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The Europe CSO Awards /25 honor the achievements of the 100 top companies whose CSOs are at the forefront of promoting sustainability. For the third year as knowledge partner, Denominator is excited to contribute its expertise in the field of social and diversity data by providing an in-depth report on the top 100 companies. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to advancing social sustainability, a vital aspect of the broader sustainability agenda.
The people side of sustainability at CSO Awards /25
Sustainability is as much about people as it is about the planet, yet the human aspect has often been overlooked. Historically, this was because environmental data was more accessible. With today’s advances in social data and analytical tools, we are empowered to give equal attention to the people side of sustainability.
" It is people who both suffer the consequences of climate change and are the only ones capable of coming up with the right solutions. CSOs are crucial in advancing this area, and it’s inspiring to see their efforts being acknowledged and celebrated.” Anders Rodenberg, CEO of Denominator.
The time for change has arrived. For the third time, we are partnering with futur/io to highlight the impactful work of Chief Sustainability Officers and bring attention to the social aspects of sustainability. Together, we are excited to unveil this year’s diversity report for the Europe CSO Awards 2025 during the World Economic Forum in Davos.
This report explores sustainability by evaluating the top 100 companies through key diversity metrics. In addition, this edition provides a unique perspective by incorporating insights from the CSO Awards /24, offering a comparative analysis of how the nominees have evolved over the years. We invite you to explore the findings and join the conversation, driven by data-driven insights that emphasize the human dimension of sustainability.
“Our mission for the CSO Awards Europe goes beyond rewarding the companies. We shine a light on the role of the Chief Sustainability Officers that are active change-makers fostering action and ambition across their organisations.” - Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute
The report offers a detailed analysis of key social and diversity metrics within the top 100 European companies with a nominated CSO. Drawing on Denominator’s extensive global database, covering over 4.5 million companies, the insights evaluate diversity dimensions such as gender, race/ethnicity, age, and disability. The results provide a comprehensive view of how the leading top 100 companies perform benchmarked against the average performance in Europe.
Top 100 outperform the benchmark
The report underscores that the top 100 companies with a CSO nominated consistently outperform the European average across all selected diversity dimensions and leadership representation. These organizations demonstrate a stronger social commitment, setting new benchmarks for corporate leadership globally with higher representation of women and non-Caucasian on boards and executive teams, greater gender diversity among CEOs, and a higher likelihood of having a Head of Diversity.
Over half of 2024 top nominees return in 2025
Out of the top 20 nominees in 2024, 11 have secured nominations again in 2025, showcasing consistency and leadership in sustainability. Notably, BNP Paribas and Zurich Insurance stand out as the only two organizations to retain their position in the top 20 both years, each recording a 4% growth in their total diversity scores.
Key Insights from Denominator's Diversity Report
The top 100 CSO companies compared to the European average
- 202% higher score on gender
- 45% higher score on race/ethnicity
- 37% higher score on age
- 36% higher score on disability
- 79% more women in top leadership
- 323% more Heads of Diversity
The Denominator Europe CSO Awards /25 Top 100 People Insights Diversity Report offers valuable insights into the social dimension of sustainability. We invite you to explore the report and take part in the conversation based on data-driven insights from a people perspective powered by social data. By engaging with data-driven insights, we can work together to advance and drive sustainability in a way that benefits both people and the planet.
Discover here the performance of the Top 100 nominees in the North America CSO Awards /24 that took place during Climate Week in NYC.
Want to know more?
For questions regarding the report or media inquiries, Emma Helbo, Head of External Relations & Communication, or Clara Sánchez, Communication & Insights Manager.
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