Banking named most sustainable industry worldwide
Capital on Tap has revealed the world’s most sustainable corporations and startups, analysing where they are based and the industries they are in to determine who is leading the way in the rise of sustainable businesses.
The small business credit provider analysed the world’s 100 most sustainable corporations to reveal which countries and industries are driving the working world to a more sustainable future. The analysis also reveals the emerging startups that are committing to creating a more environmentally friendly world of work. You can view the campaign here.
Across the world, there is increasing pressure on industries, countries and individuals to become more environmentally conscious. It is crucial that businesses, both old and new, are considering their ecological impact on the rest of the world and exploring ways to reduce this. But which industries boast the most sustainable businesses?
The top 10 sustainable industries
| Rank | Industry | No. of Leading Sustainable Businesses |
| 1 | Banking | 41 |
| 2 | Electrical Equipment | 15 |
| 3 | Semiconductor Equipment | 14 |
| 4 | Food and Beverage | 11 |
| 5 | Industrial Conglomerates | 11 |
| 6 | Biopharmaceuticals | 9 |
| 7 | Manufacturing Equipment | 8 |
| 8 | Real Estate | 7 |
| 9 | Communications Equipment | 7 |
| 10 | Wholesale Power | 5 |
The top 10 sustainable countries (by highest number of leading sustainable corporations)
Analysing the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world between 2016-2019, the US takes the crown with the highest number of businesses at 71. In 2019, leading industrial Real Estate business Prologis, Inc. ranked as the sixth most sustainable business in the world. The corporation holds five sustainability objectives, including providing industry-leading energy-efficient buildings, partnering with community organisations to promote environmentally friendly initiatives and delivering employee and customer awareness about sustainability.
In second is France with 35 sustainable corporations, which is less than half the amount in the US. One of France’s top businesses includes global healthcare leader, Sanofi, founded in 2004. In third is the UK with 33 corporations and its leading business is GlaxoSmithKline plc, the multinational pharmaceuticals company sitting at fifth in the 2019 results.
When it comes to the industries these corporations sit within, banking is the top sector holding 41 sustainable businesses. Second is electrical equipment and third is semiconductor equipment. Both of these sectors are niche however are critical in creating a more sustainable future. Food and beverage ranks fourth with 11 sustainable corporations including McCormick & Company and Campbell Soup Company.
| Rank | Country | No. of Leading Sustainable Corporations |
| 1 | USA | 71 |
| 2 | France | 35 |
| 3 | UK | 33 |
| 4 | Canada | 21 |
| 5 | Japan | 19 |
| 6 | Germany | 17 |
| 7 | Finland | 15 |
| 8 | Sweden | 15 |
| 9 | Netherlands | 12 |
| 10 | Denmark | 11 |
Where are the world’s most sustainable startups based? Take a look at the top 5 cities where these new eco-friendly businesses are.
| Rank | City, Country | No. of Sustainable Startups |
| 1 | San Francisco, USA | 42 |
| 2 | New York City, USA | 21 |
| 3 | Los Angeles. USA | 19 |
| 4 | London, UK | 17 |
| 5 | Boston, USA | 15 |
San Francisco ranks as the top city for sustainable startups in the world, which comes as no surprise considering the region’s renowned Silicon Valley, an area leading the way to a more innovative and eco future. Of all top five cities, four are based in the US, including New York City, Los Angeles and Boston. London is the only city outside of the US, ranking at fourth.
A spokesperson at Capital on Tap comments:
‘It is critical that businesses across the world and all industries are considering the ways they can become more sustainable in the work they are doing. With increasing pressure being put on individuals to consider their own ecological impact, industries have an opportunity to lead the way to a more sustainable future in the work that they do.
It’s great to see a variety of industries with sustainable businesses, from banking to the food and beverage sector, and it will be interesting to see the startups that emerge over the next decade that are also developing a strong environmentally-conscious core.’
