The 2014 list of the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada has been announced by Sustainalytics, a global research and analysis firm and published in Macleans. Companies that made this sixth annual list performed well across key environmental and social indicators within their industries, and are considered “best of sector” among their peers. Among the Top 50 are such familiar names as TD Bank, Suncor Energy, Molson, Starbucks, Bombardier, H&M, Intel, Ford, and UPS. Some newcomers made the 2014 list, such as Siemens and Oracle.
This year’s list notes a significant trend towards collaboration. Working groups and partnerships within sectors have been formed to address common problems through industry-wide sustainability initiatives. This trend is especially noticeable among companies in consumer-facing industries such as textile and apparel, food and beverage, and electronics, which are working together to address shared supply chain challenges, from working conditions to environmental impact. Another trend recorded for 2014 is the growth in activity of co-op and credit unions that showed strong sustainability performance, a trend first noted in 2013’s list. This year, Sustainalytics reports that these smaller financial companies are developing sustainable initiatives throughout their local communities.