Sonova recognized for continued ESG momentum

Nearly a decade in the S&P Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) and top 5% in Global Sustainability Yearbook 2023 

Each year, S&P carries out the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) to collect information on companies' sustainability performance covering a wide range of industry-specific economic, environmental, and social aspects. Sonova received a 77/100 compared to industry best, 79/100 and came in second out of 268 assessed companies in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry. The score determines eligibility for the annual DJSI and Global Sustainability Yearbook.¹

Launched in 1999, the DJSI was the first index to track the financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies on a global scale. The rating (77/100) ensured that Sonova was included in December 2022's edition of the DJSI for the ninth consecutive year. 

Furthermore, in the Global Sustainability Yearbook, published in February 2023, Sonova featured in the top 5% of companies assessed in the Health Care Equipment & Supplies industry.

Transparency is key — Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)

CDP recognized Sonova for its outstanding reporting concerning environmental impact, receiving the second-highest score of ‘A-,’ placing us in the top 12% of our industry (medical equipment and supplies). The CDP is an annual ranking focusing on climate change disclosure and action and is highly regarded by investors and analysts.

Intact — Sonova's ESG strategy

In addition to external recognitions by the DJSI, Sustainability Yearbook, and CDP, here are more tangible examples of ESG improvements over the course of the fiscal year 2021/22 along the pillars of our IntACT strategy.

Protecting the planet

• We committed to science-based CO₂ reduction targets (pending validation by Science Based Targeted initiatives)
• In the last fiscal year, 54% of our energy came from renewable sources, and we are further driving the transition to renewable energy, e.g., through installing solar panels on our sites or switching to renewable electricity sourcing.

Advancing our people

• More than half of all people managers at Sonova are women.
• We have continued to use our own talent pipeline, with two-thirds of leadership positions filled with internal candidates.
• 97% of non-production or assembly employees have a personal development plan.
• We launched global employee health & wellbeing measures, including hybrid working guidelines, leadership trainings on mental health, and a network of wellbeing champions.

Serving society

• We increased unit sales of hearing aids in low- and middle-income countries by over 44% from 2018/19 to 2021/22
• Thanks to Hear the World Foundation and its partners, thousands of children in low- and middle-income countries got access to hearing health care.

Acting with integrity

• Further increasing our human rights due diligence across our value chain in alignment with international frameworks, such as the UNGP and OECD Guidelines.
• Compensation of all Sonova Management Board members is linked to achievement of specific ESG performance indicators.

These achievements further emphasize what IntACT – Sonova’s enhanced sustainability strategy stands for: continued improvement in our environmental, social, and governance responsibilities.