Ecolab has the best environmental management of all the companies in the Russell 3000 index, according to a new study that evaluates environmental policies and infrastructure.With a score of 91 out of 100 points, Ecolab witnessed an increase in score of 38 points (72 percent) during the past two years. Intel came in second with 89 points after two consecutive years in the top spot. Lexmark was third, increasing by 10 points from 2011, to 84 points.
Ecolab has the best environmental management of all the companies in the Russell 3000 index, according to a new study that evaluates environmental policies and infrastructure.
With a score of 91 out of 100 points, Ecolab witnessed an increase in score of 38 points (72 percent) during the past two years. Intel came in second with 89 points after two consecutive years in the top spot. Lexmark was third, increasing by 10 points from 2011, to 84 points.
The 2012 GEMS Analysis, by Soyka & Company, is based on the application of an environmental rating methodology, the Governance and Environmental Management Strength (GEMS) Rating, designed to evaluate the ability of companies to anticipate and manage the environmental issues that pose risks and present opportunities to their operations by assessing the presence or absence of 43 indicators.
Soyka & Company created the GEMS Rating, which is powered by data provided by IW Financial. The study is the third in a series.
Some key findings include:
- 11 of the companies making up the 2011 top 25 are no longer within this group, but most remain in the top 50 for 2013.
- There are several highly ranked companies in both of the major sectors not represented within the top 25 firms, and they have remained in the top three within their respective sectors during some of all of the past four years. These include Bank of America in financials and CBRE/CB Richard Ellis and Prologis in real estate.
- Many firms have significantly increased their environmental disclosure during the past four years. Some examples include HCP and Forest City Enterprises in the real estate sector, Las Vegas Sands in the casinos and gaming industry, Hertz Global Holdings in the services sector/industry, and Bank of New York Mellon and Wells Fargo in the banking industry. Most of these companies posted a four-year increase of 40 points or more, generally starting from zero or a score in the single digits.
Some typically strong industries and companies are now disclosing less environmental information, most notably electric utilities, which contains five of the 16 firms posting the biggest overall reductions in adjusted GEMS Rating score. In all, 104 of the 814 firms remaining in or moving into the Russell 1000 from 2009-2013 exhibited declines in their overall GEMS Rating score during this period. Several former leaders showed the biggest declines in score, including Merck, Citigroup and Xcel Energy.
Ecolab and Intel also made CR Magazine’s 2014 100 Best Corporate Citizens List, which ranks companies based on disclosure and performance measures covering environment, climate change, employee relations, human rights, governance, finance and philanthropy. Ecolab also was among the 15 organizations and two individuals to receive this year’s EPA Climate Leadership Awards, which are given for leadership in addressing climate change by reducing carbon pollution.
Published Jul 28, 2014 8am EDT / 5am PDT / 1pm BST / 2pm CEST
Managing Director, Sustainability & Social Impact
Deutsche Bank
Mike Hower is a sustainability communicator and connector committed to helping purpose-driven businesses and people unlock their full potential for positive impact. As founder and principal consultant at Hower Impact, he works with companies to translate sustainability strategy into stories that inform, engage and inspire investors, customers, employees, regulators and other stakeholders in the service of social, environmental and business goals. Through his Impact Hired initiative, he works to connect and engage corporate sustainability professionals at all stages of their careers.
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