Confirmation of successful climate strategy

Bayer’s leading position in climate protection and sustainable development has been confirmed by its renewed inclusion in the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) – as the best company in its sector. The listing was announced in New York by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) investor group. As a result, Bayer is the only European chemical and pharmaceutical company to be included for the sixth consecutive year in the world’s first global climate index.

The CDLI includes 51 of the world’s 500 biggest listed companies (Global 500 Index) that display the greatest transparency in reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and climate strategy. Bayer is also included in the newly established Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) and has been awarded the “A” rating. The CPLI evaluates the companies’ specific measures and achievements in protecting the climate and dealing with the impact of climate change. Currently, 48 companies from the Global 500 Index are included in the CPLI.

Both the CDLI and the CPLI were compiled following detailed investigation and analysis of climate-relevant corporate data by the auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on behalf of the CDP. This database is the largest of its kind in the world. The CDP initiative now includes 534 institutional investors managing combined assets of US$64 trillion. These investors expect companies to provide comprehensive climate-relevant information so that they can base their investment decisions on companies’ contributions to climate protection and how they address the challenges posed by climate change.

“We are delighted by our renewed listing in the CDLI and the listing in the new CPLI, both of which we regard as confirmation of the success of our climate strategy,” says Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Plischke, member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG responsible for Innovation, Technology and Environment. “At the same time, this recognition encourages US to systematically pursue our activities with the dual objectives of further reducing CO₂ emissions from our production facilities and offering our customers increasingly climate-friendly products and solutions. In both areas we are focusing on innovation as the driver of sustainability.”

Bayer stock has been included once again in the DOW Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), providing renewed proof of the company’s standing as an international leader in sustainability. Bayer is thus one of very few German-based companies to have been continuously listed in the DJSI World since the index was established in 1999.

The DJSI World follows the “best in class” principle: out of the 2,500 corporations listed in the DOW Jones Global Index, a selection is made every year of the 10 percent of companies in a given sector that best meet certain economic, ecological, ethical and social criteria. The categories assessed include transparent sustainability reporting, responsible corporate governance and human resources policies, environmental management and environment performance, customer and supplier relations, and social commitment.