Bayer honored for top performance in sustainability

Board Member Dr. Plischke: “Acknowledgement of our sustainability strategy and our endeavors in environmental and climate protection”

Bayer has this year again been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and its European counterpart. Based on an independent evaluation, the company is thus considered to be one of the international leaders in sustainability. Bayer stock has been continuously listed in the two sustainability indexes since their introduction: the DJSI World (1999) and the European DJSI STOXX (2001).

“In its sustainability strategy, Bayer adheres to one central principle: We aim to bring commercial success into harmony with environmental protection and meet the needs of society,” comments Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, the member of the Board of Management responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment. "We have recently increased our environmental and climate protection efforts. Our renewed inclusion in these two important sustainability indexes honors and acknowledges our endeavors in this field.” Bayer has just launched a Group-wide climate program to minimize the use of natural resources in its production processes, further reduce emissions, and develop new solutions to protect the climate and tackle the consequences of climate change.

This year’s Dow Jones sustainability ranking extended the indicators used to evaluate performance in the area of environmental and climate protection. Bayer’s excellent performance in this area has only recently led to another recommendation: the company was included again in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index, the first international climate protection index, with the classification “Best in Class.” Bayer was the only German company in the chemical sector to receive this distinction. Evaluation criteria for the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes also include working conditions, corporate governance, suppy chain management and social responsibility.

Listing in the two Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes is based on a comparison with other companies in the same sector as well as the company’s performance in each area. The best ten percent of companies in each sector from the 2,500 major corporations listed on the Dow Jones Global Index are included in the DJSI World. The top 20 percent of companies on the European index, the Dow Jones STOXX 600, qualify for inclusion in the DJSI STOXX. Benchmarking in performed by the renowned Swiss rating agency SAM Research.

Financial services providers in 15 countries currently base investment decisions for a total of USD 5.6 billion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. Companies’ approach to sustainability are becoming increasingly important for investors.