Roche named global health care leader

BASEL, Switzerland – Roche has been named “Supersector Leader” in health care in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI) for the second year in a row, a clear reflection of the company’s commitment to its employees, communities and the environment, and positions Roche as a global leader in the management of sustainable business practices.

Annual selection into the DJSI World and DJSI STOXX follows a thorough analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance by SAM, an investment group focused exclusively on sustainability investment strategies.

Factors such as corporate governance, risk management, human resource practices, stakeholder engagement and the quality of environmental reporting are assessed, in addition to sector-specific elements such as strategies on access to medicine and supply chain standards.

Roche has been included in the DJSI World and STOXX since 2004, and first achieved the title of “Supersector Leader” in health care in 2009.

“We are extremely pleased to be recognized again as the Supersector Leader in health care for the second year in a row,” said Roche CEO Severin Schwan.

“Sustainability is at the core of our business practices and this positioning reflects our commitment to running our business in a way that is ethical, responsible and creates long-term value for stakeholders. Our ongoing sector leadership position will also provide an incentive to further develop our sustainability strategy while continuing to deliver innovative treatments for patients with unmet medical needs,” Schwan added.

Roche’s activities in the area of sustainability include reduction of energy consumption and improving energy efficiency thereby decreasing the carbon footprint, involvement in local community charitable initiatives, remuneration and benefit program that reflect the dedication and value of its employees, and ultimately the development of new approaches to bring medically valuable and sustainable health care products and services to patients around the world. 

Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes tracking the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide.