February 15, 2022
Sustainability Roundtable, Inc’s (“SR Inc’s”) growing team is energized to work with world-leading companies to accelerate the development and adoption of best practices in more sustainable business. We are delighted to help SR Inc Member-Clients move to recognized global leadership in more sustainable business and pleased to help other Member-Clients learn from their leadership. Four SR Inc Member-Clients – Autodesk, Biogen, Cisco, and Lenovo – who are decade-plus leaders in more sustainable business were recently recognized by Corporate Knights in its 18th annual ranking as among the world’s 100 most sustainable companies.
Corporate Knights is a research and media firm that releases a yearly ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable businesses based on a set of 23 criteria. These businesses are chosen from a list of almost 7,000 public companies, each of which earns revenue over 1 billion USD. Assessors examine each company’s activities including investment in clean technologies, earnings from products aligned with the Corporate Knights Clean Taxonomy, corporate commitments such as Science-Based Targets (SBTs), pay structures, board diversity, and tax payments. The results are impressive; according to Corporate Knights, the Global 100 most sustainable corporations have generated 331% in investment returns compared to 279% by members of the MSCI All Country World Index (a global equity index).
This year, we are pleased to see the work of Member-Clients Autodesk, Biogen, Cisco, and Lenovo acknowledged by Corporate Knights.
Autodesk, the creator of top-line architectural and construction software, was ranked 3rd on the index, leading the world’s companies in action against climate change. In addition to committing to deep emissions reductions through the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), Autodesk heads the pack by setting an internal carbon price and advocating for science-based climate policy. The software company was also recognized by Barron’s as one of its top 100 sustainable companies this year.
Global biotech innovation leader Biogen, ranked 97th on the index, has set a new standard for sustainable action in the life sciences industry by committing to be Fossil Fuel Free by 2040. By not only reducing fossil fuel emissions, but instead working to eliminate them entirely, Biogen goes far beyond standard corporate best practice. The Fossil Fuel Free commitment is part of Biogen’s $250 million Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives initiative, which also seeks to engage employees and suppliers in climate initiatives and advance the science connecting air pollution and brain health. This commitment, along with commitments to the SBTi and RE100, underscores Biogen’s vested interest in working to simultaneously fight climate change and improve human health in line with its corporate mission.
Cisco is a world-leading technology company ranked 63 on the Fortune 500 and increasingly a leader in procurement of renewable energy. The company has achieved 60% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and sources 85% of Cisco’s global electricity usage renewably. Cisco has now committed to reach Net Zero across all three scopes by 2040 through continued renewable procurement and innovations in product design, use, and efficiency. Ranked 28th on the Corporate Knights Index, Cisco received high scores not only for climate action but also for racial and gender diversity among executives.
Computer manufacturer Lenovo, ranked 87th by Corporate Knights, works to reduce emissions not only from its own operations, but also from its entire Scope 3 footprint. Through its Science-Based Target, Lenovo has committed to reduce emissions from sold products, purchased goods, and product transportation within Scope 3. These initiatives have been taken on by internal teams, such as the logistics team, which is working to electrify transportation, move to rail transport, and explore potential alternative fuels. In addition to the Corporate Knights index, Lenovo is listed on CDP’s Climate A-List, representing its stellar performance towards climate change mitigation.
For relevant guidance on these and other strategies for more sustainable business, please see SR Inc’s briefings on Defining and Decarbonizing Scope 2, Scope 3, and Scope 4.
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As an Analyst at SR Inc, Julia Rothfield supports Member-Clients with outsourced program assistance and creates original research to help clients drive industry best practice in areas ranging from emissions reduction and ESG reporting to innovative renewable energy procurements.
Before working at SR Inc, Julia worked as a Sustainability Consultant for footwear distributor Weyco Group, creating a GHG inventory aligned with the globally recognized GHG Protocol and working to reduce impact in their supply chain. She has additional experience providing sustainability support services from working with consulting firm Scott Echols Group, LLC and interning at TerraCycle. Julia graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Brown University. There, she worked with the Brown Office of Sustainability for three years, helping Brown reduce waste to landfill, measure Scope 3 emissions, and institute a campus-wide Sustainability Plan.
