America’s Top 10 Companies for Environmental Performance in 2024
2024 has already been a big year for environmental and climate action in the private sector. Governments of all sizes have implemented new measures that will require certain companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks.
Following last year’s adoption of the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and California’s two climate disclosure laws (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act and the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a rule that requires some companies to disclose both greenhouse gas emissions and climate risks to their business, the specifics of which are still being challenged in court.
A majority of Americans favor more disclosure from companies on these issues. Our Polling of the American Public found that 73% of Americans strongly or somewhat favor federal requirements for disclosure on environmental data like greenhouse gas emissions. Other research indicates that 90% of investors say that the CSRD and SEC rules will drive better investment decisions.
We evaluated the 10 companies with the best environmental performance in our 2024 Rankings of America’s Most JUST Companies. All 10 of these companies have set an emissions reduction target and we also found that these leaders are outperforming the remainder of the Russell 1000:
- Eight of the Top Ten have a verified 1.5-degree Science-Based Target.
- Only 13.4% of the Russell 1000 have achieved this best practice.
- Our Top Ten Companies for the Environment use 7x more renewable energy (as a percent of their total energy use) than the rest of the companies in our universe.
Read more about how these companies are taking action. The top 10 are listed below in ranked order on environmental performance based on the 2023 Rankings:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
- Ranked 1st in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Computer Services Company based in Spring, Texas
Hewlett Packard Enterprise is a top-performing company on the Environment Stakeholder, in addition to leading the Russell 1000 on overall performance, ranking first overall in our 2024 Rankings. HPE has committed to multiple ambitious climate goals, including achieving Net Zero across its entire value chain by 2040, a 70% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions from 2020-2030, and a 42% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from 2020-230. HPE was the first company within its industry to set a verified 1.5-degree Science Based Net Zero Target, and in 2022 even moved up their commitment date for achieving Net Zero from 2050 to 2040. HPE is focused on finding low-impact suppliers and partnering with suppliers who have their own science-based targets, while also pushing out more sustainable options for their customers to reduce the company’s scope 3 emissions.
Johnson & Johnson
- Ranked 697th in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Pharmaceutical & Biotech Company based in New Brunswick, New Jersey
Johnson & Johnson has been a continued leader in the environmental space, being the 2nd top-performing company in the Russell 1000, moving up from the 8th spot on last year’s rankings. Johnson & Johnson’s climate action plan revolves around improving operational performance and optimizing their value chain. This plan includes sourcing 100% of their electrical needs from renewable resources by 2025, with 100% of their European operations already achieving this, and launching the Johnson & Johnson Supplier Sustainability Program. The company’s long-term goal is to achieve Net-Zero across all of its value chain by 2045, recognizing that to achieve environmental health equity, there needs to be a focus on tackling climate issues.
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Microsoft Corporation
- Ranked 42nd in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Software Company based in Redmond, Washington
Microsoft Corporation has committed to the most robust climate commitments, pledging to be carbon-negative and zero waste by 2030. The pledge goes beyond this, as the company has pledged to remove the amount of carbon equivalent from the atmosphere of all of its historical emissions by 2050. Microsoft has disclosed detailed plans of how they going to achieve these goals and is partnering with global industry-leading organizations to move forward in the field of carbon removal. Microsoft has also pledged to be water-positive by 2030. Since initiating this program, they have secured contracts for projects expected to deliver over 35 million cubic meters of volumetric water benefits throughout the lifespan of these initiatives.
McCormick & Co Inc
- Ranked 115th in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Food, Beverage & Tobacco Company based in Hunt Valley, Maryland
McCormick & Co. Inc. is focused on creating sustainability within the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco industry, honing in on the increased use and branding of sustainable herbs and spices. McCormick has identified the environmental impact of their most iconic branded ingredients and is leading research on how to minimize the environmental impact of their product with the largest carbon footprint, black pepper. The company is also partnering with vanilla farmers in Madagascar to help protect biodiversity in the region through providing the local farmers training on agricultural practices that meet third-party sustainability certifications. All of these efforts are being pursued to ensure the company meets its 2050 goal of Net Zero.
Accenture plc
- Ranked 3rd in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Commercial Support Services Company based in Chicago, Illinois
Accenture has met its 2025 Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) goal, achieving a 57% reduction in total emissions based on a 2016 baseline and reduced scope 1 and scope 2 emissions by 91%, significantly surpassing their goal of a 65% absolute reduction target. The company has since committed to even more reductions, and has gotten approval from SBTi for another near-term target to be achieved by 2030. Accenture has also invested in nature-based carbon removal solutions, that are predicted to remove millions of metric tons of carbon over the next 20 years. In addition, in 2023 Accenture did achieve its goal of 100% renewable electricity in all of its offices.
Adobe Inc
- Ranked 34th in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Software Company based in San Jose, California
Adobe Inc. has adopted a three-tiered approach to sustainability, focusing on product sustainability, operational sustainability, and policy advocacy/thought leadership. Through these efforts, Adobe has a verified 1.5-degree Science Based Net Zero Target. The company’s products help reduce environmental impacts associated with physical software manufacturing, packaging, and distribution, which contributes to their goal of reducing scope 3 emissions associated with product use. Operationally, 80% of their offices globally are LEED or green building certified, and they are committed to sourcing 100% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Adobe has also supported legislation advocating for the deployment of clean renewable energy in areas where they have digital supply chain operations
Bank of America Corporation
- Ranked 2nd in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Bank based in Charlotte, North Carolina
Bank of America Corporation is leveraging its position as a leading financial organization to invest in sustainable finance. The company collaborates with enterprises in agriculture, transportation, and aviation fuel sectors, offering education and services to help them integrate sustainability into their investments and develop resilient infrastructure. Bank of America has also pledged to reach Net Zero by 2050 within their finance activities, operations, and supply chain. In addition, the company’s Environmental Business Initiative will deploy and mobilize $1 trillion by 2030 to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy, as part of a broader $1.5 trillion sustainable finance goal aligned to addressing the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Procter & Gamble Company
- Ranked 79th in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Personal Products Company based in Cincinnati, Ohio
The Procter & Gamble Company climate action plan includes achieving Net Zero by 2040, with additional science-based targets to be achieved by 2030. The company aims to reduce operational emissions by 50% and supply chain emissions by 40% by 2030. In order to tackle waste, Procter & Gamble is aiming to have 100% recyclable or reusable packaging in all consumer products by the same deadline. The company is also focused on reducing water use operationally, specifically in areas where there is a high level of water stress. Through partnerships, Procter & Gamble has embarked on a data-based water risk assessment to identify which water basins are most at risk and has started restoration projects to help restore these essential water sources.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp
- Ranked 175th in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Medical Equipment & Services Company based in Irvine, California
Edwards Lifesciences Corp is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 and has made verified commitments to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) for emission reductions aligned with the 1.5 Degree Warming Scenario. The company prioritizes efforts to diminish its waste and water footprints, striving to innovate new technologies to minimize production waste and regularly evaluating water risks across its operations. Additionally, Edwards Lifesciences is enhancing the sustainability of its operations by implementing renewable energy projects at its facilities and attaining LEED Gold certification for its Irvine campus.
Biogen Inc
- Ranked 33rd in America’s Most JUST Companies
- Pharmaceutical & Biotech Company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Biogen Inc. has rolled out its initiative, Healthy Climate, Healthy Lives to increase sustainability within their organization and have a positive impact on overall public health. As part of their initiative, they have committed to reaching Net Zero by 2045 as verified by the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In year two of the initiative they have made reductions in direct emissions and sustained 100% renewable electricity within their operations. Biogen is participating in strategic collaborations with the Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, MIT Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change the Technology and Policy Program, and The World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) Healthy People, Healthy Business project – which Biogen co-chairs, all to assess and understand the impacts of climate issues on public health.
