PPG's Coatings Operations Achieve Global Environmental Certification

    PITTSBURGH--Feb. 18, 2003--PPG has earned ISO-14001 certification for its coatings manufacturing facilities around the world.
    A centralized environmental management system and a total of 27 automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM), automotive refinish, industrial and packaging coatings facilities were granted the certification last month. The certification revolves around international standards for environmental compliance and energy efficiency.
    "Environmental performance is a key factor in our global competitiveness," said Michael A. Ludlow, PPG's senior vice president, OEM coatings. "Earning the ISO-14001 certification will pay short- and long-term dividends in retaining and expanding PPG's leadership position in the global coatings marketplace."
    A single ISO-14001 certificate covers PPG's entire worldwide coatings operation, according to David C. Cannon Jr., PPG's vice president, environment, health and safety (EHS).
    "We saw this as an opportunity to align efforts and minimize costs," Cannon said. "While we already had an excellent EHS strategy in place, ISO-14001 has some specific requirements. Because of our existing EHS framework we were in a good position to meet those requirements and improve upon the system already in place."
    It took PPG two years to achieve the certification, one year less than originally expected. The flexible policies and procedures that PPG's coatings businesses developed can also serve as a foundation, Cannon said, for development of ISO-14001 compliance strategies for other business units that decide to pursue the certification.
    PPG's automotive glass business (comprising 13 facilities in North America) also earned ISO-14001 certification last month. Other PPG sites that have ISO-14001 certification include the Transitions Optical facility in Tuam, Ireland; and automotive refinish plants at Stowmarket, England, and Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
    Pittsburgh-based PPG Industries is a global supplier of coatings, glass, fiber glass and chemicals, with 120 manufacturing facilities and equity affiliates in 23 countries. Sales were $8.1 billion in 2002.
    Following is a list of PPG coatings manufacturing facilities covered by the ISO-14001 certification:

    North America:

--	Automotive coatings facilities in Adrian, Mich.; Circleville, Cleveland and Strongsville Ohio; Baton Rouge, La; and Clarkson, Ontario, Canada
--	Industrial coatings facilities in Euclid, Ohio, and Oak Creek, Wis.
--	Automotive refinish coatings facility in Delaware, Ohio
--	Automotive coatings satellite facilities (in or near customer manufacturing facilities) in Flint and Sterling Heights, Mich.; Belvidere and Normal, Ill.; Wentzville, Ky; Lordstown, Ohio; and Windsor, Ontario, Canada

    South America:

    -- Automotive coatings facility in Sumare, Brazil

    Europe:

    -- Packaging coatings facility in Bodelshausen, Germany

    -- Automotive coatings facilities in Wuppertal, Germany; Valencia
    and Valladolid, Spain; and Caivano and Quattordio, Italy

    -- Industrial coatings facility in Saultain, France

    -- Automotive coatings satellite facility in Palmela, Portugal

    Asia Pacific region:

    -- Automotive coatings facility in Tianjin, China

    -- Automotive refinish coatings facility in Clayton, Victoria,
    Australia