Unilever Leads Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 12th Consecutive Year
09/10/10 : Unilever named sustainability leader in the Food & Beverage 'super-sector' for 12th consecutive year
Rotterdam, September 10, 2010 - Unilever has been named sustainability leader in the Food & Beverage 'super-sector' of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the twelfth consecutive year.
This year, the company reached an overall score of 82% - one percentage point higher than in 2009 and substantially ahead of the average industry score of 49%. Unilever scored 100% for its record in Operational Eco-Efficiency, Environmental Policy, Environmental and Social reporting, Health and Nutrition, and Packaging.
These scores are the result of an annual review of the broad range of DJSI benchmarks, which include World and European categories. Analysts assess issues such as corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices - with a strong focus on long-term shareholder value.
"I am delighted that we have retained our place at the top of the Dow Jones league table. The consistency of our performance over the past twelve years is remarkable, and a unique achievement among more than 300 companies in the DJSI World sample,” says Gavin Neath, SVP Sustainability. The 2010 assessment was conducted by SAM, a Swiss investment company focused exclusively on sustainability investing, in partnership with the Dow Jones Indexes.
About the Dow Jones Sustainability Index
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. Based on the cooperation of Dow Jones Indexes and SAM they provide asset managers with reliable and objective benchmarks to manage sustainability portfolios.
Currently more than 70 DJSI licenses are held by asset managers in 16 countries to manage a variety of financial products including active and passive funds, certificates and segregated accounts. In total, these licensees presently manage over 8 billion USD based on the DJSI.
About Unilever
Unilever works to create a better future every day. We help people feel good, look good and get more out of life with brands and services that are good for them and good for others. We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of fast moving consumer goods with strong local roots in more than 100 countries. Our portfolio includes some of the world’s best known and most loved brands including eleven €1 billion brands, and global leadership in many categories in which we operate. The portfolio features iconic brands such as: Knorr, Lipton, Becel/Flora, Blue Band/Rama/Country Crock, Wall’s/OLA/Langnese, Hellmann’s, Calvé, Unox, Dove, Pond’s, Lux, Axe/Lynx, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Rexona/Sure, Omo, Surf, Cif, and Glorix/Domestos. We have around 163,000 employees in approaching 100 countries, and generated annual sales of €40 billion in 2009. For more information about Unilever and its brands, please visit www.unilever.com.
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Safe Harbor
This announcement may contain forward-looking statements, including ‘forward-looking statements’ within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as ‘expects’, ‘anticipates’, ‘intends’, ‘believes’ or the negative of these terms and other similar expressions of future performance or results, and their negatives, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among others, competitive pricing and activities, economic slowdown, industry consolidation, access to credit markets, recruitment levels, reputational risks, commodity prices, continued availability of raw materials, prioritisation of projects, consumption levels, costs, the ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain sources, consumer demands, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions and complete planned divestitures, the ability to complete planned restructuring activities, physical risks, environmental risks, the ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments, political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the Group’s filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, including the 20-F Report and the Annual Report and Accounts 2009. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Group’s expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Media Contacts:
Paul Matthews/Unilever PLC Media Relations Manager
T: +44 (0) 1372 945 925
M: +44 (0) 775 276 8888
paul.matthews@unilever.com
Flip Dötsch/Unilever NV Media Relations Manager
T: +31 (0) 10 217 3715
M: +31 (0) 6 1137 5464
flip.dotsch@unilever.com

