General Mills Named to Prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World and North American Indices for Second Consecutive Year
Company’s commitment to sustainability throughout value chain recognized
MINNEAPOLIS, September 18, 2019 /3BL Media/ – General Mills has been named for the second consecutive year to both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and the North American Index by S&P Dow Jones Indices and sustainability asset management firm RobecoSAM.
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is one of the most elite recognitions for leadership in corporate sustainability, and is based on in-depth analysis of economic, environmental and social performance.
General Mills ranked in the 88th percentile overall, and secured industry-best scores of 100 in Health & Nutrition, Environmental Reporting, Corporate Citizenship & Philanthropy, and Labor Practice indicators.
Companies listed in the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) have demonstrated best-in-class performance against numerous sustainability metrics. The DJSI review provides thorough analysis of material economic, environmental and social practices, such as innovation or supply chain management, climate strategy and stakeholder engagement, and places a special focus on industry-specific risks and opportunities.
“While we are becoming a nimbler and more consumer-connected General Mills, what isn’t changing is our set of guiding values,” said Jeff Harmening, chairman and chief executive officer for General Mills. “Our commitment to serving the world food people love starts with environmental sustainability. That, however, is a reflection of everything that sustains our business for the long term – our ethics, corporate governance, food safety, employee development, philanthropy and protecting the planet. Investors are increasingly aware of the connection between sustainability and financial performance, and we will continue to strengthen that connection.”
The company’s results were driven by strong sustainability commitments, robust and public disclosures, and demonstrated improvements in performance over time.
Three key commitments include advancing regenerative agriculture practices on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030; developing recyclable by design packaging for 100 percent of products by 2030; and matching 100 percent of the company’s annual U.S. electricity use with two wind power agreements.
“We congratulate General Mills for being included in the DJSI World and North American indices,” said Manjit Jus, head of ESG Ratings, RobecoSAM. “The SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) has again raised the bar in identifying those companies best-positioned to address future sustainability challenges and opportunities. This year – which marks the 20th anniversary of the DJSI – record corporate interest in the SAM CSA reflects the enduring relevance of the DJSI for measuring and advancing ESG practices."
The DJSI World is the global gold standard for measuring and advancing corporate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. Launched in 1999, it is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies based on RobecoSAM’s analysis of financially material ESG factors and S&P DJI’s robust index methodology.
For more information about the DJSI, visit: sustainability indices.
For more information on General Mills’ sustainability commitments and progress, visit the company’s 2019 Global Responsibility Report.
About General Mills
General Mills is a leading global food company that serves the world by making food people love. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Häagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, Blue and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2019 net sales of U.S. $16.9 billion. In addition, General Mills’ share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion.
