Ranking: Baxter, J&J lead green pharma companies

Baxter ($BAX) leads public-company drugmakers in Newsweek's annual top 500 global sustainability ratings. Finishing in the 24th spot, it edged out Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) in 26th place and Novartis ($NVS) in 34th.

To rank companies, Newsweek considers their environmental footprint, green management initiatives and sustainability communications.

AstraZeneca ($AZN), 62nd, and Novo Nordisk ($NVO), 72nd, round out drugmakers in the top 100.

Roche ($RHHBY) and Pfizer ($PFE) finished next among big pharma, at 103rd and 106th, respectively. Bayer ($BAY), Sanofi ($SNY), Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY), Eli Lilly ($LLY), Merck KGaA, GlaxoSmithKline ($GSK), Merck U.S. ($MRK), Abbott ($ABT) and Teva ($TEVA) all finished in the top 500.

Among its overall findings: Momentum behind green initiatives has "seriously stalled, at least in the public sector," largely due to the economy.

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