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America's Greenest Companies

Paul Toscano@paul.toscano@ToscanoPaul
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America's Greenest Companies

Some investors believe a company's  impact on the environment is an important investment consideration.  For this reason, the (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 the environmental-related risks and opportunities of these global companies.The US CDP surveyed all companies in the S&P 500 in 2008. Being a voluntary prolec
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

What The Numbers Mean

Of the 321 companies surveyed, 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 10
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.

Retail and Consumer

Intensity: 49CDLI: 90Total Carbon Emissions: 675,076 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1092008 Revenues: $15.33 billionWal-Mart Stores (54)Brown-Forman Corp (65)Sara Lee Corp (71)
Photo: AP

Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL)
Intensity: 49
CDLI: 90
Total Carbon Emissions: 675,076 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 109
2008 Revenues: $15.33 billion

Utilities

Intensity: 493CDLI: 75Total Carbon Emissions: 6,467,230 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 482008 Revenues: $13.58Exelon Corp. (589)Public Service Enterprise Group (2,009)Spectra Energy Co. (2,784)
Photo: AP

Consolidated Edison (ED)
Intensity: 493
CDLI: 75
Total Carbon Emissions: 6,467,230 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 48
2008 Revenues: $13.58

Technology, Media and Telecoms

Intensity: 7CDLI: 91Total Carbon Emissions: 438,338 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1292008 Revenues: $61.10 billionJuniper Networks (13)Hewlett Packard Co. (15)Cisco Systems Inc. (16)
Photo: Phil Schatz

Dell, Inc. (DELL)
Intensity: 7
CDLI: 91
Total Carbon Emissions: 438,338 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 129
2008 Revenues: $61.10 billion

Manufacturing

Intensity: 33CDLI: 61Total Carbon Emissions: 5,761,631 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 522008 Revenues: $146.27 billionGeneral Motors Corp (53)Eaton Corporation (73)3M Company (372)
Photo: AP

Ford Motor Company (F)
Intensity: 33
CDLI: 61
Total Carbon Emissions: 5,761,631 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 52
2008 Revenues: $146.27 billion

Financial Services

Intensity: 2CDLI: 92Total Carbon Emissions: 16,830TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1962008 Revenues: $12.07 billionTravelers Companies, Inc. (3)Legg Mason (4)Hartford Financial Services Group (5)

Genworth Financial Inc. (GNW)
Intensity: 2
CDLI: 92
Total Carbon Emissions: 16,830 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 196
2008 Revenues: $12.07 billion

Oil and Gas

Intensity: 275CDLI: 74Total Carbon Emissions: 60,661,835 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 102008 Revenues: $255.11 billionSchlumberger Limited (137)*Hess Corporation (202)*Hallburton Company (225)**CDLI scores outside top 30 overall took these firms out of consideration for the greenest in the sector.
Photo: AP

Chevron Corporation (CVX)
Intensity: 275
CDLI: 74
Total Carbon Emissions: 60,661,835 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 10
2008 Revenues: $255.11 billion

Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals

Intensity: 15CDLI: 74Total Carbon Emissions: 923,151 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 962008 Revenues: $63.74 billionAllergan, Inc. (30)Schering-Plough (44)Pfizer (45)
Photo: AP

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ)
Intensity: 15
CDLI: 74
Total Carbon Emissions: 923,151 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 96
2008 Revenues: $63.74 billion

Raw Materials, Mining, Paper and Packaging

Intensity: 21CDLI: 64Total Carbon Emissions: 35,149 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1922008 Revenues: $1.61 billionNewmont Mining Corporation (700)Alcoa (1,919)
Photo: AP/Plum Creek Timber Co.

Plum Creek Timber Company (PCL)
Intensity: 21
CDLI: 64
Total Carbon Emissions: 35,149 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 192
2008 Revenues: $1.61 billion

Hospitality, Leisure and Business Services

Intensity: 1CDLI: 97Total Carbon Emissions: 9,220 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1982008 Revenues: $1.15 billionElectronic Data Systems (26)International Business Machines Corp. (29)Johnson Controls, Inc. (48)
Photo Courtesy: Prologis

ProLogis (PLD)
Intensity: 1
CDLI: 97
Total Carbon Emissions: 9,220 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 198
2008 Revenues: $1.15 billion

Transport and Logistics

Intensity: 167CDLI: 63Total Carbon Emissions: 8,243,743 TonsCarbon Emissions Rank: 1922008 Revenues: $51.48 billion
Photo: AP

United Parcel Service, Inc. (UPS)
Intensity: 167
CDLI: 63
Total Carbon Emissions: 8,243,743 Tons
Carbon Emissions Rank: 192
2008 Revenues: $51.48 billion