Ten companies land top marks from CDP on environmental disclosures

Nearly 350 firms made the non-profit’s ‘Climate A List’ this year, but far fewer performed well on forests and water

Just 10 companies out of 21,000 have scored top marks for their environmental disclosures to CDP this year.

In its latest annual assessment, the non-profit scored 21,000 firms on the level and quality of information they provided to the market through its platform.

Among the companies to score the top grade (‘A’) across climate, forests and water security were cosmetics giant L’Oréal, tobacco company Philip Morris and French food & beverage firm Danone.

Cosmetics specialists Beiersdorf and KAO Corporation, paper-makers Klabin and Mayr-Melnhof Karton, and textiles firm Lenzing were also awarded top marks. So was housebuilder Sekisui House, and fashion empire Kering, which owns Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent and Alexander McQueen.

CDP has established itself as the go-to place for firms wishing to voluntarily report on their environmental performance. Some investors use the scores as the basis for engagement with companies, or as criteria for inclusion in green funds.

346 of the 21,000 received A grades for their disclosures on at least one of the three topics – mostly just for climate.

CDP noted that, while disclosures through the platform grew by 24%, the number of top scoring companies only rose by 14%.

“The stark reality is that we are incredibly far behind where we need to be, and progress is much too slow,” said Sherry Madera, who took the helm at CDP in October last year.