KONE Corporation, press release, January 21, 2026
KONE Corporation, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has been ranked as the 54th most sustainable company in the world by Corporate Knights, an independent media and research company. KONE is Finland's top‑ranked company in the machinery manufacturing peer group and leads its global industry as the highest‑performing elevator and escalator company on the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World list. Within the broader 'Machinery' industry group, KONE placed second among 397 companies worldwide-further underscoring its position at the forefront of sustainability in its sector.
"We are truly honored to be recognized among the world's 100 most sustainable companies. For KONE, leading in its industry also means leading in sustainability, and this ranking offers clear, independent evidence of the progress we are making", says Kirsi Simola-Laaksonen, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Environment.
"We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and aligning our efforts with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. We know that sustainable business is good business - for our customers, their customers and us. As our customers worldwide set ambitious climate targets, we help them achieve their goals with innovative solutions that enhance energy efficiency, optimize material usage, and decrease embodied carbon. We continuously track how sustainable solutions impact our business, increasing the share of revenue from products and services that contribute to climate action. Together with our customers we develop smart and sustainable buildings, enabling better urban living."
KONE was the first in its industry to set ambitious, science-based climate targets for 2030 and is well on track to achieving them. The company offers world-class solutions that enhance product energy efficiency and help reduce both its own and its customers' carbon footprint. KONE also collaborates closely with suppliers to lower the carbon footprint of its key materials, such as steel, which accounts for roughly 80% of its material-related emissions.
Beyond environmental goals, KONE is committed to creating an inclusive and safe workplace. To measure progress, it has established clear targets for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and safety across its entire value chain. As a dedicated participant in the UN Global Compact, KONE aligns its business practices with principles covering human rights, labor, environmental responsibility, and anti-corruption.
The 2026 Global 100 ranking was formed by analyzing over 8,000 large publicly listed companies with revenues of over USD 1 billion. For the 2026 ranking, companies were assessed on three equally weighted metrics: sustainable investments, sustainable revenues, and the Sustainable Revenue Momentum Score. Geographically, the 2026 ranking demonstrates continued dominance of companies from Western Europe - with 37 ranked companies, 15 of which were from the Nordic region.
For further information, please contact:
Eveliina Linderborg, Senior Vice President, Communications, KONE Corporation, +358451722151, media@kone.com.
Read more:
2026 Global 100 press release by Corporate Knights
About
KONE
At KONE, our purpose
is to shape the future of cities. As a global leader in the
elevator and escalator industry, we move two billion people every
day, making their journeys safe, convenient, and reliable with
smart and sustainable People Flow®. In 2024, KONE had annual sales
of EUR 11.0 billion, and at the end of the year over 60,000
employees in close to 70 countries. KONE class B shares are listed
on the Nasdaq Helsinki Ltd. in
Finland.
