- Abbott Secured Highest Overall Score in its Industry Sector, More Than Doubling the Average Industry Score 

- Company Achieved Top Scores Across All Key Areas, Including Economic, Environmental and Social Performance

- Company Included on DJSI for Ninth Consecutive Year

ABBOTT PARK, Illinois, Sept. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that it was named an Industry Group Leader in the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), one of the most prestigious benchmarks for worldwide corporate sustainability. As the leader in the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group, Abbott was one of only 24 companies selected for leading their respective industries. The DJSI leaders are chosen from among the 3,000 largest companies worldwide, including 800 companies in emerging markets. This was the ninth consecutive year that Abbott was included on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and North America Index.

In addition to being named a broader Industry Group Leader, Abbott also was the leader in its specific DJSI industry sector, Health Care Equipment & Supplies. The company's overall score of 82 is significantly higher than the average score of 39 for other companies in the sector. The company earned the highest scores across all three main areas of evaluation, including economic, environmental and social performance. Within these three areas, Abbott achieved a ranking of 100 percent in multiple categories, including innovation management; supply chain management; stakeholder engagement; customer relationship management; environmental reporting; human capital development; talent attraction and retention; labor practices and human rights; social reporting; strategy to improve access to drugs or products; corporate citizenship and philanthropy; and health outcome contribution.

"Our company was founded to improve lives; we've stayed true to that purpose for 125 years, as a business, as a scientific innovator, and as a citizen of the communities of which we are part," said Miles D. White, chairman and chief executive officer, Abbott. "At Abbott, we are acutely conscious of the world's growing healthcare needs and the opportunities they present. We are equally attuned to the responsibilities that such opportunities confer. Helping to meet them, as we serve all of the people who depend upon our company, is at the heart of our mission for our next 125 years."

"Abbott's strong performance in the DJSI is a reflection of the company's longstanding commitment to responsible and transparent business practices," said Katherine Pickus, divisional vice president, Global Citizenship and Policy, Abbott. "Abbott strives to foster economic, environmental and societal well-being through our products, our core business operations and our partnerships with others."

About the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices
The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices were launched in 1999 as the first global sustainability benchmarks. The indices are offered cooperatively by RobecoSAM and S&P Dow Jones Indices, tracking the stock performance of the world's leading companies in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. The indices serve as benchmarks for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios, and provide an effective engagement platform for companies who want to adopt sustainable best practices. For additional information on the DJSI, please visit www.sustainability-indices.com and www.djindexes.com/sustainability.

About Abbott's Approach to Citizenship
At Abbott, we believe that innovative, responsible and sustainable business plays an important role in building a healthy, thriving society. This idea is the cornerstone of our global citizenship strategy. We focus on advancing economic, environmental and social well-being as we pursue the work of discovering, developing, manufacturing and distributing products that enhance people's health. We continually work to build sustainable solutions to the world's most pressing healthcare challenges, while reducing our impact on the environment and creating lasting value for both our stakeholders and our business.

In addition to being included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices, Abbott has been included in the global 100 Best Corporate Citizens list compiled by Corporate Responsibility magazine for five consecutive years. Abbott also was selected by leading investment and analysis firm MSCI for inclusion on three of its sustainability indices in 2012, and has been recognized for responsible citizenship in countries around the world.

To learn more about Abbott's sustainability initiatives and reporting, please visit www.abbott.com/citizenship.

About Abbott
Abbott is a global healthcare company devoted to improving life through the development of products and technologies that span the breadth of healthcare. With a portfolio of leading, science-based offerings in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic pharmaceuticals, Abbott serves people in more than 150 countries and employs approximately 70,000 people.

Visit Abbott at www.abbott.com and connect with us on Twitter at @AbbottNews.

SOURCE Abbott