2025 Sustainable Brand Index

When our readers think about green building, here’s what comes to mind first.

There’s been a lot of political chaos thus far in 2025, but it hasn’t impacted what readers think about manufacturers and the sustainability-driven products that they create. But respondents to our annual Brand Index heartedly delivered choices on everything from the best energy-saving appliances to the cars they like to drive on the job.

Results in three distinct categories—our traditional survey data, market visibility or “mentions,” and public sentiment—are averaged to create a Brand Index Score and derive a company’s final ranking among its peers. 
This year’s finalists include industry giants who continue to lead the way toward sustainability through their actions. A few new ones have joined the party. Overall, our survey shows where a company is doing well, and which improvements it might need to make to move up the ranks.

Notes: *If a sequential number is missing (or two brands get a “7” score, for instance), it's because two of the top 10 brands tied.

** In some categories, we collected data for more than 10 brands. Only the top 10 overall scores are listed for each product category.

Roofing

Respondents to our Roofing survey were clearly driven in part by emotion. Six of the top 10 on the roster ranked in or near the bottom half of the entire 15-company lineup. The question is, why? Given the widely varied group of responses, there’s no clearcut problem, but they clearly felt like all but the best brands were not “hearing them.”

Structural

Positions on our charts can change from year to year, but not like this. Boise Cascade, last year’s No. 5, is first, while Weyerhaeuser, last year’s No. 1, is now fifth. All but one of the top 10 have switched spots up or down with a competitor. But the gap between these companies is closing, meaning the public is embracing structural products but not being choosy about who produces them.

Appliances

The good times continue at LG. The appliance giant is still perceived by the public as the greenest company and lands at No. 1 again. When your worst score comes from public sentiment and you’re ranked third in that category overall, you know you’re doing something right. LG has made at least the Top 3 for a sixth straight year.

Building Wrap

Public opinion means a lot, and that’s what pushed DuPont to the top over rival Owens Corning. DuPont was also one of the most talked about building wrap makers. One takeaway in the lower ranks is that both Typar and Huber seem to be struggling with public perceptions.

Cabinets and Shelving

Despite reduced spending by consumers due to inflation, IKEA tops the Cabinets and Shelving category for a second straight year and third time in the past five. Meanwhile, the rest of the pack stays the same for a third year, with the seven runner-ups again swapping places here and there.

Countertops

Make it four in a row for DuPont Surfaces, which continues to use sustainably made product lines to stay on top. But overall, it’s not great news for countertop makers: All of the returnees from 2024 have suddenly tanked with the public, perhaps a sign that people had other things on their minds.

Decking

Make it 15-0 for Trex, the only company in the history of our survey to never finish less than No. 1. Unlike last year, where the decking giant won a tight race, Trex this time blew all competitors away. It keeps doing what it’s been doing: making sure that word gets out about its well-serviced, quality products.

Energy Storage

No newcomers to this list, but a different company takes the lead. Generac overcomes some negative public opinion by making itself known as the industry’s energy storage leader. The opposite effort doesn’t always work: Consumers love Sonnen, but it needs help with product marketing.

Doors

If the doormakers list looks very familiar, it’s because it’s (again) a repeat of last year (and the one before that). All of the category’s top companies are in the same position, with Therma-Tru leading the way for a seventh consecutive year, and the company remains strong in all ways. Not much has changed with competitors.

Flooring

The ever-popular Flooring category continues to evolve, with half of this year’s finalists making their debuts. MSI leads that group and has the public’s interest. Meanwhile, not much has changed among the Top 4. Mohawk dethrones AHF/Armstrong and claims No. 1 for the second time in 3 years. The duo have held the top two spots every year since 2018.

Garage Doors

Between the abundance of new housing and a growing smart technology and controls market, adding a category on garage doors to our surveys seemed inevitable. Our inaugural list is topped by Overhead Door Company, which the public appears lukewarm to, but which is also quickly becoming a household name.

HVAC

As savage snowstorms and record heat continue to hit the nation, quality HVAC units are increasingly important. LG again leads the pack, primarily because it’s the first to come to mind. Most of the other giants have mixed results when it comes to perceived quality. And say hello to WaterFurnace, which knocks Mitsubishi Electric HVAC off the chart.

Hot Water Systems

American Standard moves into the Top 10, much to the public’s joy. Improved marketing could push the company to the top next year. Rheem, Bosch and A.O. Smith continue to shuffle spots within the Top 3, with Rheem ending up on top this time. It’s the status quo for everybody else.

Insulation

It’s the same good news, bad news story for Owens Corning: No. 1 in the Insulation category for a fifth straight year, but a so-so public sentiment rating. The rest of the pack, particularly DuPont and BASF, is catching up, cutting Owens Corning’s hold by about 40 percent vs. last year.

Paint and Coating

Sherwin-Williams stays on top for the seventh time in eight years, but its lead is shrinking. Overall, public opinion has improved a little bit for this category’s top 10, in spite of higher product pricing, decreased consumer spending and a shaky economic outlook for 2025. Expect lots of movement among this group in 2026.

Photovoltaic Systems

All hail First Solar, which climbs to the top after several years in the Top 3. Everybody on this list made gains during 2024. But questions about the federal government’s changing stance on clean energy is likely to shake up this hierarchy over the next few months.

Lighting

Philips keeps on doing its thing—keeping builders and consumers happy, and making sure people hear about it—and keeps getting the same result: No. 1 among lighting manufacturers. Lamps Plus makes a surprise appearance to apply quality product pressure on Philips and runner-up GE Lighting/Savant.

Plumbing

Kohler remains No. 1 in the plumbing category, and the survey remains status quo: It’s well respected within the industry, and the brand most recognized by consumers. But there’s been no progress when it comes to public sentiment. The same results impact top competitor Moen. Delta Faucet, on the other hand, has upped its game and is moving closer to the top.

Siding

For a third year, LP Building Solutions, James Hardie and Westlake Royal Building Products are the industry’s most highly regarded siding manufacturers, and the latter two have definitely gained the public’s trust. LP Building is relying on word of mouth to keep its top spot. Lunawood and Cornerstone Building Brands have rebounded after very unhappy numbers last year.

Smart Panels

Our four Smart Panels companies continue their solid efforts toward getting people into clean energy housing products. In terms of scores, not much has changed from year to year, with Leviton still ranking No. 1. It’s noteworthy, also, that none of these products came with negative comments or sentiment. So far, the public seems to be “on board.”

Smart Home Technology

Solid gains by the list’s top 4—including a perfect score by Amazon—show that the public’s move toward smart technology is heating up. Amazon continues to lead this segment comfortably, while Google, Samsung and Apple are maintaining pursuit but making little headway. After these giants, there’s a definite second tier that appears stuck in neutral with consumers.

Work Vehicles

And here we go again: For the 10th time since 2015, Ford and Toyota have swapped places atop the Work Vehicles category.  They’ve taken the top two slots every year except 2021. Both companies remain household names, and they have their pluses among consumers, such as price (Ford) and style (Toyota). Expect Stellantis to join the party in 2025.

Thermostats

Google continues a Thermostats stranglehold, with its Nest brand carrying the company to No. 1 for a third year. The industry and public still adore the product, with virtually no change in overall scores from year to year. On the bright side, every company’s Brand Index Score rose or remained the same vs. last year, meaning interest in smart thermostats is still growing.

Ventilation

Aside from AprilAire and Air King swapping places, this year’s Ventilation category hasn’t changed. Panasonic remains at the top of the mountain, and then there’s everyone else. All parts of Panasonic’s Healthy Indoor Living Solutions—energy recovery ventilators, Swidget smart controls, atmosphere and inline fan solutions, and ventilation and purification—remain first choice within the industry.

Windows

Several of last year’s contenders—Pella, MITER and Jeld-Wen—took steps to improve their public images and marketing efforts, pushing them right behind eternal Windows leader, Renewal by Andersen. Andersen, however, may need to polish its public image. The company ranked dead last in public sentiment last year. 

Bubbling Under

Here are some companies that just missed the top 10 in their categories this year. A few are veterans; others are newcomers. All of them need to fine tune a bit to move into the upper echelon of our 2026 listings.