United Utilities is this week set to join a list of the world’s most sustainable companies to invest in.

The Warrington-based water company will become one of just 50 firms worldwide to feature in the Global Challenges Index (GCX) from September 18.

The GCX is a respected share index established by German finance and sustainability experts as a way to help ethical investors identify companies who are pioneering ways to overcome seven global challenges.

The list is reviewed twice a year and companies are assessed against stringent criteria. Only those who integrate sustainability into their business processes while actively tackling globally-important issues like climate change, the provision of clean drinking water, deforestation, biodiversity, population development, poverty and global governance, make the grade.

As part of the semi-annual rebalancing of the Global Challenges Index (GCX) on September 18, 2020, United Utilities Group PLC, the UK's largest publicly traded water and sanitation company, is one of six new companies to be added to the index.

United Utilities Chief Financial Officer Phil Aspin said it was great to see the company once again being recognised for its approach.

“We firmly believe that our long-term prospects are inextricably linked to our ability to operate sustainably and to serve the interests of all of our stakeholders,” he said. “Operating in an environmentally sustainable, economically beneficial and socially responsible manner is key to delivering on our purpose to provide great water and more for the North West.”

United Utilities has been ranked as world class in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for thirteen consecutive years.

The Global Challenges Index was developed in Germany in 2007 by Boersen AG in cooperation with Oekom Research AG.