Shell has been dropped from the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. The Anglo-Dutch oil company says it does not know why this has happened. The company has always been included in the ranking since the index was introduced in 1999.

The list includes firms deemed to be among a particular branch's top 10 percent most sustainable companies. This year, Shell fell well short of the threshold.

Shell spokesman Peter van Boesschoten says: "We are still trying to identify the reasons behind the decision."

In 2009, as the Shell website proudly proclaims, the company was still included in the index for its outstanding performance in biodiversity, management, environmental policy, transparency and impact on local communities.
 
The index is drawn up by SAM Sustainability Investing. SAM has refused to explain why Shell has dropped out of the index. Analysts believe Shell's record is probably just as good, but it may have simply been outperformed by other companies.

Japanese car giant Toyota is among several other firms that also have failed to make it into the index this year.

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