Unilever Leads Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11th Consecutive Year

The annual review of the DJSI is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices.

7 Sep 2009 --- Unilever has been named sustainability leader in the Food & Beverage sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the eleventh consecutive year.

The results of the 2009 annual assessment conducted by SAM (the Swiss investment group) together with Dow Jones Indexes and STOXX Ltd were announced earlier.

Unilever achieved an overall score of 81% for our social, economic and environmental contribution, measured across 22 performance criteria.

The company scored 100% for its record in Environmental Policy and Environmental Reporting; while leading scores in other criteria were Strategy for Emerging Markets (over 95%), Raw Material Sourcing (over 80%) and Climate Strategy (over 85%).

The annual review of the DJSI is based on a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices.

Paul Polman, Unilever CEO, said: "We are delighted to have been ranked the number one food company by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the 11th year in a row. Increasingly, successful organisations need to operate under long-term sustainable business models and reflect this in all their activities. I am proud of all the Unilever people who have worked hard to put sustainability at the heart of what we do."

Unilever has participated in the annual assessment since the inception of the indexes in 1999. It has achieved "super sector" leader in the Food Category every year since.