Newsweek’s Most Responsible Companies includes 17 NJ businesses

Seventeen companies from New Jersey are among the 500 businesses recognized by Newsweek for their focus on advancing environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) strategies.

Released Dec. 7, the publication’s 4th annual Most Responsible Companies list highlights U.S. companies across 14 industries that have made strides over the past year for their commitment to corporate social responsibility.

To create the compilation, Newsweek and Statista Inc., a leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider, reviewed key performance indicators from a pool of 2,000 companies using metrics from publicly available corporate ESG reports as well as the results of an independent survey asking 13,000 Americans about their perception of companies.

Most Responsible Companies | New Jersey

4. Merck & Co – Kenilworth
Health Care & Life Sciences

28. Campbell Soup Co. – Camden
Consumer Goods

59. Zoetis – Parsippany
Health Care & Life Sciences

64. Public Service Enterprise Group – Newark
Energy & Utilities

94. American Water – Camden
Energy & Utilities

115. Becton Dickinson and Co. – Franklin Lakes
Health Care & Life Sciences

144. Church & Dwight – Ewing
Consumer Goods,

186. Organon & Co. – Jersey City
Health Care & Life Sciences

207. Prudential – Newark
Financial

215. Universal Display – Ewing
Technology/Hardware

262. Phibro Animal Health – Teaneck
Health Care & Life Sciences

289. Catalent – Somerset
Health Care & Life Sciences

388. Burlington – Burlington
Retail

398. Clearway Energy – Princeton
Energy & Utilities

433. Automatic Data Processing – Roseland
Software & Telecommunications

487. Avis Budget Group – Parsippany
Professional Services

496. New Jersey Resources – Wall Township
Energy & Utilities

Several companies in New Jersey have been included in the ranking before, making the latest recognition a sign they are heading in the right direction when it comes to their overall ESG strategies.

New Jersey Resources President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Westhoven said it is an honor to make the ranking for a fourth consecutive year.

“This recognition reflects our belief that sustainability and corporate citizenship are good for business, good for our customers and good for the future. New Jersey Resources is committed to advancing a clean energy future by embracing sustainable business practices that meet the energy needs of our customers, benefit the environment and strengthen the communities we serve,” he said.

Universal Display Corp. president and CEO Steven Abramson said, “We are pleased to be recognized for the third year among America’s most responsible companies. For more than two-and-a-half decades, we have focused on cultivating and fostering a global culture that promotes inclusion, inventiveness, integrity and imagination. We also endeavor to contribute to creating a sustainable and low-carbon future through our energy-efficient portfolio of OLED solutions.”

BD Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President Tom Polen said receiving the award for a fourth consecutive year “recognizes our commitment to address the most relevant ESG issues to our business that make a lasting impact on our industry, society and planet today. The work we do today throughout our organization of 77,000 employees helps us operate more responsibly and sustainably, and positions us for a more resilient future.”

In a note accompanying the ranking, Newsweek Global Editor in Chief Nancy Cooper wrote, “Talking the talk is easy, but walking the walk is hard. We are proud to present this year’s ranking and to honor companies that actually mean it when they say they are serious about being good corporate citizens.”

Overall, computer hardware giant HP ranked No. 1, followed by consumer goods giants General Mills and Whirlpool Corp.

According to Newsweek, the largest number of companies included on the list (55) are in the materials and chemicals industry, while the fewest (12) are hospitality-related businesses, such as hotels, dining and leisure.