“Take nothing from the Earth that can’t be replaced by the Earth.”
That was the guiding principle adopted by Ray Anderson, founder and CEO of carpet manufacturer Interface, Inc., after what he described as a “spear-in-the-chest moment” in 1994. The sharp point of that spear was The Ecology of Commerce by Paul Hawken, a book that exposed an unsettling truth: businesses are not just participants in environmental degradation—they are its primary drivers and hold the most potential for solving the world’s most pressing environmental changes.
Stunned by Hawken’s revelations, Anderson vowed that Interface would do everything in its power to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2020. Although he did not live to see that goal realized—he died in 2011— Interface pressed forward, achieving carbon neutrality in 2022.
Today, every product Interface sells is carbon neutral across its full lifecycle. According to the company’s Sustainability Report, it sources 100% of the electricity it uses from renewable sources; has shrunk the carbon footprint of its carpet tile products by 82%; cut greenhouse gas emissions by 96%; reduced landfill waste by 81%; and slashed water use per unit of production by 86%. The company’s new goal is to become carbon negative by 2040.
Source: Interface, Inc 2023 Impact Report
Interface continues to advance its governance and social framework: It is led by a female CEO, 30% of its board members are women, and its workforce is 41% women and 57% racially diverse.
Ray Anderson’s carbon-neutral goal was a radical commitment for a mainstream industrial business—even by today’s standards. However, he demonstrated that it is possible for sustainability and profitability to go hand in hand: Many of the carbon-neutral initiatives implemented by the company saved it hundreds of millions of dollars.
Achieving net-zero emissions is one of the most urgent global imperatives of our time. And while governments, companies, and communities around the world are aligning behind this goal, real progress depends on channeling capital at scale to support sustainable business practices and innovation.
This is where public markets play a pivotal role.
With trillions of dollars in capital flowing through public markets, the stakes are high: the investment decisions made in these markets can either reinforce the status quo or push businesses toward more responsible and forward-looking practices. Yet for many investors, sustainable investing raises more questions than answers. Can a company be both a financial outperformer and a leader in environmental and social responsibility? Is it possible to build a portfolio that truly reflects both strong financial fundamentals and a commitment to broader societal good? And how can investors tell whether a business’s sustainability commitments are truly impactful or merely marketing hype?
Answering these questions requires looking beyond conventional screens and ESG scores. It demands a rigorous, nuanced approach that blends data analysis with deep industry insight to identify businesses that lead in responsible management while mitigating risk and seizing long-term opportunities—like Interface. It’s also what led us to Schneider Electric.
French multinational corporation Schneider Electric isn’t just in the business of digital automation and energy management solutions. It’s in the business of reimagining what’s possible for a sustainable future. Schneider believes access to energy and digital information are basic human rights and is building the infrastructure to make that a global reality—with a fierce commitment to environmental stewardship.
While most companies release sustainability updates once a year, Schneider provides updates quarterly, tracking 21 distinct sustainability measures with full transparency. It’s the only company to be named the World’s Most Sustainable Corporation twice by Corporate Knights and has been on that list for 14 consecutive years. Schneider also earned an ‘A’ grade from Carbon Disclosure Project, one of the world’s most widely used and influential independent disclosure systems for investor-driven environmental reporting data, and a spot on Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list for 14 straight years.
Source: Schneider Electric Sustainable Development Report 2024
Its leadership on gender equality is equally bold: it was the first multinational to commit fully to the U.N. Women’s Empowerment Principles, and projects that, by the end of 2025, 40% of its frontline managers will be women.
While Schneider has made great progress in reducing its emissions, it is also tracking and encouraging its suppliers to reduce their environmental impacts. The company reports that its top 1,000 suppliers have reduced carbon emissions by 27%.
In an industry flooded with promises, Schneider stands apart. It doesn’t just talk sustainability—it operationalizes it at every level.
This same spirit of environmental leadership is at the core of TOMRA, a Norwegian company changing the way firms manage the world’s resources
TOMRA’s mission is simple but ambitious: enable a world without waste. It is the global leader in advanced sorting technology, holding more than 70% of the market for reverse vending machines that allow consumers to return aluminum, glass, and plastic beverage containers for recycling. Its systems, used by waste management companies worldwide, have over 50% market share for industrial-scale recycling. To put its capability in perspective: TOMRA says its machines could analyze and sort all the waste covering a football stadium in under 15 minutes.
The impact is significant, but the potential is far greater. Only about 3% of the world’s containers are currently recycled—a figure TOMRA’s data suggests could climb above 90% with optimized recycling programs. According to sustainability consultancy Eunomia, TOMRA’s systems could cut global carbon dioxide emissions by 2.76 billion tons annually—the equivalent of grounding all commercial flights and removing nearly two-thirds of the world’s cars from the road.
To meet its own environmental obligations, TOMRA has set aggressive targets: a 55% cut in emissions by 2033, 90% by 2050, 100% renewable electricity by 2030, and an 80% reduction in transport emissions—all while aiming to double in size over the next five years.
Data Source: TOMRA Annual Report 2024
The company’s commitment to sustainability also shows up in its leadership. Both its CEO and CFO are women—an uncommon pairing, with only two Fortune 500 companies reporting the same. In 2024, EcoVadis, the world’s leading provider of corporate sustainability ratings, awarded TOMRA a gold medal for its environmental impact, labor practices, human rights, ethics, and more.
Like Interface and Schneider, TOMRA proves that when sustainability is woven into a company’s core mission, the financial results can be meaningful.
By focusing on publicly traded companies that align financial strength with responsible business practices, investors can tap into the full potential of public markets—not just to seek competitive returns, but to help drive meaningful progress on global challenges. In doing so, they echo the vision Ray Anderson articulated decades ago: that true business success isn’t measured only by profit margins, but by preserving and contributing to the wellbeing of the planet. This philosophy reframes sustainable investing—not as a tradeoff between values and performance, but as a way to optimize both with greater clarity, confidence, and impact.
DISCLOSURE: This paper is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. The companies referenced herein are provided as examples of companies that Reynders, McVeigh Capital Management, LLC (“the Firm”) believes demonstrate positive sustainability practices. The inclusion of these examples does not reflect all of the securities purchased, sold, or recommended for advisory clients, and it should not be assumed that any investments in these securities were or will be profitable.
Any discussion of past recommendations or portfolio holdings is not a representation that such investments were or will be profitable or that future recommendations will be similar. The specific securities identified and described do not represent all of the securities purchased, sold, or recommended to clients. A complete list of all recommendations made by the Firm over the past 12 months is available upon request.
The Firm is a registered investment adviser. Registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This paper is not intended to be a solicitation or offer to buy or sell any securities or related financial instruments.
Any performance data or sustainability-related commentary contained herein is provided for illustrative purposes and should not be relied upon as a forecast or guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Clients and prospective clients should consult with their adviser regarding their specific investment needs and circumstances.