A brief consideration by Beate Sjafjell (a postdoctoral research fellow, Faculty of Law, Oslo) of the role and scope of companies and company law in furthering sustainable development, looking at the objectives of EU company law and securities law. Published in the First Page feature of Amicus Curiae – Journal of the Society for Advanced Legal Studies at the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies. The Journal is produced by SALS at the IALS (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London).