The AuSSI was launched by EPA Victoria and Sustainable Asset Management – a provider of sustainability investing products – in 2005 and was designed to track the economic, sustainability and social performance of the country's top 200 publicly listed companies (ASX200).

Companies are judged according to their answers to a questionnaire prepared by SAM.

Grey told PNN’s sister publication EnvironmentalManagementNews.net that banking was the best performing sector, while diversified resources giant BHP Billiton also stood out as a strong leader in its field.

He added that only about 20% of companies on the ASX200 have employed a sustainability manager.

In the energy sector, companies such as AGL, Woodside Petroleum and Origin Energy are examples of businesses with a sustainability manager.

He said companies that stand out as sustainability leaders are generally “more organisationally competent than their peers,” meaning they have better systems in place to manage environmental performance.

Effective management systems enable companies to keep on top of data such as water and energy use in buildings and worksites. Effective organisation also promotes a culture where staff are engaged and informed on environmental issues.

Grey said the media sector was one of the worst performers, as well as the food retail and pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.

A total of 70 companies are included on the AuSSI each year, with 14 companies added and 13 companies deleted from the 2007 AuSSi list.

Companies added include Lion Nathan, Stockland and Zinifex while deleted companies include Caltex, Austereo Group and Ten Network Holdings.