Eastman Ranked 27th on Barron’s List of 100 Most Sustainable Companies

Rhea-AI Summary

Eastman (NYSE: EMN) has been ranked No. 27 on Barron’s 2021 list of the Most Sustainable Companies in the U.S. This ranking is based on a comprehensive analysis of large U.S. firms across various sustainability criteria by Barron’s and Calvert Research. Eastman aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and plans to recycle over 500 million pounds of plastic waste by 2030. The company also focuses on achieving gender parity and promoting racial equity. This recognition follows a previous ranking by The Wall Street Journal in October as one of the Most Sustainably Managed Companies.

Positive

• Ranked No. 27 on Barron’s 2021 Most Sustainable Companies list.
• Plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and aims to recycle over 500 million pounds of plastic waste by 2030.
• Commitment to gender parity and leadership in racial equity within its sector.

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• None.

Eastman (NYSE:EMN) ranks No. 27 on Barron’s 2021 list of the Most Sustainable Companies in the United States. To arrive at its list of the 100 Most Sustainable Companies, Barron’s analyzed performance by the 1,000 largest U.S. publicly traded companies on a wide range of indicators related to sustainability and environment, social and corporate governance (ESG).

“Eastman is a specialty materials company, but we don’t exist to just make materials,” said Mark Costa, Eastman Board Chair and CEO. “Eastman exists to live out our company purpose, which is to enhance the quality of life in a material way. We are focused on innovating material solutions that care for society, improving our environment, and making materials circularity a reality by specifically addressing the plastic waste problem. And Eastman is committed to engaging on social issues to build a better society for all.”

Barron’s collaborated on the list with Calvert Research and Management, which analyzed data in five categories: shareholders, employees, customers, community and planet. An investment firm that specializes in sustainability and ESG investing, Calvert’s data analysis included company scores on distinct topics within those five categories. Those topics included such areas as policies on greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and efficiency, workplace diversity, business ethics, product quality and product safety, lifecycle of products, workplace safety, and others.

In December, Eastman announced aggressive sustainability goals to address three critical impact areas: climate change, materials circularity and caring for society. Eastman plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 to mitigate climate change and plans to reach approximately one-third of this goal by 2030. The company also plans to recycle more than 500 million pounds of plastic waste by 2030 through its molecular recycling technologies. To care for society, Eastman has committed to achieve gender parity in alignment with its commitment to Paradigm for Parity® and will be a leader for racial equity within its industry sector. Eastman’s sustainability commitments and innovation strategy are illustrated in its 2020 sustainability report, A Better Circle.

This is the second time in five months that a major financial publication has ranked Eastman high on a sustainability list. In October, The Wall Street Journal ranked Eastman on its 2020 list of Most Sustainably Managed Companies.

The Barron’s list of Most Sustainable Companies is available through subscription at barrons.com.

About Eastman: Founded in 1920, Eastman is a global specialty materials company that produces a broad range of products found in items people use every day. With the purpose of enhancing the quality of life in a material way, Eastman works with customers to deliver innovative products and solutions while maintaining a commitment to safety and sustainability. The company's innovation-driven growth model takes advantage of world-class technology platforms, deep customer engagement, and differentiated application development to grow its leading positions in attractive end-markets such as transportation, building and construction, and consumables. As a globally inclusive and diverse company, Eastman employs approximately 14,500 people around the world and serves customers in more than 100 countries. The company had 2020 revenues of approximately $8.5 billion and is headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, USA.

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FAQ

What recognition did Eastman receive in 2021?

Eastman was ranked No. 27 on Barron’s 2021 list of the Most Sustainable Companies.

What are Eastman's sustainability goals?

Eastman aims for carbon neutrality by 2050 and plans to recycle over 500 million pounds of plastic waste by 2030.

What was Eastman's financial performance in 2020?

Eastman reported approximately $8.5 billion in revenues for 2020.

Which publication previously ranked Eastman before <i>Barron’s</i> in 2021?

The Wall Street Journal previously ranked Eastman as one of the Most Sustainably Managed Companies in October 2020.

How does Eastman engage with social issues?

Eastman is committed to achieving gender parity and promoting racial equity within its industry.