16 companies from across the developing world were seen best showing how to grow profits at the same time as actively tackling civic and environmental challenges, a study by the World Economic Forum (WEF) reveals.
The WEF said it showed that global "green" businesses were not the only ones with sustainability credentials.
From over 1,000 companies positioned as candidates for the most environmentally aware firms, Manila Water makes it to the list.
Co-authored by management consultants Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the study said the findings were doubly interesting "given the challenges faced by emerging market companies which often have to deal with multiple problems".
It said these local difficulties ranged from substandard infrastructure and weak environmental regulatory regimes, to acute talent shortages and underdeveloped governance practices.
Manila Water, a Philippine utility company, included community partnerships, watershed management, and flexible payment options to boost access to clean water.
The table above enlists the top 16 New Sustainability Champions of this year, as the World Economic Forum commences in Dalian, China.
