The metals recycling corporation, Sims Metal Management, was recently awarded the honor of being one of the world’s top one hundred most environmentally sustainable companies. This is the fifth year that the international business has earned the honor.

Based in Australia, Sims came in at the number fifteen spot. The rankings are compiled by  the sustainable business magazine, Corporate Knights, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The yearly ratings, which began in seven years ago in 205, utilize several factors, including business practices, resource management, and financial health.

Coming in at the coveted number one spot was Umicore, a materials recycling company based in Belgium. The United States and Canada had the greatest number of businesses in the top 100, with ten companies each. Health care company Biogen Idec Inc., was the top rated American company.

To be considered for the ranking, a business must demonstrate environmental stewardship in addition to having established business policies. In the case of Sims, the company regularly measures and reports on carbon dioxide emissions, generation of waste, and water and energy consumption.

In 2012, Sims reduced generated waste by over twenty percent and carbon emissions by seventeen percent.

Sims operates approximately three hundred facilities worldwide, with a third of all locations being in North America.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Is your business a member of a industry or professional organization? If so, does that group recognize leaders in environmental sustainability or awareness? If so, making changes in waste recycling and reduction can help you to gain positive publicity and establish your business as a leader in your field!