NBN Co’s trailblazing sustainability efforts have been recognised around the world, with the company leading the southern hemisphere on 2025 Corporate Knights Global 25 Most Sustainable Public Sector Corporations in the World index.
The list assesses and ranks all public sector companies around the word with at least $1 billion in sales – who also disclosed their greenhouse gas emissions – and not only was NBN Co ranked number one in Australia, but it was also the highest ranked corporation in the Southern Hemisphere.
The ranking from Corporate Knights also saw NBN Co take the 16th position on the global index in recognition of its sustainable investments and Green Bond issuances as well as its efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity in its workforce.
This is NBN Co’s first inclusion on the Corporate Knights’ list, and scoring for the ranking was based on 12 sustainability indicators including social and environmental impact of company operations, revenues and investments.
Ranked against its peers globally, NBN Co achieved a score of 85.7 per cent for sustainable investment, 91.6 per cent for gender diversity in executive management team and 99.8 per cent in gender diversity on board of directors.
These figures were derived by comparing NBN Co’s raw score for each metric against the raw scores from the other public companies making up Corporate Knights’ Most Sustainable Public Sector Corporations index, to arrive at a ranked percentage score.
NBN Co Executive General Manager, Safety, Wellbeing and Sustainability, Stephen Smith, said the nbn network is critical digital infrastructure that carries more than 80 per cent of the nation’s data and supports the needs of more than 20 million people every day.
“Through ongoing investments in delivering a faster, more sustainable and resilient network, NBN Co is helping drive the nation’s productivity and, as a result, delivering important economic and social impacts to communities across Australia,” Mr Smith said.
“We are proud to have our sustainability results recognised by Corporate Knights.
“This is a positive endorsement of our efforts to expand the use of renewable energy sources, invest in energy efficiency and focus on creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.”
Corporate Knights CEO, Toby Heaps, said, “NBN Co’s inclusion in the Public 25 Most Sustainable Corporations reflects its commitment to advancing sustainable connectivity through strategic investments in network expansion and renewable energy integration, setting a benchmark for telecom providers globally.”
NBN Co has set energy efficiency, renewable energy and carbon reduction targets in its Board-endorsed Climate Transition Plan that are designed to ensure the company meets or exceeds the Federal Government’s commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.
The company’s Sustainability Bond Framework enables the issuance of Green, Social and Sustainability Bonds (GSS Bonds). NBN Co is currently the largest Australian corporate issuer in Green Bond format and has approximately $7.4 billion equivalent of Green Bonds outstanding in the domestic and international markets.
Proceeds from all Green Bond issuances have been fully allocated to eligible green projects undertaken as part of the company’s commitment to energy efficiency in line with its Sustainability Bond Framework.
The company’s target of 100 per cent renewable electricity purchases from December 2025 is underpinned by membership of the RE100, a global renewable electricity initiative comprising more than 400 of the world’s largest businesses.
NBN Co has also signed three power purchase agreements (PPAs) – two of which are now operating – which are a key enabler for the company in delivering on its 100 per cent renewable electricity purchases target.
NBN Co said it is dedicated to supporting the diverse needs of its employees across various demographics. The company has established employee resource groups (ERGs) that focus on supporting gender equity, First Nations peoples, LGBTIQ+ individuals, cultural diversity, and accessibility. Each ERG is sponsored by an executive leader.
NBN Co’s approach to gender equity includes a commitment to achieving a target of 40 per cent female representation in management roles. The company has implemented a suite of policies and practices to support this goal, including a universal parental leave policy and flexible working options accessible to all genders.
