Report highlights GE's performance across citizenship efforts
Dubai, May 28, 2005: GE released its first citizenship report highlighting its performance, progress and challenges in a variety of citizenship areas, including compliance and governance; globalization; community investment; the environment, health, and safety; products and research and development; and its commitment to employees and other stakeholders. The report, "Our Actions," tells an integrated story of how GE conducts business, its impacts on communities and its efforts to be a good and trusted world citizen.
The report can be viewed and downloaded online at www.ge.com/citizenship.
"In an increasingly global and transparent world, we measure our performance in a context broader than financial results and stock price," GE Senior Vice President of Law and Public Affairs Ben Heineman said. "Everyday, we strive to be a responsible citizen, to perform with integrity and to serve our customers, investors and other stakeholders responsibly.
"Strong corporate citizenship is about constant improvement and we continue to set high expectations for ourselves on how we address the challenges facing our businesses and our communities," Heineman said.
GE's Vice President of Corporate Citizenship Bob Corcoran said, "Our new citizenship web site provides an in-depth view of the policies, procedures and practices we employ to make our Citizenship commitments a reality. Links in the report allow readers to pursue topics in greater depth, and the web format allows the report to be a living document which can be supplemented and updated as developments occur."
GE used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines to inform the development of the report. The report features a GRI content index to help readers match GE programs and results with the recommended GRI guidelines. Highlights include the following:
The report also covers other topics such as product-use issues, outsourcing and supplier requirements, policies in emerging economies and privacy issues. One section of the report is dedicated to GE's environmental performance and provides an update on the status of several PCB cleanup projects.
In 2004, GE was recognized by a variety of observers, including:
GE will continue to engage its stakeholders in its approach to citizenship and welcomes direct feedback on its report at www.ge.com/citizenship.
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology, media and financial services company dedicated to creating products that make life better. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, television programming and plastics, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.ge.com.
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