TIME Magazine collected a roster of over 5,000 of the world's largest and most influential companies, and then partnered with data firm Statista to develop methodology to assess sustainability. Companies were measured on external sustainability ratings. Key criteria included adherence to the UN Global Compact, alignment with the Science Based Targets initiative, inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, participation in the UNFCCC Race to Zero, and MSCI ESG & SRI evaluations. The final step involved researching various environmental and social Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the companies' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reports.

