PPG Industries has been recognized by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) as one of the leading S&P 500 companies and as the No. 1 company in the chemicals and pharmaceuticals sector in the CDP’s 2008 Leadership Index. This distinction recognizes PPG’s commitment to transparency and emissions management.
PPG scored 80 of a possible 100 points in the Carbon Leadership Index (CLDI), exceeding the 46.6 average of companies in its sector. Companies report data voluntarily to the CDP.
“We are pleased to be acknowledged as a leader among our peers in the area of carbon disclosure,” said Reg Norton, PPG vice president, environment, health and safety. “PPG recognizes the need to address global climate change and, as a global corporate citizen, we not only have a responsibility to set aggressive greenhouse gas emissions-reduction and energy-conservation goals, we see it as a fundamental business strategy that will enable us to sustain success into the future.”
As a manufacturer of energy-efficient products, PPG provides customers with products that reduce environmental impact. PPG will work with others to develop fair and effective international policies and advocate a market-based price of carbon and credits derived from energy-savings products, Norton said. In December 2007, PPG announced that, as part of its continued commitment to sustainable practices, it set a goal to reduce its total energy intensity by 25 percent from 2006 to 2016 and its total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10 percent from 2006 to 2011.
In 2007, PPG earned nearly $3.5 billion in sales from “green” products. The company is a world-leading manufacturer of low- and zero-VOC paints, and Pittsburgh Paints Pure Performance paint by PPG was the first to earn Green Seal Certification. PPG also produces the industry’s best-performing solar control, low-emissivity glass, Solarban 70XL, which transmits 63 percent of the sun’s natural light while blocking 73 percent of its solar energy. Additionally, PPG is the first U.S. manufacturer to earn Cradle to Cradle Certification at the Silver tier for all its architectural glass products. For the sustainable energy market, PPG manufactures fiber glass-reinforcement rovings and fabric used in wind turbine blades. The company also provides protective coatings for wind turbine towers as well as Solarphire ultra-clear glass used in solar energy generation.
Launched in 2000, the Carbon Disclosure Project is the largest investor coalition in the world, with more than 385 signatory investors with a combined asset base of more than $57 trillion. The CDP solicits information annually from the world’s largest companies. The CDP’s mission is to facilitate a dialogue between investors and corporations, supported by high quality information from which a rational response to climate change will emerge.