Air compressor manufacturer Atlas Copco is now the world’s 18th-most sustainable company, according to a newly published list at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The Global 100 list ranks the most sustainable companies in the world, with Atlas Copco making it into the top 20, in part thanks to its newly built eco-friendly air compressor factories in China and India.

Both were built according to LEED principles – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – says Atlas Copco president and chief executive officer Ronnie Leten.

“Being socially and environmentally responsible is not only the right thing to do, but is how we develop and grow our business in a profitable way,” he adds.

Atlas Copco’s newest air compressor factory, in Pune, India, is due to be officially inaugurated on the company’s 140th anniversary on February 21st 2013.

It will be followed in March by the opening of the Chinese facility, which is in Wuxi, while the brand is continuing to work across the board on initiatives such as a 20% improvement in product efficiency between 2010 and 2020.