Ranking: The most sustainable DAX companies

According to a study by Oekom Research commissioned by *Wirtschaftswoche*, Henkel is the most sustainable company in the German Stock Index (DAX).
“Henkel made sustainability a top priority at a very early stage. The management system delivers continuous improvements,” says Matthias Bönning, Oekom’s board member and chief analyst, explaining the consumer goods manufacturer’s top ranking. Among other things, Henkel stands out for only accepting suppliers who do not employ children and who respect workers’ rights. Furthermore, manufacturing processes and products are continually being developed to save resources, reduce environmental impact, ensure safety and deliver greater benefits to customers. This also pays off for Henkel itself: since 1998, energy consumption per tonne of finished product has fallen by 40 per cent.

Oekom Research’s assessment of the company took 100 criteria into account: ranging from respect for human rights and fair competitive behaviour to a coherent climate protection strategy and the use of renewable raw materials. The analysis is based on the evaluation of annual and environmental reports, internet and database research, press reviews, and discussions with experts from academia, competition authorities, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.  The companies themselves can comment on interim results and submit any missing information.

What is striking about the sustainability rating is the strong performance of the car manufacturers. BMW is in 4th place, followed by Daimler (5) and Volkswagen (6). Trailing far behind at the bottom of the ranking are Deutsche Börse, the steel group Salzgitter and, bringing up the rear, Hannover Re.

You can view the full ranking here.