SK chemicals has received a series of positive ratings from global rating agencies. Notably, the company’s MSCI ratings have been on an upward curve.

SK chemicals said Monday that it received an overall AA rating in the 2023 ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) assessment conducted by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI), up one notch from last year.

Since 1999, MSCI has conducted annual assessments of publicly traded companies worldwide, evaluating them on ESG-related issues and assigning a seven-level rating scale from CCC to AAA.

AA, along with the highest AAA, is called the leader group, and only the top 10 percent of global chemical companies can qualify for AA, the company said

Over the years, SK chemicals has been recognized for its ESG activities and performance. In its first assessment in 2020, it received a BB, followed by a BBB in 2021 and an A in 2022.

According to the MSCI assessment, SK chemicals received a positive rating for expanding its environmental management system to 92 percent of its plants by acquiring ISO14001 at its Andong and Cheongju plants, and improving various pollution management indicators, such as waste recycling rate and air pollutant emissions.

In addition, the company has established a greenhouse gas reduction target and a plan to replace hazardous substances by 2025. These initiatives are continuously being implemented and have played a major role in the company's recognition as a global ESG leader in the industry.

SK chemicals was also included in the DJSI Korea Index for the third consecutive year. The DJSI (Dow Jones Sustainability Index) is a sustainability evaluation and investment index that comprehensively considers a company's economic and ESG performance. It is published annually by S&P Global, a global financial information provider.

In particular, SK chemicals received the highest score among domestic chemical companies and was selected as a member of the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2024, released by S&P Global on Feb. 7 for the first time.

SK chemicals plans to continue its management activities that actively reflect non-financial factors such as environment, society, and governance, which significantly impact corporate value and sustainable growth.

"The bold reorganization of our business portfolio to address the social issue of plastic waste and our ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions have led to the ESG assessment results," SK chemicals President and CEO Ahn Jae-hyun said. "We will continue to strive to achieve meaningful results in all areas of environment, society, and governance through ESG-centered management activities and decision-making."