Better Health for All

PPG's products have significant negative health impacts, with 72% of globally scored products in 2023 classified with hazards under UN GHS category 1 or 2.

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a solvent used by PPG, is a known carcinogen, and the EPA has issued a rule phasing out its use. However, PPG is actively working to eliminate substances of concern, adding 739 new substances, including 725 PFAS, to its Restricted Substances List in 2023, and offers low VOC paint products. Regarding health externalities, PPG's U.S. operations emitted 252 metric tons of Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) in 2023, and the company paid a $59,000 penalty for hazardous waste violations in 2016. Mitigation efforts include a 10% reduction in absolute direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions and a 12% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from a 2019 baseline. In 2023, 31% of purchased electricity was from renewable sources, and water use in water-stressed communities was reduced by 13% from a 2019 baseline, with all six substantial spills contained onsite. PPG demonstrates strong risk transparency by providing Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for its products, offering guidelines for safe use, and reporting environment, health, and safety performance annually. The company's cybersecurity program follows U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, and its data privacy policies are designed to prevent unauthorized access, with employees receiving comprehensive training and a Global Data Privacy Council overseeing compliance. PPG also uses a global IT enterprise data management system for EHS incidents and maintains exposure measurement results in a centralized data management system. The company is committed to mental wellbeing, celebrating World Mental Health Day with a global webcast featuring an expert and providing confidential counseling services, support networks, and additional programming. PPG does not engage in pharmaceutical, nutrition, food safety, addiction mitigation, or clinical trial activities.

Fair Pay & Worker Respect

PPG Industries has demonstrated commitment to fair pay and worker respect through various initiatives. In 2024, the company updated its Global Supplier Code of Conduct, mandating suppliers prohibit forced and child labor, human trafficking, ensure safe conditions, and respect collective bargaining rights.

PPG's human rights program complies with laws on freedom of association, working time, and wages, and prohibits forced labor. In 2023, PPG achieved a 25% reduction in severe injuries from 2022 and offers competitive compensation including paid time off, sick leave, and retirement plans. The company also promotes diversity and inclusion, with women comprising 41% and minorities 70% of its U.S. workforce in 2023. However, PPG has faced challenges. In 2023, it received a $12,278 OSHA penalty for safety violations and experienced labor relations issues, including a withdrawn petition for worker representation. In 2020, a national union initiated a boycott against PPG over its refusal to require contractors to pay area-standard wages for its 'PPG Services' platform. Historically, PPG settled a $45,250 lawsuit in 2017 for disability discrimination and a $5 million class-action lawsuit in 2016 concerning alleged employee misclassification for overtime pay.

Fair Trade & Ethical Sourcing

PPG reported no specific incidents of forced or child labor in 2023.

The company's Global Code of Ethics upholds laws prohibiting forced, compulsory, and child labor. In 2023, PPG implemented a new supplier monitoring tool to assess environmental, social, and governance risks, including labor and human rights, across its supply chain. The Global Supplier Code of Conduct, Supplier Sustainability Policy, and Responsible Minerals Sourcing Policy were updated in 2023 to communicate human rights expectations. Additionally, 93% of follow-up actions related to safety incidents were closed within 90 days in 2023.

Honest & Fair Business

PPG Industries was fined $299,000 by the California Air Resources Board in 2023 for selling paint products that exceeded volatile organic compound limits

. In 2019, the company settled SEC charges for fraudulent financial reporting between 2016-2018 , though no financial penalty was imposed due to cooperation and remedial actions . Earlier, in 2012, PPG settled FTC charges for misleading claims about VOC content in its paints . Conversely, PPG received the Pro-Ethics Seal for two consecutive years from Brazil's Ministry of Transparency, acknowledging its voluntary adoption of integrity practices .

No War, No Weapons

PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings, and specialty materials, with its core business not in weapons manufacturing. The company has engaged in military contracts, including a $15 million expansion for F-35 fighter jet canopy transparencies

and a five-year, $78 million contract with the U.S. Navy for coatings and technical services . Other contracts include a $4.8 million agreement for sustainable coating systems for marine applications, set to run until March 2027 , and a contract valued up to $5.8 million for windshield panels for the Defense Logistics Agency, expected to be completed by January 2026 . PPG supplies products like Transparent Armor and military aviation transparencies for aircraft such as the F-16, F-35, and AH-64 Apache . The company's products are not weapons themselves, and there is no evidence of exposure to controversial or banned weapons. However, PPG has not publicly documented any dedicated efforts toward peace advocacy, disarmament, or conflict resolution beyond its standard business operations .

Planet-Friendly Business

PPG's science-based targets to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% and Scope 3 emissions by 30% by 2030 have been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative

. The company reported a 10% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions and a 12% reduction in Scope 3 emissions . PPG has also entered a renewable energy agreement expected to cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 9,400 metric tons annually . The company participates in the 'Make it Zero' initiative to reduce Scope 3 emissions in the DIY sector and has committed $5 million to environmental sustainability education by 2030 . PPG received an EcoVadis gold rating and has been included in the FTSE4Good Index for five consecutive years .

Respect for Cultures & Communities

PPG and the PPG Foundation invested $18.4 million globally in 2024

and over $17.5 million in 2023, supporting more than 400 community partners focused on education and community sustainability . The company's Colorful Communities program, initiated in 2015, has completed nearly 600 projects in over 50 countries, impacting more than 10.2 million people, with an additional $15 million committed through 2035 to enhance cultural value and community aesthetics . Furthermore, PPG committed $20 million by 2025 to advance racial equity and fund STEM education for underrepresented communities in the U.S., achieving 89% progress by 2023 .

Safe & Smart Tech

PPG Industries has established a Global Data Privacy Council to oversee all data privacy compliance activities globally, and its cybersecurity program adheres to the U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and other industry frameworks

. An executive council manages IT and cybersecurity programs, with the Board of Directors and Audit Committee providing oversight for cybersecurity threats . The company employs physical, organizational, and technological safeguards, alongside data privacy policies, to protect customer, employee, and supplier information . Employees receive comprehensive data privacy training . PPG conducts vulnerability management through third-party assessments and maintains an established incident response plan . Cybersecurity investments have significantly increased over the past five years, including independent third-party testing . By the end of 2023, 72% of PPG's IT operations were transitioned to cloud providers, resulting in an estimated annual reduction of 940 MWh in energy consumption and 471 metric tons of CO2 equivalent in greenhouse gas emissions .

Zero Waste & Sustainable Products

In 2024, PPG diverted 48% of its process waste to reuse, recycle, and recovery.

The company aims for a 25% reduction in waste intensity by 2030 from a 2019 baseline and targets 100% process waste to reuse, recycle, and recovery by the same year. PPG implements numerous waste reduction initiatives, including a Zero Discharge Project that reused approximately 16 million pounds of water in 2023 in its U.S. and Canada architectural coatings business, and conducts detailed waste inventories and root cause analysis at its 25 largest waste-generating sites. For hazardous waste, 56% was recycled in 2024, and the company is phasing out AFFF foams globally while rigorously evaluating waste contractors. No waste disposal violations were reported in 2023 or 2024. For packaging, DYRUP™ paint packaging is made from 75% recyclable and biodegradable materials, and uses 81% less plastic compared to conventional packaging. PPG ENVIROLUXE™ Plus powder coatings contain up to 18% post-industrial recycled plastic. The company partners with programs like PAINTCARE™ in the U.S., ProductCare in Canada, and PaintBack in Australia to educate customers and facilitate the recycling of leftover paint.