ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Sept. 10, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Abbott (NYSE: ABT) has been named the leading company in its industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), one of the most prestigious global benchmarks for corporate responsibility and sustainability. As the Industry Group Leader in Health Care Equipment & Services, Abbott is the only U.S.-based company of the 24 companies recognized for leading their respective industry groups. The DJSI leaders are chosen from among 3,400 of the largest companies worldwide, including companies in developed and emerging markets. This is the 11^th consecutive year that Abbott has been recognized for sustainability leadership through its inclusion on the DJSI, including both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and North America Index.

"Our purpose at Abbott is to help people live the best and fullest lives they can," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "It all comes down to keeping our promise, by striving to advance human health and happiness in all we do and by approaching every challenge with utmost respect and sensitivity to our world and its people."

In addition to being named a broader Industry Group Leader, Abbott also was the leader in its specific DJSI industry sector, Health Care Equipment & Supplies. Abbott earned the highest industry scores across all three areas of overall economic, environmental and social performance. The company's score of 88 was more than double the average score of 39 for other companies in the industry. Abbott's leading position was strengthened in 2015; the company's score increased five points from 83 to 88, compared to a two-point average decrease across the industry.

Abbott also achieved the top industry scores in 15 of DJSI's 23 specific economic, environmental and social criteria, including innovation management; strategy to improve access to drugs or products; operational eco-efficiency; corporate governance; supply chain management; health outcome contribution; human capital development; labor practice indicators and human rights; talent attraction and retention; stakeholder engagement; customer relationship management; risk and crisis management; tax strategy; bioethics; and corporate citizenship and philanthropy.  

ABOUT ABBOTT'S APPROACH TO CITIZENSHIP
At Abbott, we see tremendous potential to make life better. This idea is at the core of our approach to global citizenship – creating a more responsible, sustainable and inclusive business that builds better lives and stronger communities around the world.

We focus on three priority areas that are most important for our business and the many people we serve: delivering product excellence, improving access and safeguarding the environment. By applying our science, products and expertise in these three areas, we're working to maximize the promise of human potential, around the world.

In addition to being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 years, Abbott has been named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by Corporate Responsibility magazine for seven consecutive years.

To learn more about Abbott's sustainability initiatives and reporting, please visit www.abbott.com/citizenship.

ABOUT THE DOW JONES SUSTAINABILITY INDICES
Launched in 1999, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is the first global index to track the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide based on an analysis of financially material environmental, social and governance factors. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are maintained collaboratively by S&P Dow Jones Indices and RobecoSAM, the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing. RobecoSAM invited the world's largest 3,400 companies from developed and emerging markets to take part in its annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment. For additional information on the DJSI, please visit: www.sustainability-indices.com and www.djindexes.com/sustainability.

ABOUT ABBOTT
At Abbott, we're committed to helping you live your best possible life through the power of health. For more than 125 years, we've brought new products and technologies to the world – in nutrition, diagnostics, medical devices and branded generic pharmaceuticals – that create more possibilities for more people at all stages of life. Today, 73,000 of us are working to help people live not just longer, but better, in the more than 150 countries we serve.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews and @AbbottGlobal.

SOURCE Abbott