Volvo 2006 Annual Report Download - page 38

subcontractors must have an explicitly stated
target of delivering faultless products and ser-
vices as well as established quality manage-
ment systems, a focus on continuous improve-
ments and a holistic view of product life cycle.
Active dialog with stakeholders
The Volvo Group strives for an open dialog with
stakeholders at many different levels and in
many different contexts, and aims to communi-
cate clearly and honestly with the surrounding
world. Representatives of the Group participate
in seminars, networks and conferences with
the aim of facilitating dialogue with society as a
whole.
The main points of contact with customers
are the sales and service organizations, which
Qualified for the Dow Jones
sustainability index for the fifth
consecutive year
AB Volvo has qualified once again for the Dow
Jones Sustainability World Index of globally lead-
ing companies in the area of long-term sustain-
able development. Volvo is one of the few Swedish
companies to rank on both the Dow Jones
Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) and the
Dow Jones STOXX Sustainability Index (DJSI
STOXX).
For the fifth consecutive year, AB Volvo has
been included in DJSI World thanks to the
Group’s sustainability efforts in economic, envir-
onmental and social issues. This means that AB
Volvo ranks among the top 10% of companies
worldwide in terms of combining financial profit
with environmental and social responsibility. AB
Volvo gained particularly high ratings for environ-
mental care and corporate governance. AB Volvo
is one of only five Swedish com panies listed on
DJSI World.
For the third consecutive year, AB Volvo is
also included in DJSI STOXX, an index of lead-
ing European companies in the area of long-
term sustainable development.
deal with customers on a daily basis. The
Group’s partners and distributors also play an
important role in this respect. Other important
forums are customer satisfaction and quality
surveys and focus groups with customers in
areas such as product development.
The Volvo Group presents its interim reports
and financial statements to the media, analysts
and investors. In addition, representatives of
the Group meet various financial market play-
ers during the year. Interest has increased in
investing in Volvo’s shares as well as in the
Group’s sustainability efforts – particularly from
environmental and ethical funds. The Volvo
Group has enjoyed high sustainability ratings in
several surveys including the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and Global 100.
Dialog with employees primarily takes place
during day-to-day work, but also within formal-
ized structures such as individual performance
appraisal interviews, department meetings and
staff surveys. All Volvo employees can send
questions directly to the Group CEO via the
intranet.
The Volvo Group aims to maintain an open
dialog to keep society informed about the
Group’s activities and future plans. The Group
collaborates extensively with universities and
colleges worldwide.
Volvo Group noted for its environ-
mental responsibility
The Volvo Group is top among Swedish compan-
ies with regard to responsibility for the environ-
ment, according to the Climate Index 2006 sur-
vey. For the tenth consecutive year, insurance
company Folksam has collected information
about the environmental and climate-related
operations of major Swedish corporations. The
survey encompasses emissions from production
as well as the results of the company’s pro-envir-
onmental work with regard to cargo transport,
buildings and premises, product design and busi-
ness travel. The index is a collation of the com-
pany’s overall emissions, undertaken climate
measures and the quality of the way it pres-
ents and publicizes its emissions. Some 270
Swedish stock exchange-listed companies were
surveyed. Combined they account for 95 percent
of the total carbon dioxide emissions in Sweden.
The Volvo Group’s total points give it a leading
position in the “best in class” group in Climate
Index 2006.
34 Sustainable development 2006