Last week global disclosure system CDP unveiled its scorecards of corporations that are reducing the environmental impact of its operations as well as marking how well they are doing in reporting carbon emissions.
The non-profit scored over 21,000 companies based on information reported through its climate change, deforestation and water security questionnaires.
CDP uses a scoring system of A (the highest) to D- (lowest) based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership, such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets.
Those that don’t disclose or provide insufficient information are scored an F.
Just under 400 (2%) of these have been named on its 2023 A List for disclosing actionable, high quality environmental data.
We bring you a round-up of the top scorers.
EasyJet received an ‘industry leading’ A-
Aviation companies are typically at the core of the sustainability debate of what things need to change.
Many, however, airlines are trying to make a positive impact, including EasyJet which has been awarded an A- from CDP.
In fact, it is one of the few airlines in the world to have achieved a rating of A- and was previously graded B.
The airline boosted its score through the quality of its carbon disclosure as well as management of climate change risk.
The firm has implemented many changes across its business to reduce emissions, from switching to 100% reusable cutlery and cups to installing new aircraft technology that will save over 88,000 tonnes over CO2 each year.
EasyJet sustainability director Jane Ashton said the rating was “a true testament to the hard work we are all doing at EasyJet to ensure that our SBTi-validated 2035 carbon reduction target is met and our aim to be net-zero by 2050 is realised”.
“Decarbonising aviation continues to be a major undertaking and focus which is why EasyJet continues to take vital steps not only to safeguard the benefits the sector provides but also ensure that we do all that we can to minimise our impact,” she added.
Subscribe to Sustainability Beat for free
Sign up here to get the latest sustainability news sent straight to your inbox everyday
Coca-Cola recognised for actions on water scarcity
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) received an ‘A’ for transparency on climate change and also achieved an ‘A-‘ score for our action on water security.
Last month, Coca-Cola’s bottling arm in fact teamed up with Deep Science Ventures to develop technology that can address water scarcity by creating companies to develop water generation technologies that can then work with the bottling firm and the wider industry to drive water efficiency.
CCEP sustainability VP Joe Franses said: “We are proud to receive external recognition for our sustainability work, but this year it’s also encouraging to see a 24% increase in the number of companies disclosing information to CDP.
“It’s a clear sign that businesses are taking climate change and water security seriously. For us transparency and disclosure are really important part of our approach. Whilst we have more to do, recognition from CDP gives us confidence that we are on the right track.”
Sainsbury’s receives 10th consecutive A grade
Sainsbury’s also secured a place on the CDP’s A list for the 10th consecutive year.
The award comes as the retailer continues to progress towards its ambition of becoming Net Zero across its own operations by 2035, and value chain by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement’s aim of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C.
Last year Sainsbury’s was among UK retailers that teamed up with the BRC to launch a grocery products carbon reporting standard.
L’Oréal for the future
For the eighth year in a row, the L’Oréal Groupe joins CDP’s A List.
The beauty giant is aiming to hit its 2030 sustainable targets through its programme L’Oréal for the Future.
The programme is built on three pillars: transformation, empowering its business ecosystem, and contributing to solving global challenges, across specific commitments to tackle climate change, manage water sustainably, respect biodiversity, and preserve natural resources.
L’Oréal Groupe chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus said: “I view this achievement as an encouragement to persist in the efforts we initiated as the world leader in beauty when we made the pivotal decision to profoundly transform our business in accordance with what the latest climate science requires.
“This transformation is based on ambitious targets for 2030.”
