How sustainability indices and ratings make our commitment quantifiable

In a world where economic success goes hand in hand with responsible action, investors are placing greater emphasis on principles of sustainability, environmental protection, and social responsibility in their investment strategies.

This presents an opportunity for companies: by disclosing their corporate social responsibility efforts, they become more visible to individual shareholders and investors interested in sustainable investments and can further strengthen their image.

Sustainability indices and ratings play a significant role in this context. They provide an objective basis for measuring companies’ environmental and social commitment and foster trust among investors and customers.

In sustainable stock market indices, stock prices are influenced not only by hard financial metrics but also by environmental, social, and governance criteria (ESG criteria). The most renowned sustainability index is the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe Index (formerly DJSI Europe). It measures the stock performance of companies that are leaders in their industry in terms of ESG criteria. Selection is carried out by the rating agency S&P.

The top 20 percent of the most sustainable large European companies are listed in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe Index (formerly DJSI Europe). In 2021, we were the first and only company in the steel industry to make it into this exclusive group. Our 2023 ranking in the 91st percentile of our industry demonstrates that we continue to perform as well as or better than 91 percent of all evaluated steel companies in terms of sustainability. We were once again listed in the Dow Jones “Best-in-Class Europe Index” in 2026.

To gain an objective picture of a company’s environmental, social, and governance performance, investors, analysts, and customers also rely on specialized sustainability ratings. Such ratings may apply to the entire corporate group or to individual locations.

Sustainability ratings are important to us because they provide an external perspective on our business practices and serve as a benchmark for our sustainability efforts. Behind these rankings are our ongoing efforts to minimize our carbonfootprint , carefully select our suppliers, and fulfill our social responsibilities.

Here is an overview of assessments and initiatives that transparently reflect our commitment to sustainability:

EcoVadis is one of the leading providers of sustainability ratings and evaluates more than 100,000 companies across four categories: environment, ethics, labor practices and human rights, and sustainable procurement. Over the years, we have received multiple awards from EcoVadis both as a group and at our individual sites.

voestalpine Wire Austria, voestalpine Railway Systems (Zeltweg), and voestalpine Turnout Technology Germany were awarded Platinum in 2026, placing them among the top 1% of companies evaluated worldwide. As a group, we also performed impressively. In the 2026 rating, we achieved Silver, placing us among the top 15% of evaluated companies.

As part of the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), our commitment to climate protection was once again recognized with an A rating. This means we have reached the Leadership Level, which includes companies that stand out for their coordinated climate protection measures and are working toward an environmentally friendly future. In the “Water” category, we maintained our B rating.

The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is a joint partnership between the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP), the UN Global Compact, the World Resources Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) aimed at achieving the Paris Agreement’s climate goals.

Unlike traditional sustainability ratings, the SBTi does not evaluate companies in the sense of a ranking. Rather, the initiative supports companies in achieving their greenhouse gas reduction targets by providing scientific standards and clearly defined measures. Our greenhouse gas reduction targets were reviewed and validated by the SBTi in 2023. This ensures that they are based on recognized scientific methods and are consistent with the requirements of the Paris Agreement.