Abbott was included on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and North America Index for the sixth consecutive year. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) recognise the leading companies in each industry sector for responsible economic, environmental and social performance. Abbott leads the industry in environmental management and climate policy, responsible marketing practices, standards for suppliers, innovative philanthropy.
Abbott was named the industry leader in several categories, including a score of 100 percent in environmental management and climate strategy, key areas of focus in the company's comprehensive effort to safeguard the environment. Abbott also led the industry in responsible marketing practices, standards for suppliers, innovative philanthropy, and employee health and safety.
Abbott is one of only two US based companies in its industry sector to be listed on both the North America and World Indexes. The company's overall score of 84 per cent is significantly higher than the average score of 53 per cent for other companies in the sector. Abbott's scores increased in 19 of 23 categories compared to the previous year, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement in citizenship and sustainability. This included significant improvement in the company's efforts to improve patient health outcomes, and strengthen risk and crisis management.
"The environments in which we operate – natural, social, economic and political – are particularly sensitive and challenging, requiring companies like Abbott to be more thoughtful than ever about the ways we operate our business," said Miles D White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "We believe that Abbott has met that challenge, across the spectrum of its business activities."
As a member of the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, Abbott is among the top 300 of the 2,500 largest companies worldwide in terms of sustainability. The DJSI annual review considers sustainability leaders from each industry on a global and regional level, and involves thorough analyses of corporate governance, risk management, branding, climate change mitigation, supply chain standards, labor practices and related citizenship issues.