United Utilities wins global top 50 sustainability accolade

United Utilities has joined the 50 firms worldwide featured in a respected share index drawn up by German finance and sustainability experts to help ethical investors identify pioneering companies that are pioneers in sustainability.

The Global Challenges Index is reviewed twice a year and companies on the list are “those who integrate sustainability into their business processes while actively tackling globally-important issues like climate change, the provision of clean drinking water, deforestation, biodiversity, population development, poverty and global governance.” United Utilities was one of six new companies to be added to the index.

United Utilities chief financial officer, Phil Aspin, said: “We firmly believe that our long-term prospects are inextricably linked to our ability to operate sustainably and to serve the interests of all of our stakeholders.”

He added: “Operating in an environmentally sustainable, economically beneficial and socially responsible manner is key to delivering on our purpose.”

The Global Challenges Index was developed in Germany in 2007 by Boersen in cooperation with Oekom Research.