Socially Responsible Companies: H&M Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

H&M has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI) in 2012. It lists the most sustainable socially responsible companies per sector, based on an extensive annual assessment conducted by the independent asset managers at SAM. This esteemed acknowledgement for H&M comes after the brand had been awarded as "sector mover 2012" in SAM´s Sustainability Yearbook 2012. H&M was the single company with the highest increase in performance scores in the sustainability sector.

The DJSI was launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmark. The DJSI family is offered cooperatively by SAM Indexes and S&P Dow Jones Indices. The family tracks the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. The indexes serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for socially responsible companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices. Helena Helmersson, Head of Sustainability at H&M, says, "This is great news and an acknowledgement of H&M's efforts within sustainability."

The indexes' best-in-class approach means that they include only socially responsible companies that fulfil certain sustainability criteria better than the majority of their peers. Why best-in-class? Well, because sector-specific sustainability opportunities and risks can play a key role in companies' long-term success. Apart from selecting the sustainability leaders on the basis of clearly defined criteria, the best-in-class approach also provides SAM with the opportunity to conduct a dialogue with companies from all sectors and influence improvements in companies' sustainability practices.

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Sangeeta Haindl is a staff writer for Justmeans on Social Enterprise. When not writing for Justmeans, Sangeeta wears her other hat as a PR professional. Over the years, she has worked with high-profile organizations within the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors; and won awards from her industry. She now runs her own UK consultancy: Serendipity PR & Media.