Financial market participants increasingly base their recommendations and decisions not only on the financial numbers, but also on companies’ CSR and sustainability profiles. Analysts and investors view CSR and sustainability performance as leading indicators of forward-looking corporate leadership. Sustainability ratings are particularly well suited to capturing the environmental, social and economic performance of a company. If the highest scores are achieved in these ratings, it not only sends a clear signal to stakeholders but also raises the company’s attractiveness as an employer externally and the motivation of its existing employees internally. As in the previous year, in 2011 Volkswagen was again able to maintain its position among the leaders in its sector in the most important international ratings and indexes.
Volkswagen is one of only three automobile companies listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. In the assessment by Swiss asset management company SAM on behalf of Dow Jones, Volkswagen scored top marks especially for environmental management and employment growth, as well as for risk management, social commitment and stakeholder relations. As of December 31, 2011, Volkswagen was represented in the following sustainability indices: Advanced Sustainability Performance Index (ASPI), Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI), Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, ECPI Ethical Index Europe, ECPI Ethical Index EMU, ECPI Ethical Index Global, Ethibel Sustainability Index (ESI), FTSE4Good and STOXX ESG Leaders Indices.
