Zero by 2070”: #COP26 Climate Deal, Here Are the 5 Biggest Talking Points

Nvidia 

Nvidia is one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers and a leading designer of GPUs and system-on-chip units for the gaming, mobile, and automotive industries.

Because chip production is resource-intensive, Nvidia operates with a sizable carbon footprint. Its factories and labs consume large amounts of power and water. Even so, the company has made steady progress in sustainability. It reports power-efficiency improvements of up to 35 percent across several operations and has pledged to increase its renewable energy use to 65 percent by 2025.

Nvidia is also fully compliant with the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process. Along with its environmental commitments, the company is recognized for strong employee benefits, including comprehensive medical coverage and paid parental leave.

Cisco Systems Inc 

Cisco is a leading developer of networking hardware, software, and telecommunication equipment, and it consistently ranks among the world’s most eco-friendly companies. The company maintains strong energy efficiency across its supply chain, from sourcing materials and designing products to managing electricity use and ensuring responsible hiring practices.

Cisco reports that 80 percent of the electricity used in its operations is clean. The company has also reduced its Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by nearly 50 percent. Scope 1 covers emissions from direct, owned sources, while Scope 2 refers to indirect sources such as cooling and heating systems. Scope 3 emissions include the wider value chain, including employee commutes and waste management.

Keysight Technologies KEYS 

Keysight Technologies is a global leader in communications testing and measurement solutions, offering advanced testing capabilities across hardware, software, and services. The company maintains strong ESG reporting practices and demonstrates consistent oversight of environmental and social issues.

Keysight also operates a comprehensive whistleblower program that reinforces governance standards. This includes clear policies for managing environmental concerns and maintaining responsible supply chain practices, which support its broader commitment to sustainability.

Neste 

Neste is a global leader in sustainability, renowned for its renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, chemical recycling to reduce plastic waste, and innovation in refining raw materials into renewable fuels. The Finnish company went from third to fourth place in a year, but it is still on the Corporate Knights Global 100 Index for the 15th year in a row, which is far longer than any other global energy company.  

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According to Peter Vanacker, Neste President and CEO, the company’s goal of making the world a better place for our children motivates them to strive for greater heights every day. Numerous businesses are constantly upgrading their sustainability initiatives, making it increasingly challenging to make a list each year. It’s encouraging to see more businesses actively incorporating sustainability into their operations. 

Stantec 

Stantec is not just one of the world’s most environmentally friendly companies, but it also leads the way in North America. Half of the company’s overall score came from clean earnings and clean investment, which are commodities and services that have a proven environmental and social impact. 

Stantec President and CEO Gord Johnston stated that the company’s outstanding track record on sustainability is the product of their people’s profound commitment and excellent leadership across their worldwide operations. Their teams are working to improve sustainability in their own operations, as well as assisting clients in setting and achieving their sustainability objectives. 

McCormick & Company 

McCormick & Company may be regarded as the world’s sixth most sustainable company, and it is also a leader in the food industry. The packaged and processed foods industry in the United States has risen 16 spots to its highest place since the index’s inception five years ago. 

Read More: Lab-Grown Meat Is the “Clean” Food the World Needs. So, What’s the Beef?

According to Lawrence E. Kurzius, Chairman and President of McCormick & Company, it has never been more crucial to join hands towards the future of flavor and to reduce its impact on the planet. The company is committed to generating clean revenue, delivering renewable energy projects, and transitioning to 100% circular packaging. 

Kering 

The only luxury corporation to make it to the top ten sustainable companies list is Gucci, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta, Ulysse Nardin, and Pomellato’s parent company. 

Kering maintained its strong position when evaluated against 24 quantitative KPIs, including resource management, people management, financial management, clean revenue and investment, and supplier performance. Sustainability is advocated at every governance level, from the Board of Directors to the House managers, in order to shape the future of luxury. 

According to Conservation International CEO Dr. M Sanjayan, Kering’s pledge to safeguard the environment on which it relies is a huge leap for the fashion industry, and it represents a massive gateway for the luxury sector to influence the masses and help reimagine fashion and luxury goods. Kering’s 2025 sustainability strategy aims to create value for its customers and society as a whole.

Metso Outotec 

Metso Outotec, a global leader in sustainable technology and services catering to recycling industries, aggregates, and mineral processing industries, is ranked 8th on the Global 100 Index. The Finland-based corporation has set a variety of ambitious targets, including limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, in order to make a positive impact on the earth as a sustainable leader. 

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Metso Outotec’s Senior Vice President of Business Development, Piia Karhu, stated that for their aggregates, metals, and minerals industry customers, their focus is on producing sustainable goods and services. They accelerate sustainable innovation together by collaborating with their customers, partners, and communities. 

American Water Works Company 

American Water is one of the world’s most eco-friendly companies because of its leadership and transparency. The US company, founded in 1886 and employing over 6,800 people, is the world’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. 

Despite serving 15 million people in 46 states, the corporation saves 12.5 billion liters of water every year, thanks to its efficiency techniques. It has also committed to a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. 

According to Walter Lynch, President and CEO of American Water, providing a consistent supply of safe, clean, and affordable water to their customers, as well as treating their wastewater, is just one part of their commitment to constantly improve their business’s sustainability and create a greater societal impact. 

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How Can Companies Improve Their Sustainability Strategies?

The starting point of accelerating an organization’s sustainability strategy must always begin with its mission. This constitutes a starting point for analyzing the firm and its operations. The focus should be on why they exist, how they operate, and their goals. They must be aware of and contribute positively to the sustainability challenges faced globally. 

When an organization decides on its sustainability strategy, it must also decide on its main goal. By operating with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), they can examine their sustainability performance across a number of factors. 

Environmental criteria identify how an organization performs in terms of its responsibilities to nature. Similarly, social factors refer to relationships with employees, customers, and communities. Governance deals with principles related to rights, responsibilities, and expectations between stakeholders in managing corporations.

Improving the company’s sustainability can help mitigate the risks for investors. This includes external examination to determine what to produce or what gap in the market to work with. However, executing a sustainable strategy can be a challenging process.

Creating a Strong Sustainability Strategy

Recognizing the importance of sustainability for business operations is not enough. They also need to incorporate and align sustainability into their actions and measurements in a coherent strategy. However, only this way may have a demonstrative effect. Developing a strong sustainability strategy provides an opportunity to view progress. Moreover, it provides the framework to successfully review, develop, and change activities for your business. 

The best way to track the company’s sustainability progress is to establish Sustainability Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Measuring the sustainability process is critical to ensure the organization is moving forward and reaching its sustainability goals. In other words, they assist in keeping up their measurements of sustainability progress. Additionally, it offers a better idea of where they can achieve this improvement in the future while also tracking their sustainability progress.

Establishing Sustainability KPIs

How should organizations go about establishing their own sustainability KPIs? One of the major issues they face when trying to enforce sustainability KPIs is the number of potential KPIs. Corporate sustainability reports have considerable variation in the use of performance indicators, which indicates a trend that could likely hinder benchmarking efforts, making it difficult to track progress.

There can be different opinions on how best to adjudicate the performance of involved indicators. It can be caused by a number of factors, including the differing interpretations of sustainability or the lack of mandatory ESG standards for reporting.

To develop a strong sustainability strategy in a company, it is important to focus on bridging the gap between the interpretations of sustainability and developing workers’ buy-in. In order to achieve consistent success, an organization needs to ensure strong fundamental factors like aligning its sustainability understanding.

Onboarding Staff with the KPIs and Sustainability

The successful integration of a strong sustainability strategy depends on the alignment between the workforce as well as the company’s goals. This can align perfectly when the entire team is on board with the company’s objective of fostering sustainability. The most effective way is by involving employees and key decision-makers in the process. 

An important part of developing a strong sustainability mission includes bridging the gap between the sustainability strategy of the organization and employees’ sustainability thinking. The gamified process helps unleash creativity in the workforce and anchor the company strategy. Accelerating the company’s sustainability strategy is fostered by the buy-in that the workers develop with the sustainability processes. 

To accelerate sustainability strategy, businesses need to upskill their workforce and onboard the whole team, especially those who can assist in further driving the process forward. 

Key Highlights: Top Sustainable Companies

• Consumer purchase decisions have changed dramatically in recent years. They are willing to spend more on eco-friendly products and solutions that are marketed as sustainable. 
• Sustainable companies are witnessing stronger growth and more loyal customers, as today, sustainability matters more than ever. 
• The rise in support of eco-friendly companies makes sustainability a vital aspect of customer experience and critical for the environment. 

Conclusion – Most Sustainable Companies

An organization’s approach to sustainability illustrates how it anticipates as well as addresses the associated long-term risks. Companies that mishandle ESG issues are likely to incur high economic costs, thus jeopardizing their ability to earn long-term, sustainable profits. 

The above-mentioned major green tech companies are expected to perform well in the future. With the ever-growing demand for eco-friendly and green technology products and solutions, these corporations will likely become increasingly popular in the years to come to foster strong ESG management practices for a long-term advantage.  

Now is the time for organizations to accelerate the pace of change! 

A leader in ESG Services, SG Analytics offers bespoke sustainability consulting services and research support for informed decision-making. Contact us today if you are searching for an efficient ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration and management solution provider to boost your sustainable performance.     

About SG Analytics            

SG Analytics (SGA) is an industry-leading global data solutions firm providing data-centric research and contextual analytics services to its clients, including Fortune 500 companies, across BFSI, Technology, Media & Entertainment, and Healthcare sectors. Established in 2007, SG Analytics is a Great Place to Work® (GPTW) certified company with a team of over 1200 employees and a presence across the U.S.A., the UK, Switzerland, Poland, and India.    

Apart from being recognized by reputed firms such as Gartner, Everest Group, and ISG, SGA has been featured in the elite Deloitte Technology Fast 50 India 2023 and APAC 2024 High Growth Companies by the Financial Times & Statista.  

FAQs – Most Sustainable Companies