The World's Top Sustainable Stocks

2009 SB20: The World's Top Sustainable Stocks

The purpose of the SB20 - the Sustainable Business 20 - is to showcase innovative, model companies that are leading us toward our ultimate goal of reaching a green economy.

The challenge we give our judges is to nominate, discuss and then vote on 20 companies that, through their products or initiatives, have made substantial contributions over the past year.

This year, the judges were tasked with the proposition of selecting companies that are progressing even during this recession.

To be on the list, companies must be strong on both the sustainable and financial sides. It is not a "buy" list, but because the companies are strong financially, their stock may well be worth be buying at some point based on stock market positioning. We strive to choose companies of various sizes, industries and parts of the world, but the list isn't meant to constitute a diversified portfolio.

The judges consider these questions when they nominate companies:

* Is the company a leader in sustainability that others can look to as a model?
* Is the company meeting aggressive targets and setting new ones?
* Is the company having or has the potential to make a big impact?
* Does the company stand out from its peers?
* Is the company profitable or on a clear path towards profitability?

There are two categories of companies:

Green Pioneers: companies that produce green products/ services, such as solar and wind;
Corporate Pioneers: companies that produce conventional products/ services that are greening their operations and product lines, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals.

The World's Top Sustainable Stocks 2009:

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank
BEN.ASX
Corporate Pioneer/ Finance
Australia

Chipotle Mexican Grill
NYSE: CMG
Corporate Pioneer/Food
USA

First Solar
Nasdaq: FSLR
Solar Energy
USA

Gamesa Corporacion Technnologica
GAM.MC; GCTAF.PK
Wind Energy
Spain

Google, Inc.
Nasdaq: GOOG
Corporate Pioneer/
Technology
USA

Herman Miller
Nasdaq: MLHR
Corporate Pioneer/
Green Building
USA

IBM
NYSE:IBM
Corporate Pioneer/
Technology
USA

Naturex SA
NRX.PA
Food
France

Novo Nordisk
NOVO B.CO;
NYSE: NVO
Corporate Pioneer/
Pharmaceuticals
Denmark

Novozymes
NZYM.CO; NVZMY.PK
Industrial/
Cellulosic Ethanol
Denmark

Ormat Technologies
NYSE: ORA
Geothermal
USA

Philips Electronics
NYSE: PHG
Corporate Pioneer/
Green Building
Netherlands

Plant Health Care
PHC.L; PLHCF.PK
Agriculture
UK

Pure Technologies
PUR.V
Water
Canada

Telvent Git, SA.
Nasdaq: TLVT
Smart Grid
Spain

Timberland
NYSE: TBL
Corporate Pioneer/
Apparel
USA

United Natural
Nasdaq: UNFI
Food
USA

Vestas Wind Systems
VWS.CO; VWDRY.PK
Wind Energy
Denmark

WaterFurnace Renewable Energy
WFI.TO; WFIFF.PK
Geothermal Heat Pumps
USA

Westport Innovations
Nasdaq: WPRT; WPT.TO
Transportation
Canada