TIME Magazine’s TIME 100 list profiles the 100 most influential people each year. For the first time, TIME magazine is shining the spotlight on corporate influence, too, with its inaugural list of the world’s most sustainable companies. Stantec, WSP, Acciona, and Sacyr are a few that made the top 10.
The list of 500 companies was put together in conjunction with the data firm Statista. Beginning with a pool of 5000 of the world’s largest companies, the evaluation process used over 20 key data points and a rigorous four-step process to whittle the number down to just 500.
The process involved:
- Excluding non-sustainable businesses involving fossil fuels or deforestation, or those associated with environmental catastrophes.
- Assessing the company’s external sustainability ratings and commitments, such as adhering to the UN Global Compact or participating in the UNFCCC Race to Zero.
- Evaluating sustainability reports, including whether the company had filed an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report for 2022 and assessing report assurance and compliance.
- Looking at key environmental and social stewardship indicators, including emissions, renewable energy use, gender diversity, and work safety.
Companies were scored out of a possible 100 points, with the top-scoring 500 companies making the list.
Top 8 most sustainable construction companies according to TIME Magazine
Stantec
HQ: Canada
Rank: 14th
Sustainability score: 79.63/100
Website: www.stantec.com
Canadian firm Stantec was the most sustainable construction company on TIME’s list, coming in 14th with a total score of almost 80 points. The company focuses on sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. Helping earn their place at the top is Stantec’s commitment to Indigenous relationships, inclusion, diversity, and equity, and corporate sustainability.
WSP
HQ: Canada
Rank: 53rd
Sustainability score: 74.47/100
Website: https://www.wsp.com/
Another Canadian company, WSP, takes second in construction companies featured in TIME’s “Most Sustainable” list. WSP takes on projects across a wide variety of sectors, including revitalizing aging city infrastructure, building breakwaters, constructing retail developments, and breaking ground on solar energy projects. Focusing on sustainability, corporate responsibility, and design for a positive future won WSP its spot in the top 15%.
Iberdrola
HQ: Spain
Rank: 61st
Sustainability score: 73.69/100
Website: https://www.iberdrola.com/
As a leading electricity company and wind power producer, sustainability is baked into Iberdrola’s business model. The Spanish company generates 100% emission-free energy in several countries countries, including the UK, Brazil, France, and Germany, and 92% emission-free energy in Spain. Iberdrola has also committed to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provides regular sustainability reports.
Acciona
HQ: Spain
Rank: 86th
Sustainability score: 71.32/100
Website: https://www.acciona.com/
The fifth most sustainable construction company is also based in Spain. Acciona is dedicated to sustainable infrastructure solutions and prioritizes environmental stewardship at every stage of the process, from design right through to construction and maintenance. Their website states that they’ve avoided 13.6 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2023 and are committed to fighting climate change.
Ferrovial
HQ: Netherlands
Rank: 174th
Sustainability score: 65.83/100
Website: https://www.ferrovial.com/
By investing in social projects, partnering with the UN to achieve the SDGs, reducing its environmental footprint, and focusing on occupational diversity and safety, Ferrovial earns a score of nearly 66 points on the TIME list. Since 1952, this Netherlands-based company has taken on large projects like highways and airports, tackling them with sustainability in mind.
Sacyr
HQ: Spain
Rank: 254th
Sustainability score: 61.71/100
Website: https://www.sacyr.com/
Sacyr focuses its efforts on areas it feels can have the greatest impact, including water conservation, circular economies, human rights, sustainable finance, and transparency. Sacyr is a global concessions, engineering, and infrastructure firm and the third Spanish company to make the top 8 most sustainable construction companies.
Webuild
HQ: Italy
Rank: 449th
Sustainability score: 54.79/100
Website: https://www.webuildgroup.com/
Webuild has developed a “5P Sustainability Manifesto” to represent its priorities: planet, people, partnership, progress, and prosperity. Ranking 449th on the TIME list, Webuild makes the cut for working with innovative builders, cultivating workplace diversity, and promoting occupational health and safety.
Eiffage
HQ: France
Rank: 484th
Sustainability score: 53.55/100
Website: https://www.eiffage.com/
Just making the list in 484th place is the eighth most sustainable construction company, Eiffage. Headquartered in France, Eiffage is committed to harnessing ecological engineering to boost biodiversity and reduce environmental impact.
