Northumbrian Water has been named the world’s ‘most ethical’ water company for the ninth time.

One of only four UK companies to be named in this year’s World’s Most Ethical Company® list, the company provides water and waste services to 2.7 million customers in the North-East, and water services to 1.8 million customers in Essex and Suffolk.

The list gives global recognition from the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

During this time, 42 per cent of employees used work time to support 543 organisations, through the company’s employee volunteering scheme, Just An Hour.

Northumbrian Water was also recognised by the Environment Agency for its environmental performance, the only water company to receive the agency’s four star top rating.

The company also took the lead in the water industry’s commitment to prevent the equivalent of four billion plastic bottles ending up as waste by 2030.

The challenges of a changing climate are at the forefront of Northumbrian Water’s plans and the company is working towards an ambitious goal of being operationally carbon neutral by 2027.

The company is also working to eliminate water poverty within its operating areas by 2030.

From around the world, only 130 companies across 51 industries in 21 countries were recognised and made honourees on the Ethisphere Institute ‘most ethical’ list.

Northumbrian Water′s chief executive officer, Heidi Mottram, said: “We are incredibly proud to once again receive this global recognition as one of the most ethical companies in the world.

“It’s a fantastic achievement to receive this honour for a ninth time, and it is testament not only to the hard efforts of the teams across our business, but to the passion they share for doing their jobs in an ethical way.

“Our people put this passion into their work every day, caring for our customers, for the environment, our communities and our people, delivering services that people simply couldn’t imagine life without. It’s wonderful that their work is recognised in this way.”