DSM TOPS IN DOW JONES

[BIZ: Heerlen, September 7]
In the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index published September 7, 2005, DSM once again tops the list for the Chemical Industry sector. This is the second year in a row that DSM has been named the worldwide sustainability leader in the chemical industry. The company was able to retain its No. 1 position because it has integrated sustainability into its decision-making and management processes to a very high level. This integration of sustainability into the company's core activities has resulted in stable high scores for all criteria.

The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index includes over 300 companies from 34 countries that rank among the top 10% in their industries in terms of corporate sustainability.

In 2003 DSM was for the first time included in the Dow Jones STOXX sustainability index for Europe. In 2004 DSM achieved a leadership position in both the European and the global index, and it has retained this position in both indexes this year.

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes track the performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide through a thorough assessment of companies' economic, environmental and social performance and accounts for more than 50 general as well as industry-specific criteria in each sector.

The assessment report on DSM's sustainability performance includes the following comment: "The company's strong position in the environment dimension is reflected in the out performance in advanced environmental management and advanced environmental performance. The company's track record in occupational health and safety is another example of its sustainability leadership".

(Assessment report:
http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/djsi_pdf/Bios06/CBR_DSM_06.pdf)
http://www.sustainability-indexes.com/htmle/djsi_world/supersectorleaders_new.html