OREANDA-NEWS. May 14, 2010. Latvian companies who had demonstrated the highest compatibility with socially responsible and sustainable company criteria gathered at the Sustainability Index closing ceremony. Among these companies was SEB banka, which was placed in the silver category among 70 companies, reported the press-centre of SEB banka.
 
The sustainability index evaluates companies from four corporate responsibility factors – environment, market relations, working environment and social responsibility. SEB Latvia obtained the highest evaluation in the working environment category.

The sustainability index was measured for the first time in Latvia and its methodology was based on the theory of corporate social responsibility, as well as international Dow Jones Sustainability Index the Corporate Responsibility Index by Business in the Community.

70 companies participated in the first Sustainability Index, of which 20 were placed in the silver category, 25 in the bronze and another 25 received distinction for participation and were encouraged to improve their performance.

"I am pleased by the evaluation, which presents SEB as a socially responsible and sustainable enterprise. At the same time, the rating includes additional responsibility, as now we are not only interested in retaining the silver category, but to improve our results and attain golden category in a year or two," says CEO of SEB Latvia Ainars Ozols.

The initiators of the Sustainability Index are the Employers' Confederation of Latvia (LDDK) and the Association of Free Trade Unions of Latvia (LBAS) and it involves participants from NASDAQ OMX Riga, World Wildlife Fund, Partners and Ideas Fund, SKDS, Lursoft, Latvian Association for Quality and others.