THE ONLY CARMAKER to feature in the list every year since its inception in 1999, the latest Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) has ranked BMW as the world’s most sustainable automobile manufacturer for the fifth year in a row.
Published by the Zurich-based SAM Group (Sustainable Asset Management), the list covers a range of sectors and includes companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola and Samsung Electronics.
The DJSI ranks companies based on a ‘best-in-class’ approach, and reviews each organisation through an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance.
Climate change mitigation, supply chain standards and labour practices figure among the criteria, along with corporate governance and risk management.
Described as a Supersector leader, BMW ranks top of the automobiles category, joining the likes of Adidas (Personal & Household Goods), ANZ Bank Group (Banks), and Nokia (Technology).
“We are delighted that the BMW Group is super sector leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index World for the fifth consecutive year,” Dr Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said in a statement.
“This proves once again that we are well on our way to establishing sustainability as the guiding principle for all our processes. We refined our sustainability strategy in the first half of 2009 – this was the next logical step and another important milestone.”
Since 2000, BMW has listed sustainability among its core strategic principles, focusing on the development of fuel-saving and alternative vehicle concepts - such as the EfficientDynamics range and the recently revealed VISION Concept - through to clean production processes and green recycling practices.
In Australia, BMW recently launched the 118d and 123d, expanding its line-up of ultra-efficient diesel models.
With a fuel consumption of just 4.5 l/100km, the 118d is also the most efficient BMW on sale in Australia. Voted the 2008 World Green Car of the Year, the 118d isn’t just frugal with fuel: it emits only 119 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre.
