Alcoa named to World and North American Dow Jones sustainability indexes

For the ninth consecutive year, Alcoa has been selected as a component of the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), one of the most highly recognized and long-standing global sustainability indexes. Alcoa was named to both the World and the North American Indexes.

The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) comprises the leading companies in terms of sustainability around the world. It captures the top 10 percent based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria out of the biggest 2500 companies worldwide. The Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI North America) captures the leading 20 percent in terms of sustainability out of the largest 600 North American companies.

The DJSI follow a best-in-class approach and include sustainability leaders from industries worldwide, serving as an important guide for investors to assess a company’s sustainability portfolio. Selection to the DJSI is based on an in-depth analysis of a company’s economic, environmental and social aspects with a focus on long-term development of corporate value.

“We never wavered from our commitment to environmental excellence and social responsibility, even though the economic climate has been challenging,” said Alcoa chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “Our continued inclusion in one of the world’s foremost sustainability indexes is welcome recognition for our efforts.”

Continuing its proactive approach to sustainability, in August, Alcoa named Kevin Anton as its chief sustainability officer with responsibility for developing a comprehensive strategy integrating all of the Company’s sustainability efforts.

The company also reported a number of advances in its 2009 Sustainability Report, including:

• 74 percent of Alcoa locations worldwide reported zero lost-workday incidents and 41 percent reported zero recordable injuries.
• Continued reductions in absolute greenhouse gas emissions in 2009, achieving a 44 percent reduction from 1990 levels. This compares to a reduction of 36 percent through the end of 2008, although a considerable portion of the 2009 improvement was due to temporary production curtailments in response to the economic downturn. Process improvements in the Global Primary Products group reduced direct GHG emissions by more than 1 million tons over 2008.
• Performed life cycle assessments of aluminum-containing products, including computer laptops, automotive space frames, truck/trailers, city buses, and aluminum bottles and conducted third-party, peer-reviewed life cycle assessments of aluminum beverage containers and automotive parts in association with the European Aluminium Association, U.S. Aluminum Association, and International Aluminium Institute.
• About 90 percent of our worldwide operating locations now have community programs, and Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation invested more than $34 million in the communities in which we operate worldwide.

To learn more about Alcoa’s approach to sustainability, read Alcoa’s 2009 Corporate Sustainability Report and reports from Alcoa regions worldwide.

About Alcoa
Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for eight consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world.