OREANDA-NEWS. October 01, 2013. Cathay Pacific Airways announced that the concerted effort the airline has made towards operating as a sustainable organisation has led to it being included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for the first time.

The DJSI are recognised as the leading global sustainability benchmark, tracking the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.

Membership of the DJSI is by invitation only and is based on both company market capitalisation and overall performance scores.  In joining the Asia Pacific listing, which commenced in 2009, Cathay Pacific now ranks alongside other major organisations in the region, including some of the world’s biggest airlines.

In the benchmarking scorecard produced for DJSI, the airline was assessed on a wide range of criteria ranging from brand management and anti-trust policies to risk management, fleet management and corporate philanthropy. In the Environmental Dimension, Cathay Pacific rated well above the industry average for its environmental policy/management system and environmental reporting.

Cathay Pacific Head of Environmental Affairs Mark Watson said: “The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices are a highly respected tool for assessing an organisation’s performance across key areas. At Cathay Pacific we are well aware of the need to operate in a socially responsible and sustainable way and it is a great honour to be invited to be included in the DJSI. The ratings given by DJSI analysts will provide motivation to further improve on our sustainability efforts.”

The full scope of Cathay Pacific’s sustainability commitment can be viewed in the airline’s 2012 Sustainability Development Report – available online in the About Us section at www.cathaypacific.com.