Objective review
The DJSI is an objective external indicator of companies' social, environmental and economic performance, using measures such as brand management, raw material sourcing, strategy for emerging markets and impact on climate strategy.
Unilever was the clear leader in the Food Producers sector, scoring most points in the environmental and social dimensions (83 and 73 out of 100 respectively), while its score of 77 out of 100 in the economic dimension was only three points off the lead.
The DJSI includes a report on each company compiled by Sustainable Asset Management (SAM), a Swiss financial services company specialising in sustainable investment. Its report on Unilever highlighted the May 2006 launch of the Choices front-of-pack stamp, commenting that more than a third of Unilever food products already qualified for the stamp by meeting international guidelines for trans fats, saturated fat, salt and sugar.
The report also highlighted Lifebuoy's 'Swasthya Chetna' (Health Awakening) hand washing initiative in India, stating that, so far, more than 80 million people had benefited from its hygiene awareness programme.
Gavin Neath, Senior Vice President Global Corporate Responsibility said: "Unilever's high ranking in the DJSI is recognition of our ongoing efforts to embed sustainability at the heart of our business – efforts which were further enhanced by the recent move by the Unilever Executive to more explicitly link sustainability to our Vitality mission. It is also testament to Unilever people around the world, who have worked so hard to achieve this great result."
Each year SAM researchers investigate which companies in the Dow Jones World and European STOXX indexes are the most sustainable. The top 10% of the largest companies in these leading stock market indices are selected for possible inclusion in the DJSI.
