As a newly independent company, we have committed ourselves to sustainability. That is, we pledge to combine the pursuit of economic prosperity with ethical principles and respect for the environment, for our people, and for the communities in which we live and work.

We are a world-class semiconductor company with more than 37,000 people working across the globe. Each one of us carries the responsibility of contributing to our success, while taking into account the many impacts of our actions. We are accountable to more than just ourselves - our responsibilities extend to all our stakeholders, including investors, partners, customers, and even society as a whole.

In the short time we have been operating on our own, we have already made significant progress on sustainability. We've embedded sustainability into every aspect of our business, from day-to-day operations to our corporate management. We are guided by a far-reaching Sustainability Policy, and have established a near-term Sustainability Program that sets aggressive targets.

We were among the first semiconductor companies to use lead-free packages, and to list all the chemical contents on our website. Our developments in green power chips and solid-state lighting promise to save significant amounts of energy in a very wide range of applications. We've made a lasting contribution to waste reduction, finding better ways to pack and ship our silicon wafers. And, beyond our day-to-day operations, we have volunteers throughout the world who are engaged in community activities, educational programs, and special business projects that transform lives.
As individuals and as a company, we've received dozens of awards from our peers, our customers, and our communities, all underscoring the fact that we are truly dedicated to living our company values. It takes insightful, engaging, inventive people, who are committed to performing with excellence, to achieve these kinds of sustainable results.

I encourage to make a personal commitment to sustainability, and to join us in pursuing one of our most ambitious goals - to work for a better tomorrow. Together, we really can make the world a better place.

Frans van Houten
President and CEO