Key focus areas for our near-term Sustainability Program

To measure the performance of our Sustainability Program, we've set targets for many of our sustainability indicators and have identified four key areas of our Sustainability Policy - global warming, green products, social engagement, and employees - that will receive special attention over the next several years. In 2007, we defined new programs for these key areas.

Our work in these areas promises to maximize our contribution to society while minimizing our impact on the environment. In the area of global warming, for example, more than 85% of our greenhouse-gas emissions result from the energy we use in manufacturing and the perfluorinated compound (PFC) emissions we produce. Meeting targets on energy use and PFC emissions will reduce our impact on global warming. Similarly, by following our EcoDesign principles when we develop new products, we will move toward best-in-class environmental standards, and will supply products that use fewer hazardous substances and can be recycled or disposed of in an environmentally sound way. Also, by emphasizing social involvement and issues of employee Health & Safety, we improve life in our company and our local communities.

We have defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and have reporting systems in place to provide accurate data for global warming, products, and employees. Our work on KPIs is ongoing since certain areas, including our social-engagement activities, still need more detailed definitions and specific targets. To make clear what our real impact is on the environment and on society, we have, wherever possible, made our targets absolute and not relative.