Measuring Our Environmental Efforts, Making Steady Progress

Measuring our impact on the environment helps us evaluate our progress and determine where we need to improve. Since 2001, we have been measuring key environmental performance indicators (EPIs): water consumption, energy usage, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, solid waste generation and recycling rates. As of 2007, the recycling rates for our manufacturing facilities was nearly 90 percent.

When measured against total production, we have shown steady progress in all six of our EPIs since 2001, our baseline year.

Here's how we did between 2001 and 2007:

Independent Verification of Performance

It's important that we have an independent view of our performance. Our EPIs are verified by Environmental Resources Management (ERM) out of London, a global environmental management and technical consulting firm.

We also use environmental management systems (EMS) which are worldwide based on widely recognized standards and guidelines issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the ISO 14001 standard. Our Environmental Policy helps to ensure that we meet these guidelines.