CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Biogen (NASDAQ:BIIB) has been named the biotechnology industry leader on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the second year in a row, after becoming the first U.S.-based biotech company to make the list in 2013. The company was also named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for the sixth consecutive year, one of only three biotech companies included.
DJSI World tracks the economic, environmental and social strategy and performance of the 2,500 largest companies in the S&P Global Broad Market IndexSM. Of the 317 companies that were named to DJSI World, Biogen led the biotechnology industry, scoring in the 100th percentile on 17 of the 24 overall evaluation criteria, including those addressing patient access to treatments, environment and innovation.
"The same intellectual discipline and rigor that drives our science is reflected in our corporate citizenship,” said George A. Scangos, Ph.D., chief executive officer of Biogen. “Our industry leadership on the DJSI World is a testament to our company’s commitment to patients, the environment, our employees and the communities where we work and live.”
Biogen improved its DJSI score from last year on 11 specific environmental, social and economic indicators. These indicators include: climate strategy, addressing cost burden, health outcome contribution, labor practices and human rights, occupational health and safety, social reporting, stakeholder engagement, crisis and risk management, supply chain management, innovation management and customer relationship management.
Being named the DJSI World biotechnology industry leader is the latest recognition for the company’s citizenship initiatives, which have also included heading the Newsweek list of Top Green Companies in the World 2015, being named the world’s most sustainable company by the research firm Corporate Knights, and receiving a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.
Biogen also announced this year that it has become carbon neutral – meaning that the company has effectively neutralized all of the carbon emissions associated with its business.
Biogen publishes an annual Corporate Citizenship Report based on internationally recognized Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G4 Guidelines. In its most recent report, the company outlined a set of aggressive goals for 2020. These goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and water use intensity by 80 percent (compared to its 2006 baseline and normalized by revenue) and driving down its “days away case rate,” by 80 percent, a widely recognized indicator of occupational safety performance. The company is also working to achieve zero waste-to-landfill status after keeping 99 percent of its waste from landfills since 2012.
About Biogen
Through cutting-edge science and medicine, Biogen discovers, develops and delivers to patients worldwide innovative therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hematologic conditions and autoimmune disorders. Founded in 1978, Biogen is one of the world’s oldest independent biotechnology companies and patients worldwide benefit from its leading multiple sclerosis and innovative hemophilia therapies. For product labeling, press releases and additional information about the company, please visit www.biogen.com.
