Sun Life Financial Inc. is among the most sustainable companies globally for the tenth consecutive year.
The 2019 ranking, published by media company Corporate Knights, is based on sustainability performance criteria in areas such as financial and employee management, clean revenue and supplier performance.
Sun Life’s commitment to sustainability focuses on making progress in four key areas: organizational resilience, environmental responsibility, community wellness and governance and risk management, said Melissa Kennedy, executive vice-president, chief legal officer and public affairs and executive sponsor of sustainability at Sun Life, in an email to Benefits Canada.
Read: CPPIB highlights efforts to encourage women on boards in sustainability report
In 2014, Sun Life began evolving its sustainability related programs into a formal, company-wide strategy, an approach “aimed at generating business value, transforming our culture and mitigating risk,” said Kennedy.
This includes the company decreasing its targeted global greenhouse gas emissions’ intensity by 14.7 per cent by the end of 2017; incorporating an environmental, social and governance lens into investment decision-making; and encouraging employee community involvement through a matching gifts program, whereby Sun Life matches employees’ charitable contributions.
Other Canadian companies feature on the 2019 list are:
- Bombardier Inc.
- Teck Resources
- Suncor Energy Co.
- Canadian Tire Corp.
- Celestica Inc.
Read: How companies are stacking up on U.N.’s sustainable development goals