Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries Thursday announced the launch of the company’s new sustainability vision, values and goals issued in the 2012 PPG Corporate Sustainability Report.

This sustainability “framework” follows more than a year of in-depth internal and external analysis to determine what is most meaningful and impactful to PPG and its stakeholders. Leading up to 2020, PPG will strive to reduce environmental impact, improve employees’ safety, health and well-being and encourage and report employee charitable donations and volunteerism.

“Since PPG’s founding 130 years ago, sustainable business practices have been embedded in our culture and strategies, helping the company achieve lasting success for our customers, our employees, our shareholders, our neighbors and our suppliers,” said Diane Kappas, PPG vice president, environment, health and safety. “This year, we have taken a significant step forward as we provide employees across the globe with a pathway and measurable targets to advance our continually evolving sustainability practices to address what is most meaningful to PPG stakeholders.”

Some of PPG’s new sustainability goals include:

-- Reducing energy intensity and greenhouse gas emission intensity 1.5 percent each per year;

-- Reducing spills and releases 10 percent per year;

-- Implementing employee wellness programs at 100 percent of PPG facilities globally; and

-- Achieving 30 percent of sales from sustainable products by 2020.

The 2012 PPG Corporate Sustainability Report summarizes PPG’s performance across key areas associated with environmental, community and employee efforts. The report highlights several achievements in 2012, such as the implementation of PPG’s community engagement framework at global sites, the company’s employee engagement survey results, and key environmental, health and safety metrics.

“As we strive to continue being the world’s leading coatings and specialty products company, sustainability remains a fundamental part of everything we do at PPG,” Kappas said. “Our third full corporate sustainability report reflects our performance and commitment to sustainable business practices.”

The report is self-declared to meet Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Application Level B requirements. PPG is scheduled to publish its next sustainability report in 2014, which will report on performance in 2013.

The 2012 PPG Corporate Sustainability Report is available both in print and online.

4/29/2013