2Sustain

Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) were the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.

Each year, SAM, an investment boutique focused exclusively on sustainability investing, invites the world’s 2,500 largest companies, measured by free-float market capitalization, from the 57 sectors to report on their sustainability performance. The result of the Corporate Sustainability Assessment provides an in-depth analysis of economic, environmental and social criteria, such as corporate governance, water-related risks and stakeholder relations, with a special focus on industry-specific risks and opportunities.

“The DJSI have become the gold standard in recognizing the world’s corporate sustainability leader,” Michael A. Petronella, President, Dow Jones Indexes, said. “These indexes have become an invaluable market tool for those seeking to support companies that are committed to creating and adopting sustainable business practices.”

The results of this year’s assessment were announced last week, and the data shows some very interesting changes to the DJSI World. Overall, 41 companies will be added, and 23 firms will be deleted, resulting in a total of 342 components.

The largest additions (by free-float market capitalization) to the DJSI World include Medtronic Inc., Schneider Electric S.A. and Societe Generale S.A. The largest deletions (by free-float market capitalization) are Coca-Cola Co., Hewlett-Packard Co. and EnCana Corp.

The changes will become effective with the opening of trading on September 19, 2011.

Here are the 2011-2012 DJSI supersector leaders: (more…)

Editor’s note: Today’s blog comes from Che Mott, Aravo’s VP of Supply Chain Development. Che recently attended a Wal-Mart sustainability summit. The event brought together key players in corporate sustainability for a brainstorming and feedback session that will influence Wal-Mart’s strategies for building a more sustainable supply chain.

Che writes:
The Sunday afternoon two-jump flight to Northern Arkansas was uneventful. But I did have the pleasure of running into one of my old grad school professors, Kellie McElhaney, in the Oakland airport. Kellie, who leads the Center for Responsible Business at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, looked up at me and said "Going to Wal-Mart?" “Sure am,” I replied – wondering who else would be there.

(more…)