Roche rated as top healthcare firm for sustainability

Roche has been recognised as the most sustainable company in the healthcare sector in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

The company was named as the industry leader for the third year in a row, with praise focusing on its talent attraction and retention performance, leadership development and environmental management and reporting.

Special attention was also given to the firm's innovation management and contributions to improving patient health outcomes.

This comes after Roche made a commitment in 2009 to improved energy efficiency and better boardroom diversity as part of a series of five-year corporate goals.

Severin Schwan, chief executive officer of Roche, said: "Sustainable corporate policies and practices ultimately create long-term value for our stakeholders and promote innovation."

According to the company's most recent financial report, Roche generated 21.7 billion Swiss francs (15.5 billion pounds) in the first half of 2011, which was broadly level compared to last year, while advancing the development of its late-stage pipeline.