Green Leaders: Barron’s Unveils List of Most Sustainable Companies in the US

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Late last week, Barron’s released it’s sixth annual, “Most Sustainable Companies in the US (right now)” rankings. Barron’s collaborated with Calvert, a prominent ESG investment firm, to compile a list of the most sustainable companies.

Calvert evaluated the 1,000 largest publicly traded companies based on their market value and ranked them according to their performance in five crucial areas: shareholders, employees, customers, community, and the planet by analyzing over 230 ESG performance metrics from seven rating agencies, such as ISS, MSCI, Sustainalytics, Thomson Reuters Asset4, and TruValue.

Then, rated each company’s performance in each category on a scale of zero to 100 and  Special Data then created a weighted average of the categories based on their financial significance in the industry. To qualify for Barron’s list, a company had to score above the lowest quarter in each relevant stakeholder category. A company would be disqualified if it performed poorly in any financially significant key category.

A Common Theme in Barron’s Report: Circularity
One of the major themes observed in this year’s rankings was the advancement toward a circular economy. The objective is to reduce waste and emissions by increasing the recirculation of products and materials in the economy. These endeavors encompass various initiatives, such as decreasing the use of new or virgin plastic in packaging and renovating heavy equipment to extend its usability.




The Clorox Company tops Barron’s Top 100 list flipping spots with Intel (2). Clorox is making large strides in its goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, starting with its commitment to using all green energy and increasing its energy efficiency. ESG initiatives are reflected in its IGNITE strategy, which aims to tackle the issue of waste, particularly the use of virgin packaging. By limiting the amount of new plastic it uses and increasing its use of recycled or reused materials, the company is taking an important step toward reducing its environmental impact.

Clorox has partnered with suppliers, customers, and governments to find innovative solutions. Its involvement in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment and membership in the US Plastics Pact demonstrate its commitment to working with others to create a more sustainable future.

In 2021, Kimberly-Clark (3) doubled the percentage of recycled content in plastic packaging, and it further increased the amount of packaging globally that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable to nearly 84%, as it strives for 100% by 2025. Last year, the company was ranked 23 on the list.