Accountability score*: 55
Global 500 rank: 185
Sector: Energy and utilities
Region: Europe

In Veolia's first year on the list, the French company debuts at No. 8. Its CSR reports address a wide range of social causes, like micro-loans and AIDS fighting. Those aren't necessarily germane to its business of water and energy infrastructure, so it doesn't score quite as highly as companies like BP or Shell. But it does have a company-wide strategy that sees creating socially responsible projects - such as its policy of pricing its services in Africa to make them affordable, no matter the impact on company profits - as a way to stand apart from competitors.