Frequently asked questions

Founded in 2018, the World Benchmarking Alliance is a non-profit organisation measuring how the 2,000 most influential companies impact people and planet. These assessments are freely available so that, together, we can hold companies accountable for contributing to sustainable development.

Our benchmarks and methodologies also serve as a roadmap for companies to understand the changes they need to make to put our planet, society, and the economy on a more sustainable path.

We’re also a centre for advancing corporate accountability, and support our Allies, UN agencies, governments, and other stakeholders in the broader corporate accountability ecosystem to understand how they can establish clear consequences for corporate inaction.

Our research, methodologies and engagement are independently developed and conducted by the World Benchmarking Alliance, using funding from various governments and foundations. The World Benchmarking Alliance is a non-profit organisation.

The SDG2000 is a list of the 2,000 most influential companies globally that have the power to safeguard our planet, people and future generations. These companies boast USD 48 trillion in global collective revenues, which is the equivalent of 46% of global GDP. We therefore assess rank and assess these companies every two years. More information on how we selected these companies can be found in our latest report, ”Shaping tomorrow: The 2,000 most influential companies for the SDGs’’.

Head to our SDG2000 companies page to search for a specific company or simply browse the list of all 2,000 companies.

Since 2018 we’ve assessed companies in our benchmarks at different intervals and published the results at various times. However from 2025 we’re assessing all 2,000 companies within the same time frame, and will publish all of their benchmarks, scores and rankings  simultaneously every two years, starting with January 2026. This year we’ll be reviewing company reports published between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025. If companies haven’t published any new reports during in this time frame, we’ll assess them against the latest reports that they’ve published in the last two years.

This change in rhythm will make it easier for companies to engage with us during the research process and ensure that we capture their most recent disclosures, and mean that the publication of our data and insights are more predictable and useful for investors, our Allies and other stakeholders.

We assess companies using information that they’ve made publicly available in English, in formats such as their:
• website
• financial, sustainability and lobbying reports
• code of business conduct
• responses to CDP’s publicly available questionnaire.

We use this information to make a draft assessment. Companies then have six weeks to submit any provide any feedback.

Our methodologies are designed in alignment with internationally recognized guidelines and standards, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. To ensure their robustness, we conduct public consultations and incorporate feedback. Additionally, we engage with subject matter experts to continually strengthen the methodologies.

Companies that engage in our benchmarking process have the opportunity to ask questions about their assessment and point out any other publicly accessible information that they feel is relevant to their assessment. They gain valuable insights about how their sustainability practices align with global frameworks, enhancing their ability to comply with regulatory frameworks and demonstrating their commitment to shared global objectives. These companies are better positioned to identify opportunities for alignment and differentiation, which can provide a competitive advantage in an increasingly sustainability-driven marketplace.

Communities of Practice are private, peer-to-peer learning sessions where sustainability professionals from companies can openly exchange ideas, share best practices, and discuss their experiences. These conversations draw on insights from our various benchmarks, providing valuable knowledge and expertise. By participating, companies gain access to a wealth of information from their peers and contribute to a collective effort for industry-wide progress. The network fosters a shared sense of responsibility and equips participants with actionable strategies to enhance their sustainability initiatives. Engaging with like-minded organisations also allows companies to identify common challenges and collaborate on solutions, amplifying their collective impact.

Yes! Our data and insights are a public good and are and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, free for anyone to use. They’re made available on the understanding that they will be used solrely for informational purposes. See our disclaimer for more information.

We do ask entities that benefit financially from using our work to consider making a fair-use donation.

Become an Ally – join over 400 organisations who are using our research and insights to drive corporate action on sustainable development.

Join one of our Collective Impact Coalitions to take coordinated action with other stakeholders on a key sustainability issue identified in one of our benchmarks.