Sonoco joins Dow Jones Sustainability World Index

HARTSVILLE — Sonoco announced that it has been selected to join the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World), effective Monday. DJSI World comprises the leading global companies in terms of economic performance, environmental stewardship and social responsibility.

“We are very pleased to join this elite group of DJSI World companies as it recognizes the importance Sonoco places on being a leader in sustainable packaging and recycling services,” Harris E. DeLoach Jr., chairman, president and CEO, said in a press release, noting that only three global packaging companies are members of the index.

“For 11 decades, Sonoco has been pursing the ‘triple bottom line’ of sustainability,” DeLoach said. By balancing and integrating environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic performance within our business strategy and culture, Sonoco is becoming more competitive and better prepared to meet the challenges of a changing global economy.”

Only seven companies from the United States were added to DJSI World in 2009 including Sonoco, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Genzyme, Pacific Gas & Electric and El Paso Corp. Of about 2,500 companies that were invited to participate in the program, only about 10 percent were selected for DJSI World inclusion.

DeLoach said Sonoco’s addition to DJSI World was a result of substantial improvement in its ranking in a number of environmental stewardship and social responsibility factors.

“Overall, the company’s 2009 score improved 17 percent from 2008 which reinforces the progress we’re making in all of our global operations,” he said. “In addition, the company received best-in-class marks in our industry for advancements in closed loop business models, corporate citizenship/philanthropy and labor practice indicators.”

In addition to its inclusion in DJSI World, Sonoco was recognized by Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens in 2009. The company has achieved certifications for responsible and sustainable forestry management practices by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative as well as “chain-of-custody” certifications from the Forest Stewardship Council and Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification for responsible fiber-sourcing practices at its U.S. and Canada recycled paperboard mills.

Launched in September 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are the first global indexes to track the financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide. The indexes provide asset managers with reliable and objective benchmarks to manage their sustainability portfolios. Inclusion of companies in the indexes is based on SAM’s comprehensive sustainability assessment. SAM annually analyzes more than 1,000 exchange-listed companies, using proprietary tools based on economic, environmental and social criteria. For more on the results, see http://www.sustainability-indexes.com online.

Founded in 1899 in Hartsville, Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of consumer and industrial products and provider of packaging services, with about 300 operations in 35 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. For more information on the company, visit its Web site at http://www.sonoco.com.