Electrical Industry Businesses Among World’s Most Sustainable Companies

NEW YORK and ZURICH — S&P Dow Jones Indices and RobecoSAM announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (“DJSI”) review.

Launched in 1999, the DJSI World is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide based on RobecoSAM’s analysis of financially material Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors. RobecoSAM invited the world’s largest 3,400 companies from developed and emerging markets to take part in its annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). This year, RobecoSAM assessed 85% of the invited universe’s free float market capitalization, for the DJSI review.

Industry members noted in this year’s DJSI:

David Blitzer, Managing Director and Chairman of the Index Committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices: “More and more investors look at companies’ environmental policies and track records in making their investment decisions. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are comprehensive benchmarks that allow investors to gauge the collective performance of those companies that meet the RobecoSAM standard for corporate sustainability and to formulate global allocations consistent with sustainable investment standards and practices.”

The Corporate Sustainability Leaders
RobecoSAM identifies the top scoring company in each of the 24 industry groups (according to GICS). The 2015-2016 Industry Group Leader profiles can be found on the Sustainability Indices website.

Observations from this year’s DJSI Review
The CSA consists of over 100 financially material criteria. An analysis of this year’s review provides insight into the business practices of the world’s largest companies. Listed below are some of the most notable observations from the 2015 Review:

Industry Movers and Shakers
Top three most improved industries relative to last year:

1. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (+23.45%)
2. Transportation and Transportation Infrastructure (+18.16%)
3. Homebuilding (+15.3%)

Top three least improved industries relative to last year:

1. Life Sciences Tools & Services (-7.71%)
2. Personal Products (-6.73%)
3. Oil & Gas (-5.95%)

Companies Successfully Implement Codes of Conduct but Struggle with Operational Eco-Efficiency
CSA criteria where companies earned the highest scores:

1. Codes of Conduct / Compliance / Corruption & Bribery
2. Corporate Governance
3. Environmental Policy / Management System

CSA criteria where companies earned the lowest scores:

1. Operational Eco-Efficiency
2. Human Capital Development
3. Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy

Social Reporting Criterion on a High, Risk and Crisis Management Hit a Low
Most improved CSA criteria relative to last year:

1. Social Reporting
2. Environmental reporting
3. Human Capital Development

Least improved CSA criteria relative to last year:

1. Risk and Crisis Management
2. Talent Attraction & Retention
3. Corporate Governance