KPMG: Gold medal winners for sustainability

By Rob Starr, Content Manager, Big4.com

The 10th edition of The Sustainability Yearbook was published by KPMG and RobecoSAM, the investment specialist focused exclusively on Sustainability Investing  at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland on 23 January 2013. Gold medals are awarded to the top-performing company within each sector and to those companies whose scores are within 1 percent of their sector leader’s score. A total of 67 companies have been awarded gold medals in The Sustainability Yearbook 2013, which corresponds to just 2.5 percent of all companies assessed by KPMG.

In South Korea, GS Engineering & Construction Co (Heavy Construction), Amorepacific Corp (Personal Products), SK Telecom (Mobile Telecommunications), KT Corp (Fixed Line Communications) and Lotte Shopping (General Retailers) set the standard as industry leaders. In addition, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co is awarded a gold medal, which in total puts South Korea in second equal place internationally.

Yvo de Boer, Special Global Advisor on Climate Change & Sustainability, KPMG International comments:

“Business is entering a period of unprecedented opportunity and risk due to a potent cocktail of megaforces including climate change, population growth, water scarcity, urbanization and ecological decline. Investors should consider the companies awarded gold medals in The Sustainability Yearbook 2013 as among the best prepared within their own sectors to manage these challenges and make themselves fit for the future.”