CSX, Union Pacific land on 'most responsible companies' list

CSX and Union Pacific Railroad have been named to Newsweek and Statista's America's Most Responsible Companies 2026 list, an annual ranking of 600 companies that showcase good environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices.

CSX now has been on the list for five consecutive years. This year is its second consecutive year placing first in the transportation and logistics category. CSX placed overall at No. 169, an improvement from last year's ranking at No. 171, CSX officials said in a company-issued press release. 

"We are honored to be recognized as an industry leader in corporate responsibility," said Brian Tucker, CSX vice president of stakeholder engagement and sustainability. "This achievement reflects our commitment to sustainable operations, supporting our communities and maintaining the highest standards of governance."

UP ranked overall at No. 173, a leap up from last year's placement at No. 251, and second in the transportation and logistics category. 

Statista, a market research and data analysis company, and Newsweek selected the top 600 companies from a list of the top 2,000 public companies by revenue headquartered in the United States. They reviewed companies' sustainability and financial reports, history of lawsuits and the 2024 top polluter indexes from the Political Economy Research Institute, according to the list's introductory letter from Jennifer Cunningham, Newsweek editor-in-chief.

Researchers evaluated more than 30 key performance indexes in ESG categories and conducted a large-scale survey among U.S. residents to gauge public perception of corporate social responsibility, Newsweek staff said.