UPM Listed as the Industry Leader in the Global Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Submitted: The Two Sides Team September 14, 2014

UPM Press Release, September 11, 2014

UPM has been listed as the industry leader in the Dow Jones European and World Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for 2014-2015. UPM is listed in the indices for the third year in a row.

“We have been assessed as the world’s sustainability leader of our industry and we can be very proud of it. We consider responsibility as a competitive advantage, and UPM’s Biofore strategy is a strong indication of our commitment to sustainable development”, says Jussi Pesonen, CEO of UPM.

“Our existing and new businesses using renewable and recyclable raw materials are at the core of our Biofore strategy. We aim to create more with less in all our own operations. The efficient use of raw materials and energy brings savings in terms of the environment and costs”, Pesonen continues.

UPM has defined corporate responsibility principles with forward-looking targets and corresponding measures in the key areas of economic, environmental and social responsibility. Shareholder value creation and good corporate governance are the key areas of economic responsibility. Sustainable products and resource efficiency again are the key areas of environmental responsibility. Work safety and responsible sourcing are the main focus areas of social responsibility. The aim is to continuously improve our performance in all of these areas.

“In social responsibility, our focus is on work safety and wellbeing in particular. Our Step Change in Safety initiative, launched in 2012, has resulted in exceptional success. UPM’s lost time accident frequency (LTAF) has globally improved by more than 60 percent in two years”, Pesonen concludes.

The annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment is conducted by an investment specialist RobecoSAM, and is based on a rigorous analysis of economic, environmental and social performance of the world's leading companies, assessing issues covering climate change strategies, supply chain standards, labour practices, corporate governance and risk management. The DJSI follows a best-in-class approach, recognising companies across all industries that outperform their peers in sustainability metrics.