Puma tops sustainability performers
German sportswear company Puma is a global leader on sustainability, according to a study of the world's 2,000 biggest companies. And, as a whole, UK companies are performing best
The assessment of firms’ performance by analyst EIRIS finds that, although many are making sustainability a key part of their future plans and strategies, a significant number are making only limited progress.
It also reveals that UK and European companies are outstripping their US and Asian counterparts on sustainability performance, and that some sectors – notably oil, gas and mining – need to refocus their businesses to offset negative impacts.
Three UK firms – FirstGroup, GlaxoSmithKline and Go-Ahead Group – make the top 10, while 20% of all UK companies score an “A” rating for their sustainability performance. By contrast, 12% of European companies receive an A grade, and just 2% of US firms and 1% of Asian businesses score as highly.
“Tighter sustainability legislation in Europe and more public awareness contributes to this difference,” said Mark Robertson, report author and head of communications at EIRIS.
High-profile brands, such as Apple, McDonald’s and Google, receive a D rating, just ahead of oil companies such as BP, Chevron and ExxonMobil, which score an E, the lowest rating.
Puma received the top accolade for its strong environmental record and for improving labour standards. Last year, the company published its ground-breaking environmental profit and loss statement, which valued its environmental impacts during 2010 at £124 million.