Sustainability Approach

Our sustainability approach is grounded in our vision of delivering lasting value for stakeholders and customers by operating with integrity, working safely, respecting the contributions of our people, preserving the environment and supporting the communities where we operate. This approach supports our greater purpose – to protect and beautify the world.

Our sustainability values form the framework of our approach to sustainability:

• Operations: Operate safe, healthful workplaces that value diversity, promote teamwork and reward performance.
• Governance: Conduct business and operations in an ethical and compliant manner.
• Environmental stewardship: Minimize the impact of our operations on the environment.
• Products: Deliver innovative products and solutions that help our customers maximize the performance of their assets, minimize environmental impact and preserve and protect the environment and human health.
• Value chain: Partner with suppliers and customers to create value while conforming to sustainable and ethical means.
• Community: Deliver positive change in the communities where we operate.

Driving our performance are measurable sustainability goals that address our biggest challenges and opportunities. We hold our locations and businesses accountable for achieving these goals, and we are transparent in our progress against each on a global level.

We have a formal structure to ensure continuous improvement in both the sustainability of our global operations and the products we supply around the world. Our Sustainability Committee establishes our sustainability goals as well as policies, programs and procedures to address sustainability in our business practices. The committee’s members, who are appointed by our Executive Committee, provide leadership support and visibility. Most are officers of the company.

The Sustainability Committee’s standing subcommittees provide a deeper focus on key aspects of our sustainability efforts:

• Resource Management;
• Natural Resources and Climate Change;
• Product Innovation and Marketing;
• Wellness;
• Procurement; and
• Manufacturing.

Our approach to sustainability continues to be influenced by and calibrated against ongoing feedback from customers, investors, regulators and regions of the world that are driving toward carbon neutrality.

For example, many of our current sustainability goals and initiatives align with those of the European Green Deal, and we are evaluating where gaps exist. We also will seek opportunities to participate in the development of laws, regulations and policies that the European Union and member countries will be developing to support the deal’s objectives. Leading our efforts is an internal team of senior leaders and experts that we formed in 2020.

Each year through the PPG Sustainability Awards program, we recognize outstanding projects completed by our employees, locations and businesses that significantly contributed to our sustainability progress. In 2020, we presented more than 200 awards in five categories – health and safety, environmental impact, wellness, community engagement and customer solutions. We also recognized programs that improved ergonomics through our separate PPG ERGO CUP^® competition.

In 2020, our Industrial Coatings business earned the overall PPG Sustainability Award for its outstanding performance in all five sustainability award categories as well as specific improvements in safety, spills, waste and energy. Our AP Resinas plant in San Juan del Rio, Mexico, received the16th annual Ergo Cup award for a dramatically improved ergonomic process that is centered on eliminating the manual handling of finished product drums.

We estimate that projects honored by both awards programs saved more than $34 million in 2020. They also helped us reduce our energy intensity, waste, greenhouse gas emissions, injuries and spill rate while improving our productivity, capacity and sustainably advantaged product offering.