Ant Financial ranked 6th in Fortune environmental list

Alibaba's financial affiliate Ant Financial ranked sixth on Fortune's annual list for its carbon footprint platform.

Fortune's Change the World annual list, released on Friday, features some of the largest companies from around the world in sectors from healthcare and household products to finance and IT.

Of 56 companies awarded this year, Ant Financial ranked at the top among other Chinese companies.

The company was recognized for the environmental impact of Ant Forest, the world's largest platform for tracking individuals' carbon footprints.

Ant Forest allows users to collect "energy points" through their actions in the real world that can be used to grow virtual and, ultimately, real trees.

Ant Financial and its partners, including environmental NGOs the SEE Foundation and China Green Foundation, have thus far planted 10.25 million trees, equivalent to a 1.22 million-ton reduction in CO2 emissions.

"Ant Financial is about bringing equal opportunities to the underserved and for a long time we've recognized that our platform can power positive change well beyond the financial sector," said Ant Financial's executive chair, Lucy Peng.