Essilor ranked in the world's top five green companies

UK lens manufacturer Essilor has been ranked among the top five green companies in the world. The Thornbury-based company was named in the top five of Newsweek’s 2016 Green Rankings.

The rankings assess the environmental performance of the 500 largest companies in the US and the 500 largest globally.

Managing director of Essilor UK, Mike Kirkley, and the 400-strong workforce at the laboratory near Bristol are jubilant about the company’s ranking.

“This is wonderful news and well deserved by each and every one of the Essilor team here at Thornbury and at our plants and labs all over the world,” said Mr Kirkley.

“Making the top five green companies in the world is an incredible achievement and one we have all worked hard for,” he added. “It is a constant goal to be up there with the most environmentally conscious organisations across the globe.”

The company has a long history of environmental action. “For 170 years, Essilor has demonstrated that a commitment to sustainable development is part of our DNA,” Mr Kirkley highlighted.

“We’re honoured to be recognised by the Newsweek 2016 Green Rankings for our accomplishments. These clearly support what we believe to be our fundamental contribution to achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, namely our mission to improve lives by improving sight.”

Essilor’s footprint is larger and more diverse than ever, with 61,000 employees in 63 countries and 540 production sites in five continents.

Mr Kirkley said: “The company’s significant growth in recent years, along with changes in regulations and stakeholder expectations, has led Essilor to raise the bar regarding its environmental sustainability responsibilities. All over the world, each Essilor entity is engaged in a continuous improvement approach.

“It contributes at its own level to the main drivers of the company’s sustainable and responsible development, reducing water and energy consumption, innovating, promoting diversity, ensuring quality working conditions and connecting suppliers and customers to its mission.”

Essilor’s results are a measure of its success. “The company has reduced water consumption by 40% and energy consumption by 22% in its mass production plants over the past seven years,” Mr Kirkley revealed.

Last year Essilor was ranked among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World (Global 100) Index by Corporate Knights, for the fourth consecutive year. US magazine Forbes also placed the group among the world’s most innovative companies for the fifth year running. Additionally, Essilor was selected as one of 50 companies that are changing the world in the first edition of Fortune magazine’s ‘Change the World’ list.

For more information, visit the Essilor website.