America's Greenest Companies

Source: The Carbon Disclosure Project Some investors believe a company's impact on the environment is an important investment consideration. The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a group that represents 385 institutional investors with assets of $57 trillion, surveys the world’s largest companies to gather information on carbon emissions, identify goals for carbon reduction and gauge their environment-related risks and opportunities of individual firms.The US CDP surveyed all companies in the S&P 500 in 2008. A voluntary project, 321 (64%) responded, but only 243 (49%) responses were made public. Although it is not a complete list of S&P 500 carbon emissions, it is the most comprehensive compilation of carbon disclosures publicly available. The report was put together by PriceWaterhouseCoopers for the CDP; Merrill Lynch is a founding member and global sponsor.So, what are America’s greenest companies? Click ahead to find out the 2008 results.By Paul ToscanoPosted 14 Apr 2009

Photo Courtesy: Carbon Disclosure Project In surveying companies, the CDP asked a range of questions in four major subject areas: Risks and Opportunities, Emissions Accounting, Performance Against Targets and Governance, which include everything from actual carbon emissions and energy consumption to emissions-reduction plans and corporate responsibility.In summing up the results, the report created the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), which measures each company’s responses to the survey and level of disclosure, with 100 being the highest score. The measure, however, does not fully reflect company performance in climate change management. Another measure included in the report is “Intensity,” which is a ratio of annual revenue compared to actual carbon emissions.In the slides ahead, we show the top-performing companies by sector, as some are inherently more carbon-intensive than others. The greenest companies have both a high CDLI score (in the top 30 overall) and the lowest (best) carbon intensity score in their sector.

Photo: AP Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL)Intensity: 49CDLI: 90Total Carbon Emissions: 675,076 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1092008 Revenues: $15.33 billion

Photo: AP Consolidated Edison (ED)Intensity: 493CDLI: 75Total Carbon Emissions: 6,467,230 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 482008 Revenues: $13.58

Photo: Phil Schatz Dell, Inc. (DELL)Intensity: 7CDLI: 91Total Carbon Emissions: 438,338 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1292008 Revenues: $61.10 billion

Photo: AP Ford Motor Company (F)Intensity: 33CDLI: 61Total Carbon Emissions: 5,761,631 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 522008 Revenues: $146.27 billion

Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW)Intensity: 2CDLI: 92Total Carbon Emissions: 16,830 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1962008 Revenues: $12.07 billion

Photo: AP Chevron Corporation (CVX)Intensity: 275CDLI: 74Total Carbon Emissions: 60,661,835 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 102008 Revenues: $255.11 billion

Photo: AP Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)Intensity: 15CDLI: 74Total Carbon Emissions: 923,151 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 962008 Revenues: $63.74 billion

Photo: AP/Plum Creek Timber Co. Plum Creek Timber Company (PCL)Intensity: 21CDLI: 64Total Carbon Emissions: 35,149 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1922008 Revenues: $1.61 billion

Photo Courtesy: Prologis ProLogis (PLD)Intensity: 1CDLI: 97Total Carbon Emissions: 9,220 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1982008 Revenues: $1.15 billion

Photo: AP United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)Intensity: 167CDLI: 63Total Carbon Emissions: 8,243,743 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1922008 Revenues: $51.48 billionReplay SlideshowDownload Full CDP Reports

© 2009 CNBC, Inc. All Rights Reserved