SPI in market communication

ABB have been reporting Sustainability Performance Indicators in both environmental management and environmental reporting over a number of years. A first set of environmental performance indicators was presented in ABBs environmental management report 1996. The numbers of indicators has gradually been refined and in the 2000 reporting the reporting included a first set of social performance indicators. In the report 2001 a further step was taken and the ABB sustainability performance is reported according to the recommendations of the "Sustainability Reporting Guidelines" published in June 2000 by the Global Reporting Initiative, GRI.

Business value 
The Sustainability Reporting has given ABB high rankings in reputable sustainability performance indices which translates into tangible customer benefits and distinguish ABB from many of its competitors. Example of ratings; 

• Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) in 2003, ABB retained second place in its industry group. ABB was cited as one of the sustainability leaders in its industry, having very strong management capabilities in the environmental dimension compared to the industry average. 
• The FTSE4Good indices were launched to highlight the best performers in corporate social responsibility. In 2003, ABB featured in both the FTSE4Good Europe Index and in the FTSE4Good Global Index. 
• Business in the Environment (BiE) is the business-led campaign for corporate environmental responsibility, which presents annual index of Corporate Environmental Engagement. In the latest ranking (2003) ABB is top of its sector for engineering, machinery and top of the General Industrial group with a score of more than 95 percent, which places it in the top Premier League of the index. 
• Bank Sarasin assesses selected companies' environmental and social performance as a basis for its socially responsible investment funds and services. In the latest assessment in 2003, ABB again scores above the industry average in every aspect of environmental performance. 
• Swedish Environment Fund, ABB was ranked among the top 41 most sustainable corporations quoted on the Swedish stock exchange. 
• Innovest Strategic Value Advisors, has renewed its environmental statement for ABB's 2003 Sustainability review as follows: "ABB received a rating of AAA, ranking 1 out of 24 electrical equipment companies in the sector for environmental performance…"

Experience of improvement process 

During 2004 special efforts have been made to reduce hazardous material and substances. Focus was put on PCB, CFC class I and VOC-Cl. The results are; 

• the business areas have established plans for replacing all transformers and capacitors in service at ABB facilities with PCB before 2007 (legislation demand 2010). 
• agreements have been made with the facilities to phase out all equipment with Freon (CFC class I) during 2005 
• a significant reduction of the emission of chlorinated solvents (VOC-Cl) with approximately 30% during 2004 (with a further decrease in coming years from projects now being executed).

Since the improvement focus changes every year, ABB can react and adapt to stakeholder issues arising e.g. new environmental concerns and this leads to top class environmental company. The business value of a good environmental ranking is high.