For the fourth time in a row, adidas-Salomon included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index
Herzogenaurach, September 17, 2003 - For the fourth consecutive time, adidas-Salomon AG has been selected to join the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index (DJSGI), the world's first global sustainability index family tracking the performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.
In its annual review of the Dow Jones Sustainability Group Index (DJSGI), Dow Jones analyzed the social, environmental and financial performance of the adidas-Salomon Group and concluded that adidas-Salomon is an industry leader on sustainability issues. This has been promoted by the Group's international monitoring team, which works with suppliers to ensure they are complying with the company code of conduct, the Standards of Engagement. In addition, adidas-Salomon published "Behind our Brand", its third Social and Environmental Report, in March of this year, explaining the measures taken to monitor employment standards and improve factory conditions. The report also shows how adidas-Salomon is reducing its impact on the environment.
"Inclusion in the DJSGI for a fourth consecutive year recognizes our involvement, commitment and progress in social and environmental affairs," said Manfred Ihle, Executive Board Member of adidas-Salomon AG responsible for Legal and Environmental Affairs. "Being a sustainable company means matching long-term financial stability and growth with effective social and environmental policies."
The efforts of the Group were also acknowledged at the end of August by Ethibel, a Brussels-based Corporate Social Responsibility research and advisory organization that selected adidas-Salomon for its Ethibel Investment Register. This register is the basis for a series of socially responsible investment funds marketed in Europe and Australia. The decision was based on two independent surveys. Both the survey of the global sport shoe industry and the sector study of the European textile, apparel and luxury goods industry, clearly indicated adidas-Salomon as "best in class" in all fields of corporate social responsibility: social policy (both internal and external), environmental policy and economic policy.
For more information on DJSGI and Ethibel please refer to www.sustainability-index.com or www.ethibel.org respectively.