Overview

By adopting the Ceres Principles, we publicly affirm our belief that corporations have a responsibility for the environment and must conduct all aspects of their business as responsible stewards of the environment by operating in a manner that protects the Earth. We believe that corporations must not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain themselves. We will update our practices constantly in light of advances in technology and new understandings in health and environmental science. In collaboration with Ceres, we will promote a dynamic process to ensure that our HES Principles are interpreted in a way that accommodates changing technologies and environmental realities. We intend to make consistent, measurable progress in implementing these Principles and to apply them to all aspects of our operations throughout the world.

Protection of the Biosphere
We will reduce our overall emissions to the environment (air, water and land) with special emphasis on toxic substances. We will pay special attention to the protection of the surrounding environment at present facilities and when planning for new facilities or operations.

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
We will minimize the use of water in our facilities and strive to improve the quality of our water discharge streams. We will employ practical land management and conservation techniques to conserve the soils and forests at our facilities. We will make efficient use of non-renewable natural resources through careful planning and employment of conservation techniques.

Reduction and Disposal of Wastes
We will continue to reduce and where possible eliminate waste through the use of source reduction, recycle/reuse and treatment techniques. The handling and disposal of all waste will be conducted in a safe and responsible fashion in accordance with regulatory standards.

Energy Conservation
We will conserve energy through careful selection of raw materials and energy sources and through cost effective improvements in our operations, including technological improvements in new energy-consuming processes. Environmental protection and sustainability will be considered in selecting new energy sources.

Risk Reduction
Our goal is to prevent HES incidents such as environmental spills and releases, fires, explosions, injuries and illnesses and other accidents. We will utilize sound maintenance and work practices, safety-conscious design, employee training and incident investigations to minimize risks to our employees and the communities in which we operate. We will be prepared to respond promptly and professionally should an incident occur.

Safe Products and Services
Through research, planning and analysis we will strive to minimize the environmental impact and health and safety hazards of our company products and services. We will counsel our employees and customers in the safe use and handling of our products and services and, where feasible, attempt to correct unsafe use. We will strive to eliminate the use of purchased products which pose known environmental hazards such as PCBs and CFCs.

Environmental Restoration
We will promptly correct any conditions in our operations which result in a significant health, safety or environmental impact. We will take responsibility for any harm caused by our operations to our employees, customers, the general public or the environment; to the extent feasible, we will also restore the environment.

Informing the Public
We will inform appropriate officials, employees, contractors, customers and the public about significant health, safety or environmental hazards related to our facilities in a timely manner. We will regularly participate in dialogue with our neighboring communities and their residents. No action will be taken against employees for reporting dangerous incidents or conditions to management or appropriate authorities.

Management Commitment
We will ensure that the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and senior management are fully informed about pertinent HES issues and take responsibility for carrying out HES policy. We will consider demonstrated environmental commitment and HES experience as factors in our selection of future board members.

Audits and Reports
We support the concept of public accountability for HES performance and intend to report on our progress in consistent, measurable terms. This will be accomplished through publishing an annual report on our HES performance and accomplishments. In addition, to promote public accountability among others in the industrial community, we intend to cooperate with the environmental and social investment community by completing the annual CERES report.

By adopting these Principles, we publicly affirm our belief that corporations have a responsibility for the environment, and must conduct all aspects of their business as responsible stewards of the environment by operating in a manner that protects the Earth. We believe that corporations must not compromise the ability of future generations to sustain themselves. We will update our practices constantly in light of advances in technology and new understandings in health and environmental science. In collaboration with Ceres, we will promote a dynamic process to ensure that the Principles are interpreted in a way that accommodates changing technologies and environmental realities. We intend to make consistent, measurable progress in implementing these Principles and to apply them to all aspects of our operations throughout the world.