FOR the third consecutive year, Schneider Electric has been ranked among the 100 most advanced companies globally in the field of sustainable development for 2014 by Corporate Knights, the Canadian magazine for clean capitalism. Schneider Electric booked the 10th spot in the overall list and also won the first place among companies in the industry and capital goods sector. The 2014 ranking was unveiled at the recently concluded Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland. The Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World include the top 100 performing stocks worldwide based on a range of sector-specific sustainability metrics. Data for the project is primarily collected from Bloomberg and through direct engagement with 350 of the world's largest companies that make the project's shortlist. Schneider Electric has also gained the ISO 50001:2011 certification for its Plant A site in Riyadh, becoming the first company in the Saudi Arabia to achieve the distinction. This certification encourages and benchmarks organizations across sectors in their efficient use of energy through the development of Energy Management Systems (EnMS). Ahmad Al Rashood Vice President of Business Development and Energy Management Solutions at Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia, said: “Breaking into the top 10 ranking this year and emerging as the leader in our industry is a strong incentive for us to increase our engagement in sustainability. “We are proud to be the first company in Saudi Arabia's private sector to achieve the ISO 50001:2011 certification. On a national level, we rank third after Saudi Aramco and SABIC to receive this prestigious distinction. We will now harness our energies towards achieving the ISO 50001 standard for all our manufacturing sites in Riyadh, Jeddah and Al-Khobar. The achievement will also allow Schneider Electric to gain a stronger foothold in energy management systems and sustainable solutions in Saudi Arabia and the GCC.” Schneider Electric enjoys an active ranking strategy in the main sustainability indices such as CDP and DJSI and the annual ranking of Corporate Knights. Since 2005, Schneider Electric continues to measure and publish its progress on a quarterly basis through its sustainability dashboard, the Planet & Society Barometer. The tool consists of 14 indicators across three key areas of the group's sustainability development strategy: economy, environment and society. This mechanism allows Schneider Electric to evaluate and assess on a regular basis its actions for sustainable development and share results with all stakeholders. — SG
