Las Vegas Sands Achieves Milestone with DJSI Recognition

Las Vegas Sands has earned a prestigious position on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), securing spots on both DJSI World and DJSI North America. Sands China Ltd., the company’s subsidiary in Asia, was also recognized for its third consecutive year, achieving placements on DJSI World and DJSI Asia Pacific.

This year, Sands and Sands China were the only companies in the Casino and Gaming category to be listed on DJSI World. Additionally, Sands stood as the sole representative in the Casino and Gaming category on DJSI North America, while Sands China was one of only two companies in its category on DJSI Asia Pacific.

DJSI: A Benchmark for Global Sustainability Leaders

DJSI World identifies the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies within the S&P Global Broad Market Index based on rigorous assessments of their economic, environmental, and social practices. DJSI North America and DJSI Asia Pacific apply similar criteria to rank the top 20% of the largest 600 companies in their respective regions.

“To close this year with our fifth consecutive placement on DJSI speaks to the tremendous collaboration within many areas of our company, all working hand-in-hand to advance our environmental, social and governance initiatives,” said Katarina Tesarova, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at Las Vegas Sands. She added, “We greatly value DJSI as a benchmark for our performance as well as its valuable . To receive recognition on these lists is a fantastic endorsement, but we also learn from the process every year.”

Leveraging Benchmarks to Shape ESG Goals

Sands has utilized the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment alongside other industry benchmarks to craft its corporate responsibility strategies. These tools have helped the company establish ambitious Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) targets, gaining recognition not only on DJSI but also on other reputable rankings. Recently, Sands was listed in Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies, ranking 60th overall and first in the hotels, dining, and leisure sector.

Sands’ current ESG reporting cycle, spanning 2021 to 2025, focuses on three primary objectives aligned with its People, Communities, and Planet pillars.

Under the People pillar, Sands aims to invest $200 million in workforce development by 2025. By the end of 2023, the company had committed $68 million to these initiatives, raising its cumulative investment since 2021 to $181 million.

For the Communities pillar, Sands set a goal to contribute 250,000 volunteer hours from team to local causes by 2025. By late 2023, team had already logged 222,823 hours, aiding nonprofit organizations and addressing community needs.

Under the Planet pillar, Sands targeted a 17.5% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. Remarkably, as of 2023, the company had achieved a 50% reduction in emissions compared to its baseline year, even as resort visitation returned to pre-pandemic levels, increasing energy consumption.

A Legacy of Leadership in Sustainability

The DJSI, introduced in 1999, serves as one of the world’s most respected sustainability benchmarks, evaluating over 13,000 companies annually. It uses industry-specific economic, environmental, and social criteria to identify sustainability leaders, offering valuable insights to sustainability-focused investors.

Las Vegas Sands’ continued inclusion on the DJSI highlights its unwavering commitment to advancing ESG initiatives and delivering meaningful outcomes across its operations. The company’s next ESG report, set to be released in spring 2025, will detail its progress toward the 2024 milestones.

Source:

”Las Vegas Sands named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for world and North America”, cdcgaming.com December 26, 2024.