Zaandam, the Netherlands, 14 November, 2020 – Ahold Delhaize announces today that it has elevated its position as a world leader in the Food and Staples Retailing sector in the 2020 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).
Ahold Delhaize improved its score with 14 points compared to the 2019 score, receiving 83 out of 100. This score is well above the industry average of 31 points. This year marks the fifth consecutive year the company has been ranked among industry leaders.
The DJSI World benchmark cited Ahold Delhaize’s continued focus on healthier eating as one of the contributors to the improved score, along with the company’s efforts to further reduce its climate impact. Examples are Ahold Delhaize’s Science Based Targets to halve carbon emissions, as well as the company’s climate impact scenarios. In addition, the continued efforts of the Ahold Delhaize brands to improve their environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance were crucial in improving this year’s score.
“I’m proud that our industry-leading work continues to be recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. This improved score is a testament to the efforts and results of associates across Ahold Delhaize who continue to integrate our healthy and sustainable ambitions into all facets of our business,” Ahold Delhaize CEO Frans Muller said. “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of our commitments to enable healthier and more sustainable diets, as well as in supporting our local communities. We also believe that consumers want to increase their engagement with companies who demonstrate strong values. Therefore, our continued investments and initiatives to address this call to action in ESG matters are a key priority at Ahold Delhaize. I would also like to congratulate the other leaders in the World Index. Let’s work together on our joint ambition toward a healthier planet.”
The DJSI World tracks the performance of the world’s leading companies against ESG criteria. It is an important barometer to measure our performance and progress in these areas, not only in our own operations but also with customers and in our supply chain.
For more information about Ahold Delhaize’s Healthy and Sustainable strategy please visit: https://www.aholddelhaize.com/en/sustainable-retailing/
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