ESG ratings & benchmarks

Our priorities and performance

Key ratings and benchmarks

Our belief in sustainability as our core value, key responsibility and important business driver is reflected in the recognition we receive in Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) ratings and benchmarks.

The ESG ratings and benchmarks universe is experiencing rapid expansion and fragmentation with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) reporting that there are over 2,000 individual ESG reporting indicators requested by the approximately 600 ratings and benchmarks.

There are considerable differences in stakeholder focus and approach with some concentrating on management and strategy and others on performance and metrics. It is not possible for us to actively participate in every benchmark and rating so we prioritize our participation in those that are most useful to us and our stakeholders, specifically:

  • Transparency in methodology, enabling us and our stakeholders to understand and interpret the results.
  • Relying primarily on public information, ensuring that our stakeholders are all assessing us on the same, equal basis.
  • Does not create additional, unnecessary workload, enabling us to focus our efforts on engagement and performance improvement.
  • Are commonly completed by our industry peers to enable greater comparability.
  • Provides sufficient feedback loops to enable us to make sustainable year-on-year improvements and to provide input on future developments of the index.
  • Are recognized by our stakeholders as relevant and fit for purpose.

Prioritized benchmarks

We are assessed by Sustainalytics as being at low risk of experiencing material financial impacts from ESG factors, ranking in the 4th percentile in our industry.

In September 2021, EcoVadis awarded DSM a Platinum CSR Rating. The Platinum rating places us in the top 1% of companies assessed in our industry.

ISS ESG has confirmed DSM as ‘Prime’ according to its rating methodology. Our rating of B- puts us in the top decile relative to our industry group. DSM’s ISS QualityScore is a low-risk rating, including lowest risk (1 out of 10) in Governance and Environment.

We continue to be a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index. We have been listed on this index since 2004.

MSCI’s rating of DSM is ‘AAA’. The report highlights our strong strategy to address carbon emissions. It also notes our focus on energy-efficient operations and our leadership in governance practices.

We are listed in the Vigeo Eiris Benelux, Europe, Eurozone and World indices. Vigeo Eiris is now part of Moody’s ESG Solution.

We are assessed as double A by CDP for our climate strategy, and water governance and strategy.


DSM believes that convergence towards a single set of ESG indicators is urgently needed and is actively engaging with other companies and organizations towards this end.

DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Index)

After careful consideration, in 2019 DSM decided to no longer actively participate in the DJSI assessment process. 

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  • Financial results & presentations

    Financial results & presentations

    Instant overview of the financial results, presentations, updates & AGMs and all DSM's financial and regulatory press releases from the last decade.

  • Our strategy & the SDGs

    Our strategy & the SDGs

    We’re so convinced of the value of doing well by doing good that our strategy is aligned with the Sustainable Development (SDG) goals outlined by the United Nations in 2015.