DSM Tops Dow Sustainability Index Segment

HEERLEN, The NetherlandsRoyal DSM has once again gained the top spot in the chemical industry sector of the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. The company has won the top spot six times since 2004. DSM has taken steps to ensure its innovative products and processes reduce the carbon footprint for both the company and its clientsin the first half of 2011, 87 percent of DSM's innovation pipeline were ECO+ solutions. In addition, the company recently acquired the C5 Yeast Company, a move to strengthen its yeast technology technology leadership for second generation biofuels, and has revealed plans to open a new commercial-scale, bio-based succinic acid plant in Italy, in cooperation with Roquette.

In addition to its sustainability initiatives, DSM has long collaborated with the United Nations World Food Programme and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to help address nutrition challenges, such as hidden hunger and malnutrition, in developing countries.

 We are very proud to be listed again as the leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, said Feike Sijbesma, CEO and chairman of DSM's managing board. This is a recognition of our continuous efforts in this field. Sustainability is one of our core values and increasingly one of our key business growth drivers. We continuously strive for sustainable solutions that create value for society, customers, our employees and shareholders.