Sustainability is no longer something large companies can ignore. It now plays a central role. The investors, regulators and public, they all judge your businesses by how responsibly you work and care for the environment. One of the most recognised benchmarks in this space is the DJSI. Companies that do well here do not need to rush at the last moment. They plan clearly and improve step by step with time.
Let’s understand what top-performing companies do differently when they try to get included in the DJSI.
What Is DJSI and Why Does It Matter
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) is a global index that recognises companies that run their businesses in a responsible and sustainable way. It is managed by S&P Dow Jones Indices, along with RobecoSAM.
What Does DJSI Look At
The businesses are evaluated based on three main areas. They are:
- Environmental
- Social
- Governance
How Are Companies Assessed
Every year, the selected companies go through the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). This assessment checks how well you manage risks and follow responsible business practices and rules.
The main goal of the DJSI is simple. It shows businesses that plan for the future, work in a responsible way and create long-term value by caring for people, society and the environment.
How the DJSI Assessment Works
The process mainly uses a CSA questionnaire. This questionnaire checks how well your company takes care of sustainability in its daily use.
The assessment covers three main areas:
| Dimension | What Is Reviewed |
| Economic | Governance, ethics, risk management |
| Environmental | Climate strategy, emissions, resource use |
| Social | Labour practices, human rights, stakeholder care |
Each business gets a final score. Companies are compared only with others in the same industry. Only the best ones from each industry are chosen. This is why the DJSI is trusted and respected around the world.
What Top-Performing Companies Do Differently
Companies that consistently perform well in the DJSI do not take and see the assessment as a yearly task. They follow a few clear habits:
- Focus on data quality: They only use correct and checked data, not vague claims. Their information is clear, consistent and is supported by proof. So answering CSA questions becomes easy and confident for you.
- Involve more than one team: Sustainability is not the job of just one team. Different teams like operations, HR, finance, legal and supply chain should all be involved and work together in this. This helps make your information correct and makes everyone understand it better.
- Align ESG with business strategy: Make ESG part of the main business plan. This means sustainability is not separate work. It is part of your daily decisions, risks and growth plans.
- Track progress year after year: The companies with high scores check their past CSA feedback every year. They do this to fix their weak areas and use the score to learn and improve and not as a final result.
Why Long-Term Thinking Matters
The DJSI is not made for short-term improvements. Your businesses can be removed if any controversies or news comes up or if your performance goes down. News reports, regulatory actions and management problems are watched all the time.
Top performers understand this. They focus on improvement rather than quick changes that are made only when the assessment year comes. This helps them to always be prepared, even when the rules change.
How Growing Market Companies Succeed
The DJSI also looks at companies from different regions. This gives businesses from growing markets a chance to be seen around the world.
The best companies in these regions start by making clear rules and plans early. They share their information openly, follow global rules and keep proper records of their work. Over time, this helps them stand at the same level as top companies globally.
Where Companies Go Wrong
Many companies do a lot of good work, but they do not explain what they do properly. Because of this, they do not get a good score.
Common issues include:
- Missing or inconsistent ESG data
- Limited documentation for policies and rules
- Teams do not work well together
- ESG work is not linked to real business risks
Top-performing companies always fix these issues before they submit CSA responses.
Why the DJSI Still Matters Today
- For investors, the DJSI offers a trusted way to compare companies across industries
- For businesses, it gives a structured way to understand where they stand
Even companies that are not yet included in it can get benefits from just participating. The process shows strengths, gaps and supports better decision-making.
Summing Up
Getting into DJSI is not about ticking one list. It shows how well your business handles sustainability in your everyday work. Top-performing companies succeed in this because they plan early, use clear and correct data, involve the right people and keep improving steadily.
If you want to move closer to DJSI, do not rush. Focus on being clear, staying consistent and thinking long term.
