AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands - AkzoNobel has been ranked number one on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the third consecutive year.

The latest listing places the company first out of more than 350 companies in the Materials industry group.

"We are obviously very proud to have retained first place, and huge credit must go to all our employees," said AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner. "But first and foremost, heading the ranking means we are effectively using the DJSI to continuously improve our sustainability performance so that we are better equipped to provide solutions for the increasing needs of the planet's growing population.

"And we won't be letting up. Sustainability will remain fundamental to our strategy of connecting value creation to resource efficiency, while the DJSI process is an important management tool when it comes to better understanding the changing needs of the global marketplace and helping us to benchmark ourselves against other leading companies."

It's the ninth year running that AkzoNobel has been ranked in the top three, and Büchner says the consistent performance underlines AkzoNobel's fierce determination to effectively implement its "Planet Possible" strategy.

Widely regarded as the most respected independent sustainability ranking system, the DJSI World Index benchmarks the sustainability performance of leading companies based on environmental, social and economic performance, including forward-looking indicators.

It assesses various criteria, including supply chain management, operational eco-efficiency, product stewardship, human capital development, and occupational health and safety.