Sigma-Aldrich® Increases Focus on Sustainability - Unveils Latest Global Citizenship Report Highlighting Major Milestones and Earns Recognition from the CDP for Second Year

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sigma-Aldrich Corporation (NASDAQ: SIAL) today unveiled its latest Global Citizenship Report highlighting the Company's progress in driving environmental sustainability, social responsibility and fiscal accountability in 2012.  The launch of the report comes on the heels of Sigma-Aldrich being recognized for the second year for its innovative approach to the disclosure of climate change information by the CDP, an independent not-for-profit organization working to drive worldwide sustainable water use and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

"We are honored to be named to the 2013 CDP Global 500 Climate Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) and for this recognition to come at at time when we're sharing the success of our sustainability efforts in 2012," said Rakesh Sachdev, Sigma-Aldrich President and CEO.  "Being a responsible corporate citizen makes good business sense."

CDP's "Climate Disclosure Leadership Index" highlights companies within the S&P 500 that take a serious approach to information disclosure regarding climate change.  Sigma-Aldrich received a disclosure score of 97 out of 100 a two point increase from 2012 and one of the highest scores among industry peers.

The 2012 Sigma-Aldrich Global Citizenship Report focuses on highlights from the year including the release of the Sigma-Aldrich Supplier Code of Conduct, becoming a signatory to the U.N. Global Compact, increased employee volunteerism, expanded coverage of the Company's green chemistry initiative and the progress made toward achieving its GC1015 Global Citizenship Goals.

"Sigma-Aldrich is working to reach the natural resource reduction goals we set for 2015," said Jeffrey Whitford, Global Citizenship Manager.  "2012 was a big year for us.  We had another year of absolute water reduction as well as an absolute reduction in natural gas usage.  We also achieved a 10% intensity reduction in CO² emissions over our 2010 benchmark.  This year's Global Citizenship report takes a deeper dive into these goals and why Sigma-Aldrich places great emphasis on being a responsible citizen."

Sigma-Aldrich uses several external guidelines and measurement frameworks to inform the scope of its reporting, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI 3.1) Guidelines and the U.N. Global Compact.

The S&P 500 CDP report, including names of companies featured in the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index, can be found at www.cdproject.net.  To view or download a copy of the 2012 Sigma-Aldrich Global Citizenship Report, visit http://www.sialglobalcitizenship.com/. 

About Sigma-Aldrich:  Sigma-Aldrich, a leading Life Science and High Technology company focused on enhancing human health and safety, manufactures and distributes more than 200,000 chemicals, biochemicals and other essential products to more than 1.4 million customers globally in research and applied labs as well as in industrial and commercial markets. With three distinct business units - Research, Applied and SAFC Commercial - Sigma-Aldrich is committed to enabling science to improve the quality of life. The Company operates in 38 countries, has more than 9,000 employees worldwide and had sales of $2.6 billion in 2012. For more information about Sigma-Aldrich, please visit its website at www.sigma-aldrich.com.

Sigma-Aldrich is a registered trademark of Sigma-Aldrich Co. LLC.

SOURCE Sigma-Aldrich