To Our Stakeholders
To our valued stakeholders,
For all of us, 2020 was a year of significant challenges and many sacrifices. We have learned to adapt through a global pandemic, respond to an uncertain economic environment, meet the changing needs of our customers, help support our communities, and confront social equality and injustice.
Despite these challenges, I am extremely proud of how our 47,000 employees came together as One PPG. Thanks to the dedication of our people, we’ve seen countless, extraordinary examples of efforts to further our sustainability progress; continue the research and development of tomorrow’s paints, coatings and specialty materials; run our stores and distribution centers safely and efficiently; and work together in new ways to serve our customers around the globe.
Today, PPG remains steadfast in our commitment to develop innovative products and sustainable solutions that create value for our customers, shareholders and all of our stakeholders. For example, in 2020, we launched new passive fire protection coatings and thermal gap fillers for the inside of battery casings for electric vehicles. These innovations, along with our significant investment in future mobility technologies, are enabling our automotive customers to accelerate the rollout of electric vehicles.
Throughout 2020 and beyond, our employees have shown great resiliency in continuing to serve customers, drive sustainability throughout the entire value chain and live our purpose: We protect and beautify the world.
In 2020, our people helped PPG achieve:
- 35% of sales from sustainably advantaged products and processes, including the launch of antibacterial and antiviral products, against the goal of 40% by 2025;
- 35% of manufacturing and research and development locations with zero process waste to landfill;
- 34% reduction in waste disposal intensity from the 2017 baseline – above the 25% goal by 2025;
- 15% reduction in water intensity from the 2017 baseline against the goal of 20% by 2025;
- 33% reduction in the spills and releases rate from the 2017 baseline; and
- 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2017.
When confronted by the extraordinary challenges facing our communities in 2020, we took decisive action to utilize our resources and support important community causes that align with our values:
- PPG and the PPG Foundation invested $13 million in communities in 2020, with more than $4.5 million supporting COVID-19 relief efforts;
- Established and supported community rebuilding programs, including partnerships with the United Way of Southwestern Louisiana – Hurricane Laura Fund for emergency hurricane recovery programs and the Australian Red Cross following the catastrophic brushfires;
- Furthered the next generation of STEM leaders through educational partnerships; and
- Prioritized giving in underrepresented and diverse communities, committing to provide $20 million of support by 2025 in this area.
Despite the challenges in front of us, our employees remain focused on making an impact in our communities by innovating sustainable solutions that drive our business forward and help our customers meet their sustainability goals. They make it happen and work hard to do better today than yesterday, every day.
As we look ahead, I see many opportunities for growth and continued progress. We will continue to collaborate with our customers to develop and deliver sustainable solutions that create mutual value and continue the journey toward our 2025 goals. Our people have achieved significant sustainability progress, and we will continue to strengthen these capabilities as we further accelerate in 2021.
I encourage you to learn more about our sustainability efforts by exploring this report. Thank you for your interest in PPG!
Michael H. McGarry
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer