ROBOFUNDSThe world’s most sustainable companies
The 100 most sustainable companies in the world in 2023 have just been named. The Canadian company and media and analysis house Corporate Knights has found and named the 100 best companies in the world since 2005. Denmark is also represented on this distinguished list with 6 companies this time.
Denmark has in fact been well represented every year.
The world’s most sustainable stocks
The 100 most sustainable companies in the world in 2023 have just been named. Corporate Knights has found and named the 100 most sustainable companies in the world since 2005. Denmark is also represented on this distinguished list with 6 companies this time. Denmark has in fact been well represented every year, given that the list is global
7000 companies with more than USD 1 billion in profit are candidates for this sustainable top list. In addition to the earnings requirements, 25 other parameters are measured, which are finally filtered down to the 100 best companies in the world.
The winner this year.
Australian Sims Ltd, which has appeared on the list several times, must be said to be the definition of sustainability and circular economy, and given their business base – recycling – they took a secure first place.
The closest Danish word for their business is “Ophugger” (scrap dealer), that is, recycling of various types of metals. In 2023 they recycled 8 million tonnes of metals and saved their customers 11.3 million tonnes of CO2 by recycling rather than using new raw materials. In other areas such as 100% use of green electricity and occupational safety, Sims Ltd excels.
“We are very proud to have topped the ranking on the 2024 Global 100. This recognition reflects our commitment to our own sustainability performance, as well as our role in helping build a greener future through the supply of more circular metals and materials globally,” said Stephen Mikkelsen, Sims Limited’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.”
Top-10
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Danish companies at the top again
Once again this year we find Danish companies very well represented on the Top-100 list. In 2023 we are again represented with 6 companies, with 2 companies on the Top-10 list:
in 8th place and
in a strong 3rd place, only surpassed by 2 Australian companies.
One single drop-out.
has dropped entirely out of the Top-100 list and been replaced by
in 53rd place.
First place is held by the Australian
which operates within recycling and thus has a sustainable profit of 100%
Director Lars Pehrsson of Robofunds comments: – Considering Denmark’s relatively modest size in global terms, it is remarkable that we are represented with 6 companies on the list and 2 of them on the Top-10 list. Something suggests that Danish business has built sustainability and ESG into its business model as an important element. I believe that both private and institutional investors also reward this in the form of investments in such companies.
Not all companies in Denmark are equally sustainable, however. The shipping company A.P. Møller Mærsk, with its large fuel consumption of heavy bunker oil and the sulphur emissions that follow, in order to transport consumer goods to Europe, makes it on the contrary a rather polluting company. I do not expect to see them on the Global-100 list in the coming years. They simply have no possibility of substituting the heavy fuel that their large ships use, Lars Pehrsson continues.
The high-flyer on the list this year is undoubtedly Chr. Hansen Holding A/S, which moves from an already strong 18th place to 8th place. The large jump is due, among other things, to the revenue generated on the basis of products that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the share of CAPEX and R&D investments in activities that support these products, and diversity at management and board level.
..“We are honoured to rank as no. 8 in the Corporate Knights Global-100 and for the seventh year in a row as the most sustainable biotechnology company. This is a great recognition of the dedication to sustainability at Chr. Hansen, and not least that bio-solutions play a completely decisive role in the sustainable transition of the food system and society as a whole,”, says Rune Jørgensen, head of sustainability and ESG at Chr. Hansen.
The methodology
Corporate Knights uses a fairly comprehensive methodology that is improved every year, in order to identify the genuinely sustainable companies and avoid
This involves, among other things, a thorough assessment process.
Every year more than 7.000 public companies with revenue of more than 1 billion USD are assessed. The most important factors taken into account include a range of publicly available data and key figures. These indicators come from various sources, such as company websites, annual reports, sustainability reports and data on diversity in management and on the board, sustainable earnings, sustainable investments and carbon productivity
The evaluation emphasises the companies’ impact on the clean economy and their responsible business practice. In addition, companies are assessed in categories related to governance and HR.
It is important to note that Corporate Knights’ ranking does not only assess companies’ current sustainability efforts but also calls for continuous improvement and the setting of ambitious targets. This approach is consistent with the broader goals of promoting sustainable business models and practices that benefit both the environment and society. The ranking therefore serves as a benchmark for sustainability.
The full methodology for screening the companies can be read here:(
Sims Ltd. is a metal recycling company headquartered in Mascot, Australia. The company collects, processes and trades secondary raw materials of iron and steel as well as other metal alloys, mainly aluminium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel-containing materials. The company is a sustainable player within the circular economy, as 100% of its revenue and investments are aligned with Corporate Knights’ sustainable principles. In addition, Sims ranks at the top in several key figures, including energy and carbon productivity, CEO-to-average-worker pay ratio and taxes paid.
Brambles Ltd. is a company within supply-chain logistics that describes itself as a pioneer within the sharing economy, offering reusable pallets, crates and containers. The company has industry-leading sustainable revenue and investment ratios, which it has achieved through its business model within the circular economy. The Australian company also performs well in terms of racial diversity, in addition to having a robust sustainability-linked pay structure.
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer that sells and services wind power installations and onshore and offshore wind turbines. The company’s contribution to the renewable energy sector, as well as its board gender diversity, management racial diversity and 0% worker fatality rate, secure its consistently high ranking on the Global 100. The company ranked first in the Global 100 in 2022.
Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp. builds, operates and administers a 350-kilometre high-speed rail system in Taiwan. As this system is electrified, all of the company’s revenue and investments are aligned with Corporate Knights’ sustainable economy taxonomy. In addition, it has an industry-leading CEO pay ratio and scores highly on carbon productivity and pension fund quality.
Nordex SE develops, manufactures and distributes multi-megawatt class onshore wind turbines worldwide. The company, which is based in Hamburg, Germany, allocates all its investments to wind technologies. It scored best among the Global 100 companies on energy productivity, cash taxes paid and racial diversity in both its board and its management team.
Banco do Brasil SA offers banking products and services to individuals, companies and the public sector in Brazil and internationally. Headquartered in Brasília, Brazil, the bank is a leader within sustainable finance with an industry-leading sustainable revenue ratio, which it has achieved through its sustainable loan portfolio, which emphasises environmental and social sustainability themes. It also performs well in terms of energy and carbon productivity, CEO pay ratio and gender and racial diversity in both its board and management team.
Schneider Electric SE is an industrial conglomerate based in France that has consistently ranked on the Global 100, including by taking first place in 2021. The company has achieved its top-class sustainable revenue and investment ratios by offering energy-efficient and automation digital solutions globally. In addition, Schneider Electric ranks in the top 15th percentile among its peers in terms of energy, carbon and waste productivity indicators.”
Chr. Hansen Holding A/S is a global differentiated bioscience company that develops natural ingredient solutions for the nutrition, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries. Headquartered in Hørsholm, Denmark, and with soon 150 years behind it, the company holds industry-leading distinctions on material sustainability parameters, including the share of products that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable investments.
The company has taken a considerable jump from an 18th place in 2022 to an 8th place in 2023.
Stantec Inc. offers engineering, architecture and environmental advisory services in Canada, the USA and internationally. The company is a leader among its peers within sustainable investments, such as the 2021 launch of the Stantec Institute for Water Technology & Policy, which examines the real consequences of climate change for water sustainability and the role of new technologies in water science and policy. Stantec also achieved its ranking through high scores in energy productivity and waste productivity.
SMA Solar Technology AG is engaged in the development, manufacture and sale of products for photovoltaic systems and charging solutions for electric cars. Headquartered in Niestetal, Germany, the company is a pure player within renewable technology, where all revenue and investments are aligned with Corporate Knights’ sustainable economy taxonomy. In addition, the company’s CEO pay ratio is among the top 5% relative to peers, while it also scores highly on energy and carbon productivity.
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Lars Pehrsson
Serial entrepreneur with 30 years of experience in the financial sector and several successful exits, particularly within fintech. Founder of SoftCapital, which specialises in portfolio and risk management software, and of Robofunds, which via AI generates optimal securities portfolios with ongoing rebalancing recipes.
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