TIME and Statista highlight 500 companies excelling in growth and environmental stewardship
Key Impact Points
- New benchmarks for success: TIME and Statista’s list showcases companies combining strong financial growth with environmental responsibility, based on rigorous metrics.
- A global perspective: Only 117 of the 500 companies are U.S.-based, with Spain’s Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente and Grenergy Renovables topping the list.
- Diverse industry representation: While a few blue-chip giants made the cut, 70% of the recognized companies are midsize businesses generating $1–$10 billion in annual revenue.
Shifting the Growth vs. Green Paradigm
“People are deeply stuck in this trade-off mentality: growth versus green, jobs versus the environment. These are false dichotomies,” says John Sterman, co-director of MIT Sloan’s Sustainability Initiative. This year’s findings challenge that mindset, revealing that companies can excel financially while reducing environmental impacts.
Despite a wave of corporate sustainability reports, Sterman cautions against greenwashing and data cherry-picking, emphasizing the need for credible benchmarks. TIME and Statista’s methodology evaluated companies on revenue growth, carbon emissions (Scopes 1, 2, and 3), water consumption, waste production, and renewable energy use to ensure transparency.
Recognizing Unexpected Leaders
This inaugural list deviates from traditional rankings, omitting giants like Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft due to slower financial growth or larger environmental footprints during the 2021–2023 period. Instead, smaller renewable energy utilities, such as Solaria Energía y Medio Ambiente and Grenergy Renovables, lead with their 100% renewable operations.
“Over and over again, we see enormous financial benefits,” says Tensie Whelan, director of NYU Stern’s Center for Sustainable Business. She notes that operational efficiencies, supplier relationships, and innovative strategies all drive profitability while reducing environmental harm.
Building a Business Case for Sustainability
Companies like Mastercard (No. 10) and Visa (No. 12) demonstrate that embedding sustainability fosters both growth and profit. “There are really significant business reasons to invest versus, ‘Oh, this is just a nice thing to do,'” Whelan asserts. Ultimately, a thriving economy depends on a healthy environment—a fact this list aims to make undeniable.
Top 25 Companies
