Sustainability plays a large role in businesses today. It’s become cheaper for businesses to use LED lighting, recycle their products, and update their offices to conserve energy. Practicing sustainability is also helping to save the environment, which is currently another hot topic in politics.
Businesses that value sustainability are seeing a multitude of benefits in their favor as well. Air pollution is decreasing, overall costs are going down, paper use is depleting, buildings are being designed more efficiently, and recycling is becoming a way of life. Both businesses and their employees are leading more economical lifestyles that can impact generations.
More and more companies are recognizing the value of sustainable business practices. On that note, here are some of the largest companies doing so:
Alcoa
Alcoa has been the leader in sustainability for 15 years. This aluminum company continues to impress everyone with their initiatives to not only make their branches more eco-friendly but also spread the word about the benefits of sustainable business practices.
During 2015, Alcoa made some impressive moves towards sustainability, including:
- Achieving their 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target five years early
- Becoming one of the first companies to sign the American Business Act on Climate Pledge
- Designing high-performance metal products that make vehicles and aircraft more efficient
- Improving the bauxite residue storage and efficiency rehabilitation rate
Regarding the company’s efforts, Kevin McKnight, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety reported to BusinessWire:
As we prepare to launch two strong companies in the second half of 2016, we will continue using our innovation, creativity, and passion to deliver net-positive benefits to the environment, communities where we operate, our employees, and our shareholders.
Unilever
When it comes to household and personal products, Unilever topped the charts for green practices. They scored a 92 out of a possible 100 points on the Dow Jones sustainability index. This company has been a long-time leader in promoting more sustainable products in supply chain management, brand management, packaging, and corporate governance.
Unilever’s success in this area is part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which is meant to encourage long-term green practices for their business. Its also designed to promote more eco-friendly practices in other businesses.
Nestle
When it comes to sustainable practices in the food sector, Nestle takes the cake. Like Unilever, they scored 92 points on the spectrum. Their green practices are evident primarily in their supply chain efforts. The company mandates green efforts in their transportation, packaging, and distribution, which has significantly reduced their carbon footprint.
Phillips
This electronics company began shifting gears to more eco-friendly products a few years ago, and in 2015, their green product sales made up more than half their total sales. This comes from an initiative in which the company pledged to roll out their LED light bulbs at an accelerated rate.
“Our new program, ‘Healthy people, sustainable planet,’ reflects our commitment to the universally agreed United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, especially those aimed at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, and at encouraging sustainable consumption and production patterns,” Philips chief executive Frans van Houten explained to Proud Green Building.
