Hershey, PA — The Hershey Co. is one of 17 companies added to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI) in 2012, and is one of only seven North American organizations on the list.

The DJSI recognizes companies that excel in economic, social and environmental criteria, tracking the financial performance as well as sustainable business practices of the world's leading companies. It was launched in 2005 and represents the top 20 percent of the 600 largest companies in the North America Dow Jones Global total Stock Market.

Hershey's Corporate Social Responsibility efforts and its long-standing positive business practices played major roles in the company's inclusion on the DJSI, the company says.

Jeff Beckman, director of corporate communications, says: “We continue our long legacy of doing the right thing by pushing ourselves as a company to develop and implement innovative and effective CSR programs that make a difference with our stakeholders in the communities where we work and live.”