Nike scored highest for climate performance in Climate Counts’ second annual Company Scorecard, and average company scores improved by 22% over last year, suggesting a positive trend in corporate environmental awareness.
Overall the average company score increased from 30.6 in 2007 to 39.3 this year, out of a possible 100 points. Google, Anheuser-Busch and Levi Strauss had the largest score improvements over last year, of the 56 major corporations ranked.
But there were definitely poor performers among the group, which was drawn from high-visibility consumer sectors ranging from apparel and electronics to fast food. Ten companies are still ranked as "stuck" compared to 18 last year.
Jones Apparel Group, Burger King, Darden Restaurantsum! (which owns Red Lobster and Olive Garden), Yum! Brands (which owns Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and KFC) and Wendy’s all scored one or zero points.
Twenty-three companies were ranked as "striding" (making progress toward change) compared to 18 last year.
The Household Products sector had the largest overall improvement, evident by the growing number of eco-friendly products found on store shelves. Average scores in the sector increased by more than 13 points.
The Food Services sector had the lowest average score of the eight sectors in the rankings–11.5 out of 100.
The companies were scored on a scale from zero to 100, based on 22 criteria that fall within four benchmarks: whether they measure their carbon footprint; what efforts they have made to reduce their own climate impact; whether they support or oppose global warming legislation; and what they disclose to the public about their work to address climate change.
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