28 Apr 2008
PPG holds Energy Security & Climate Change Conference
April 28 2008, Pittsburgh - PPG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Chuck Bunch spoke bluntly about the challenges that energy and climate change issues are forcing on industries, businesses and individuals.
"Throughout the world, and more pointedly here in the United States, there is growing competition for access to abundant, reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy and feedstock sources," Bunch said. "As that competition becomes fiercer, it creates an imbalance that manifests itself in skyrocketing energy prices."
Bunch discussed PPG's strategy to reduce its "carbon footprint" by lessening its reliance on non-renewable energy sources, investing in a number of renewable energy sources, and continuing to develop and market environmentally friendly "green" products demanded by customers. PPG must also take full advantage of opportunities to mitigate risks the company's businesses face by anticipating and influencing the way in which legislation and regulation is developed around energy security and climate change, he said.
Bunch delivered these comments last Monday at PPG’s Energy Security & Climate Change Conference, held at PPG Place, PPG's global headquarters.
He was joined by Vicki Holt, senior vice president, glass and fiber glass, and Jim Trainham, vice president, science and technology, who co-chair PPG's Energy Security & Climate Change steering committee which is charged with developing and implementing strategies related to global energy security and climate change.
Holt, who served as emcee for the event, provided an overview of PPG's position and commitments related to energy security and climate change, the partnerships the company has developed with various government and industrial groups, and goals for reducing energy consumption and increasing the sale of "green" products.
Trainham discussed PPG's growing sales of a wide range of environmentally friendly products including low-odor, zero-VOC (volatile organic compounds) architectural coatings from Olympic Paints' and Pittsburgh Paints' Pure Performance; the industry's highest-performing solar control, low-emissivity glass; and the leadership role PPG's fiber glass business is taking in production of turbines blades used in harnessing wind energy.
Guest speakers during the two-hour event were Dr. Heidi Cullen, a climatologist from The Weather Channel, who discussed global warming and climate change; Rebecca Flora, chair of the U.S. Green Building Council and executive director of Pittsburgh-based Green Building Alliance, who discussed energy-efficient green building; and Vivian Loftness, professor and head of the School of Architecture, Carnegie Mellon University, and member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Energy Efficiency and Buildings Committee, who provided an international perspective on energy-efficiency issues.
An audience of more than 250 PPG employees and representatives from various government agencies and environmental organizations filled the Wintergarden – PPG Place's signature all-glass atrium – to hear the presentations and view displays of various green products developed and sold by PPG.
In addition, PPG recently launched new environment-related Internet site as part of its Energy Security & Climate Change initiative:
• Click here to visit PPG's "Ecological Solutions" Internet site for more information about the company's commitment to green products and pursuing business practices that protect the environment.
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About PPG:
Pittsburgh-based PPG is a global supplier of paints, coatings, chemicals, optical products, specialty materials, glass and fiber glass. The company has more than 150 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates and operates in more than 60 countries. PPG’s sales in 2007 were $11.2 billion. SigmaKalon, a worldwide coatings producer based in Uithoorn, Netherlands, that PPG acquired Jan. 2, 2008, had 2007 sales of $2.9 billion. PPG shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: PPG). For more information, visit www.ppg.com.
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