OREANDA-NEWS. ING has improved its performance substantially in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) annual review published today by RobecoSAM, naming ING among world leaders in its category. While the industry average score is 61, ING scores 86 out of 100, an almost 5 point increase on ING’s 2014 score of 82. The highest score in this category is 94. ING is included in both the World Index and the Europe index and this year, for the first time, ING is classified within the industry category ‘Banks’, following the divestment and deconsolidation of its insurance subsidiary NN Group. In previous years, ING was classified in the ‘diversified financials’ category. In this category, while having a lower score than today, ING became the 2014 Industry Leader. 

88 out of 100

ING also received a higher rating from Sustainalytics, a global leader in sustainability research, with a score of 88 out of 100, a rise of 14 percent compared to last year. As with DJSI, the higher score is attributable to ING’s sharpened sustainability focus, strengthened ESR polies and its enhanced product offering to empower customers to make better financial decisions. ING also published its first integrated Annual report, combining the financial and non-financial performance in 2014.

Proud

ING CEO Ralph Hamers: “We believe a financial institution is there to support and stimulate economic, social and environmental progress leading to a better quality of life. ING wants to drive sustainable progress, which means we take the long view and go beyond just mitigating harm. I am proud that our efforts in these areas have been recognised by DJSI and Sustainalytics. We are motivated to continue to improve our performance in ING’s defined sustainability themes ”.

Driving progress for society

In 2015, ING has been implementing its new Sustainability Direction which centres on two themes that impact stakeholders and its long-term business performance: financial empowerment and sustainable transitions.

ING wants to empower customers by delivering products, services and tools that make it easier for customers to handle their money matters and that help them make sounder financial decisions. At the same time we put emphasis into servicing and financing clients and projects that contribute to the transition to a more sustainable economy. ING financed EUR 20.9 billion worth of sustainable transitions as per end of the second quarter of 2015.