Volkswagen’s scores. Source: RobecoSAM. Click to enlarge.

For the automotive sector, RobecoSAM analyzed the corporate performance of a total of 33 automotive companies, seven of them from Europe. Volkswagen took pole position with a total of 91 out of 100 possible points. Economic sustainability was awarded 93 points, social sustainability 91 points, and ecological sustainability 89 points.

This distinction is a great success for the entire team. It confirms that the Volkswagen Group is well on the way to establishing itself long term as the world's most sustainable automaker.

— Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of Volkswagen AG

Full marks were awarded to Volkswagen in the areas of codes of conduct, compliance and anti-corruption as well as innovation management, climate strategy and life cycle assessment. The Group is also the industry benchmark for supplier management and environmental reporting. Furthermore, significant progress has been made in human capital development, occupational health and safety, tax strategy and talent attraction.

Source: RobecoSAM. Click to enlarge.

The experts from RobecoSAM highlighted achievements such as the fact that “sustainability is the foundation of Volkswagen’s corporate policy” and that “the company’s success has gone hand in hand with an increase in the number and development of employees.” Once again in 2014, the Volkswagen Group “invested in new model research and development, and in innovative technologies, which by 2019 will contribute towards developing more efficient vehicles, alternative powertrains, and more environmentally compatible production.”

The 2015 review. The top three most improved industries relative to last year were:

1. Electronic Equipment, Instruments & Components (+23.45%);
2. Transportation and Transportation Infrastructure (+18.16%); and
3. Homebuilding (+15.3%).

Top three least improved industries relative to last year were:

1. Life Sciences Tools & Services (-7.71%);
2. Personal Products (-6.73%); and
3. Oil & Gas (-5.95%).

Founded in 1995, RobecoSAM is an investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. It offers asset management, indices, engagement, voting, impact analysis, sustainability assessments, and benchmarking services. Asset management capabilities cater to institutional asset owners and financial intermediaries and cover a range of ESG-integrated investments (in public and private equity), featuring a strong track record in resource efficiency theme strategies. Together with S&P Dow Jones Indices, RobecoSAM publishes the globally recognized Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI). Based on its Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), an annual ESG analysis of 2,900 listed companies, RobecoSAM has compiled one of the world’s most comprehensive databases of financially material sustainability information. The data of the CSA is also included in USD 89.8 billion of assets under management by Robeco.

RobecoSAM is a member of the global pure-play asset manager Robeco, which was established in 1929 and is the center of expertise for asset management within the ORIX Corporation.