Bayer, Shell and Unilever named top brands for ESG

German pharmaceutical company Bayer has been named as the top brand for sustainability communications, a new report released by Investis Digital (IDX) has found.

The 2023 Sustainability 100 report scored the organisation 85 out of 100 for providing transparent, clear and accessible sustainability-related information. The company was closely followed by Shell (82) and Unilever (81), with British brands such as Sainsbury’s (75), BP (72) and Vodafone (71) also making the top 20.

Using its Connect.IQ benchmarking tool, Investis Digital (IDX) considered factors such as whether the company has a dedicated ESG and/or sustainability section, if it had published a materiality assessment, and whether it regularly reported on greenhouse gas emissions.

The report lays out various benchmarks for leadership in sustainability communications. For example, 82% of companies analysed had a dedicated ESG strategy page on the website, 56% included tangible targets, and 67% of companies detail their ESG ratings.

On the topic of climate change, 88% of companies had a dedicated climate change page and 46% offered a net zero roadmap.

“Investors, customers and employees all rely on a company’s website as a primary source for ESG-related information, but corporations that promote sustainability efforts without a clear digital strategy for reaching different audience segments risk alienating these key stakeholders,” said Myles Peacock, Global CEO, Investis Digital (IDX).

“We believe that the content companies choose to publish sets the tone for their corporate narrative, and by exploring this in detail, we’ve not only been able to identify those brands that communicate most effectively through their digital content but grasp best practices as well,” Peacock said.