Unilever leads DJSI sectors for 2012

Unilever is the top-scoring company in both the Food Producers sector and the Food and Beverage super-sector following the 2012 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) review.

14 consecutive years as sector leader

The achievement marks the 14th consecutive year that we have topped the Food Producers sector in the DJSI – an internationally recognised independent benchmark that has become the gold standard for proven performance in corporate sustainability.
Sustainability embedded into products

“Unilever has exhibited exemplary performance aimed at integrating sustainability throughout its business model,” reads the DJSI Super-sector Leader Report.

“The company’s philosophy of sustainable living is backed by its consistent efforts to address its consumers’ needs in the areas of health and hygiene, nutrition and access to safe drinking water. These are embedded throughout its products’ entire life cycle – from concept to product development and labeling,” it adds.
Industry-leading scores

“Winning the leading position in the DJSI Food Producers sector for the 14th year in a row proves that we are ‘walking the talk’ and deserve our strong reputation as a sustainable business leader,” says Gail Klintworth, Chief Sustainability Officer.

Among Unilever’s results in the Food Producers sector are:

An overall score of 86%, up from 81% in 2011 and substantially ahead of the average sector score of 46%

The leading score for the Environmental dimension, with 89%

A score of 100% for the Health and Nutrition, Packaging and Environmental Policy/Management System criteria

The leading score for the Supply Chain Management criterion, with 97%

The leading score for Operational Eco-Efficiency, with 92%.

Annually, SAM, an investment company focused on sustainability investments, analyses Corporate Sustainability Assessments submitted to them by companies. Results provide an in-depth view of a company’s performance across a range of economic, environmental and social criteria such as corporate governance, water-related risks and talent attraction and retention. SAM also identifies the top company in each of 19 super-sectors, derived from its work on 58 sectors. Unilever is the leader of the Food and Beverage super-sector in 2012.