The global sustainability transition is now deeply rooted in the global economy and the companies that rise to the top of Corporate Knights’ annual Global 100 ranking are at the forefront of this megatrend. Driven by irrefutable and irreversible economic logic that has and will continue to withstand political backsliding and resistance from entrenched incumbents, sustainable revenue and sustainable investment are outpacing average growth rates. Sustainability growth continued and actually accelerated during the pandemic and has persisted through changing political and economic climates. In many industries, growth in sustainable revenue accounts for most of the growth in the past five years. The growing momentum of the transition is evident from Dallas to Denmark and extends deep into the supply chains for power, transportation, food, and shelter.
Preparation of the Global 100 ranking is an annual undertaking of the research group at Corporate Knights – the detailed methodology is available here. Half the points in the Global 100 ranking methodology are based on the extent to which a company’s revenues and investments (including acquisitions and R&D) are aligned with the Corporate Knights Sustainable Economy Taxonomy (CKSET). While conventional ESG metrics also matter, it is simply not possible to rise to the top of the Global 100 without being a sustainability leader.
Companies with sustainability data for 2019 forward included in these charts had US$26.7 trillion in gross revenue in 2023 and gross investments of $2.8 trillion. Sustainable investment includes capital expenditures, research and development, and acquisitions, as defined in Corporate Knights global sustainability taxonomy. Data from Corporate Knights Sustainable Economy Intelligence database covers more than 3,000 companies and contains more than 39,000 records tracking sustainable revenue and investment in the companies in the MSCI ACWI, the S&P 500 and the S&P/TSX Composite Index.
