IT Asset Management Group (IT-AMG), a secure IT asset disposal (ITAD) and data destruction provider, conducted a study, analyzing each state’s performance across five key sustainability metrics: ‘Eco-Friendly Vehicles,’ ‘Emissions,’ ‘Recycling,’ ‘Energy,’ and ‘Waste’. Each metric was scored out of a possible 100 points and averaged to produce an overall sustainability score. This score was used to create a final ranking, revealing the most and least environmentally conscious states.
North Dakota is the Least Environmentally Conscious State
Leading the ranking as the least environmentally conscious state is North Dakota with a low score of 24.47 out of a possible 100. Despite scoring strongly for ‘Eco-Friendly Vehicles‘, North Dakota ranked last for ‘Emissions’, with their CO2 emissions per capita increasing by 205% since 1970, by far the largest increase in the country.
Additionally, North Dakota’s performance in the ‘Recycling’ and ‘Waste’ metrics is subpar, placing 34th and 43rd, respectively. Evidently, there is room for improvement in the state’s disposal methods.
Top 3 Least Environmentally Friendly States
Securing the second spot, Alaska earned a disappointing score of 27.88 out of 100. The state ranked last in the ‘Energy’ and ‘Recycling‘ metrics, indicating a lack of environmental concern in Alaska. Alarmingly, Alaska only recycles 16% of its material packaging, marking the lowest rate in the country.
Ranking as the third least sustainable state, Louisiana achieved an overall sustainability score of just 29.51 out of 100. The state performed poorly across critical metrics such as ‘Emissions,’ ‘Recycling,’ and ‘Energy,’ ranking in the bottom ten nationwide.
Least Sustainable US States:
| Rank | State | Overall Sustainability Score (Out of 100) |
| 1 | North Dakota | 24.47 |
| 2 | Alaska | 27.88 |
| 3 | Louisiana | 29.51 |
| 4 | West Virginia | 29.54 |
| 5 | Mississippi | 32.97 |
| 6 | Kentucky | 33.44 |
| 7 | Wyoming | 33.70 |
| 8 | Arkansas | 34.15 |
| 9 | Alabama | 35.45 |
| 10 | South Carolina | 38.55 |
Sustainable Pioneers in the States
On the other end of the scale, the study also reveals the most sustainable states. California leads the pack as the most environmentally friendly state, boasting an impressive overall score of 68.27 out of a possible 100 points. The state scored impressively within the ‘Eco-Friendly Vehicles’ metric, securing the second-highest spot nationwide. This is largely because the state has the highest percentage of hybrid or electric vehicles in the country at 7.7%. California also scored highly for the ‘Energy’ metric, using the second least energy per capita of all fifty states. This makes California a great place to move to if you want to be environmentally responsible.
Vermont secures the second spot with an overall score of 63.88. The state’s standout performance lies within the ‘Energy’ metric, where it claims the top spot nationwide, boasting the country’s lowest energy consumption per capita. Despite its commendable performance across various metrics, Vermont still has room for improvement, particularly in its management of landfill waste, where it currently ranks 44th out of the fifty states.
Maine claims the third most sustainable spot, boasting a score of 63.64 out of 100. Notably, Maine excels in the ‘Recycling’ metric, achieving the highest score nationwide by recycling an impressive 74% of its packaging material. Additionally, Maine also performed admirably in the ‘Energy’ metric, consuming the third-least energy per capita, further highlighting its commitment to sustainability.
Most Sustainable US States
| Rank | State | Overall Sustainability Score (Out of 100) |
| 1 | California | 68.27 |
| 2 | Vermont | 63.88 |
| 3 | Maine | 63.64 |
| 4 | Oregon | 59.50 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 57.35 |
| 6 | Nevada | 56.89 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 56.45 |
| 8 | New York | 56.43 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | 55.55 |
| 10 | Maryland | 53.68 |
Commenting on the findings, Richy George, Chief Revenue Officer of IT Asset Management Group (IT-AMG), says: “From California’s excellent sustainable transportation to Maine’s recycling prowess, it’s evident which states are leading the way in sustainable practices. For those seeking environmentally friendly living options, these findings offer invaluable insights into where to settle down.
“Additionally, the study also highlights states that need urgent attention. Whether it’s North Dakota’s alarming increase in emissions or Alaska’s poor recycling efforts, there’s definitely room for improvement.”
