Caterpillar Inc. and Cummins Inc. last week both announced that they were named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the tenth and sixth consecutive year, respectively. The index recognizes the top 10 percent of the world’s largest public companies for their economic, social and environmental performance.

Altogether, 318 companies were named to the World Index across 57 industry sectors. Both Caterpillar and Cummins were among just nine of 82 companies in the industrial engineering sector to make the World Index and two of the three companies in the sector to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index.

"Caterpillar has been committed to sustainability for many years,” said Doug Oberhelman, Caterpillar CEO. “We believe it's both the right thing to do and a real business opportunity. Our ongoing inclusion on the DJSI exemplifies our progress in aligning our sustainability efforts with our business strategy."

Dow Jones, working with SAM, an investment firm focused exclusively on sustainability-related investing, has developed a “best-in-class” approach to analyzing companies across a wide range of sustainability metrics.

Companies are assessed on their performance in areas such as corporate governance, risk management, climate change mitigation, labor practices, corporate citizenship and philanthropy, employee development and supply chain standards. In addition to a universal set of criteria, companies also were analyzed on issues specific to their industries. For the first time ever in 2010, the assessment included questions regarding water-related environmental risks.

“Issues such as corporate responsibility, environmental stewardship and creating the right environment for our employees all have a direct impact on our long-term success as a company, and we take our responsibilities in these areas very seriously,” said Tim Solso, Cummins chairman and CEO. “We are honored to be recognized by Dow Jones again this year for our work to create a responsible, sustainable company that strives to meet the needs of its stakeholders around the world.”

For more information about the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, visit www.sustainability-indexes.com. For more information about Cummins’ sustainability related work, visit the Sustainability section of its website at www.cummins.com.

Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar manufacturers construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines.

Headquartered in Columbus, Ind., Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems.