AkzoNobel has again been ranked in the number one position on the influential Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), heading the newly named Materials industry group (previously the Chemicals supersector).

According to the firm, the latest listing underlines the company’s commitment to continuous improvement and represents the eighth consecutive year of top three rankings.

“We are delighted and extremely proud to once again be placed first in such a prestigious and influential ranking,” said AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner. “Sustainability is fundamental to our strategy of connecting value creation to resource efficiency and maintaining our DJSI leadership status underscores our belief that sustainability is business and business is sustainability.”

He added that the company’s employees deserve huge credit for helping to make sustainability an integral part of AkzoNobel’s business activities and company culture. “Everyone should be proud of what we have achieved in being ranked first for the last two years,” he said. “Together, we are working hard to better understand the changing needs of the global marketplace, which in turn drives the development of innovative technologies that meet our customers’ needs.”

Büchner went on to say that despite the success, more improvements are needed because the company is determined to accelerate the pace of its commitment in order to take advantage of sustainable growth opportunities. “This will involve entering into even closer partnerships with customers and suppliers to help drive sustainable innovations,” he explained. “We must also remain fully focused on further improving our performance in order to take the next major leap forward on our journey to creating more value from fewer resources.”

Regarded as one of the world’s foremost sustainability indices, the DJSI World Index benchmarks the sustainability performance of leading companies based on environmental, social and economic performance, including forward-looking indicators.

It assesses various criteria, including supply chain management, operational eco-efficiency, product stewardship, human capital development and occupational health and safety.