We’re all aware by now that conservation and environmentalism will play an increasingly dominant role in our society. The green industry will create jobs but more importantly, positively affect the future of our planet.

Social entrepreneurship is quickly becoming one of the most popular strategies in the business industry, with online school Walden University being a forerunner in social entrepreneurship.

A New York Times article reported that green jobs grew 9.1% between 1998 and 2007, and is continuing to grow. The Union of Concerned Scientists predicts 297,000 new jobs in the green energy sector. President Obama is implementing a new environmental policy and is promoting both green jobs and encouraging green businesses.

Ford Motors have received substantial publicity for their introduction of energy efficient vehicles and green businesses are being offered government incentives to encourage their efforts. A research group working in associationg with the Corporate Kinghts has compiled a list of top green companies, as have Fortune magazine. The list is based on what is called their “sustainable behavior,” in relation to the companies’ environmental, business and social behavior.

Here is a combination of both the Corporate Knight’s and Fortune’s top green businesses:

1. Alcoa
is the world’s third largest producer of aluminum. The company was criticized in the past for releasing pollutants into the atmosphere but has since dramatically reduced their carbon gas emissions.
2. AMD
Advanced Micro Devices develops computers processors and related products and technologies. They also run AMD Green, an organization that is committed to environmental health and safety issues. They have published the AMD Global Climate Protection Plan since 2001.
3. Amazon
The hugely popular Amazon is an online sales company that has a huge range of products. In the U.S. the company recently began using recyclable packaging like brown boxes and reducing the size and quantity of the packaging.
4. Baxter International
is an American healthcare company. They are recognized as a leader in environmentally friendly performance. They have been focusing on green issues since 1976 and make efforts to environmentally clean on site, hold environmental conferences and reduce waste.
5. Coca Cola
Sold in more than 200 countries, Coca Cola is one of the world’s most recognizable brands. They have produced new energy management systems that reduced their consumption by 35% and are partners with WWF.
6. Dell
Dell was the first company in the information technology industry to establish a product recycling goal, including an ambition to be the greenest technology company in the world. They are produced countless strategies based on conservation.
7. Eastman Kodak
is a company that produces photographic products and technology.I n 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded Kodak the EnergyStar Sustained Excellence Award.
8. FPL Group
provides roughly 4.4 million Florida resident with power and light energy. They are investing millions in harnessing solar energy.
9. Genzyme
is the world’s third largest biotechnology company. It has been named in Fortune’s Best Companies to Work For and their new headquarters is one of the most environmentally friendly offices in the United States.
10. HP
Hewlett Packard is one of the largest technology companies in the world. In 2007 they announced that they had achieved their goal of recycling 1 billion tons of waste and would be upping their target to 2 billion tons. In 2009 Newsweek ranked HP number 1 on its 2009 Green Rankings of America’s 500 largest corporations
11. Honda
Honda has invented two alternative fuel technologies, and is striving to become the world’s cleanest, most efficient manufacturer.
12. PG & E
The company generates 56% of its retail electricity sales from non-greenhouse-gas-emitting sources. It also grants subsidies to homeowners who use energy efficient devices and is experiementing with several green products.
13. Goldman Sachs
Has invested over $1.5 billion is alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. This huge bank introduced an environmental policy in 2005 and invests in green businesses.
14. Tesco
British supermarket giant Tesco have pledged to cut their energy consumption by half in 2010 but seems to have achieved this early. Tesco encourages customers to bring their own shopping bags, has cut down on packaging, uses a high tech recycling system and uses energy efficient vehicles.
15. Continental Airlines
The airline giant has spent over $16 billion to replace their aircraft with more fuel efficient planes. They employ 13 full time environmentalists who work constantly to improve their efficiency.

Many of the larger companies on this list were previously criticized for their environmental record and have made dramatic strides to improve their environmental reputation.

Out future is becoming increasingly green and those with trade jobs like electricians and welders will be in great demand to build and maintain the new infrastructure that will be needed.

The strides made by these enormous companies show that environmentalism is not a fleeting issue, but one of the most important our society will face. Why not get involved and work to not only secure a brighter, cleaner future but one with a healthy security and salary.