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Symantec recognizes that, by minimizing our environmental impact, we can help to preserve our planet for future generations. We know that the best way to do this is to concentrate on how we operate, day in and day out. We have examined our operations and have implemented programs to conserve energy, recycle paper, and conserve, recycle, and reclaim water. For example, we have installed lighting sensors and computer monitor controls that automatically shut down lights and equipment when not in use.
In addition to saving us money, which is good for our business, these efforts allow us to reduce our environmental footprint, which is good for the planet.
Symantec is in the process of establishing concrete targets – and ways to measure them – for several of our environmental initiatives, which will enable us and our stakeholders to track our progress in meeting these goals. We will update this site with our goals and targets as they are established.
In July 2008, the Symantec Culver City, California campus earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certification. Established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is a leading-edge system for certifying the greenest performing buildings in the world and a nationally accepted benchmark for building sustainability.
To develop its’ LEED Gold-certified site, Symantec met high standards for site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. For the location of its LEED-certified Culver City campus, Symantec selected a site previously considered undevelopable in a densely populated area of the city. The facility features three water quality filtration units that surpass local standards for storm water treatment as well as landscaping and exterior design, including roofing, to reduce heat islands. The campus is located within a quarter mile of public transportation access to afford employees the opportunity for alternative commuting means. In addition, the number of parking spaces provided is below the local zoning requirements, and 100 percent of the parking is contained within the parking structure, thereby further reducing the heat island impact of paved surface parking.
Symantec Culver City also features several water efficiency enhancements, including landscaping that reduces water consumption by 50 percent and indoor fixtures that reduce water use by more than 40 percent. Energy performance is also enhanced, delivering a nearly 30 percent savings through the use of high efficiency windows, reduced lighting power density, efficiency HVAC, a water-side economizer system, and other features. A raised floor system holds the infrastructure for air and power distribution that gives the occupants control over their environment, thereby using less energy. Solar powered lamp posts in the parking areas provide an innovative alternative energy source. The interior layout of the building was designed for maximum flexibility and to provide daylight and a view for 90 percent of the occupants. Recycling and green housekeeping practices have been mandated throughout the campus.
During construction of the new campus, nearly 83 percent of construction waste was diverted from landfills and more than 22 percent of all materials specified were made of recycled content. Nearly 22 percent of total project materials were manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, thereby reducing transportation costs and lowering emissions. Symantec Culver City also meets criteria for indoor environmental quality through features such as carbon dioxide monitoring, enhanced ventilation, the use of low-emitting materials, and more.
In May 2006, Symantec joined Sustainable Silicon Valley's Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction Initiative. This collaborative effort between the public, private, and nonprofit sectors aims to reduce CO2 emissions throughout the region to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010.
As part of our commitment to this initiative, we have set 10% energy and CO2 emissions-reduction targets at our world headquarters. We will publicly report on our progress towards these targets in 2007.
In addition to this effort at our headquarters, we are undertaking a review of all our operations to determine our largest impacts in terms of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. We are also exploring how to reduce emissions associated with business travel, employee commuting, and product transport.
An important component of environmental responsibility is energy conservation. In June 2007, we rolled out a simple tool that will significantly cut our own energy use and our energy expenditures. An internal audit showed that many Symantec computers were left on overnight during the week and through many weekends, using millions of kilowatt-hours unnecessarily and costing thousands of dollars a year. To address this inefficiency, we installed a custom power profile to all workstations around the world. This new system will automatically place computers in standby mode after four hours of inactivity. By taking this step, we expect to save more than 6 million kilowatt-hours of energy and approximately $800,000 per year.
In addition to the work that has already been done, we are continuously looking at new ways to make our data centers and our research-and-development labs more energy-efficient. We will also reach out to our IT customers to suggest steps they can take to reduce energy use at their facilities.
Symantec's manufacturing operations in Dublin, Ireland, showcase how we address environmental challenges through action and innovation. We are making great strides to shrink our environmental footprint by applying the principle of "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" throughout our manufacturing process.
Although our Dublin facility is the only manufacturing facility we own, we are creating a code of conduct for our other manufacturing suppliers that will outline our expectations for supplier environmental and social performance.
Reduce
Symantec's first priority is to achieve an overall reduction in our use of resources, such as water and energy, and materials, including paper and plastics. We take action on several fronts, beginning with product design and manufacture and extending through delivery to customers.
In 2005 we implemented four new initiatives to reduce packaging and shipping waste. We promoted online sales, electronic licensing, and electronic updating of our software, and we consolidated several single-language CDs into a multilingual version. Previously, we streamlined our user manuals to eliminate unnecessary pages and switched from hard plastic CD cases to flexible paper and plastic envelopes. Put together, all of these initiatives are making a big difference: to date, Symantec has saved 568 tonnes of cardboard, 9.7 tonnes of paper, and 17.8 tonnes of plastic. In recognition of this achievement, Symantec was named the winner of the National Repak Best Packaging Waste Prevention Initiative 2006 sponsored by the Ireland Environmental Protection Agency.
In addition to these initiatives, we reduce energy use with automatic lighting and temperature controls and electronic metering, have installed energy-efficient lighting in meeting rooms, and conserve water through the use of bathroom and wash-basin sensors.
Reuse
The next step in Symantec's manufacturing environmental program is to reuse as many materials as possible. We have implemented a system with our vendors to reuse cardboard packaging, shipping cartons, totes, and other materials. Cardboard packaging is reused an average of twelve to fifteen times before it is discarded.
Symantec also donates used equipment such as office furniture, mobile phones, personal computers, safety shoes, and batteries to local charities.
Recycle
After all steps have been taken to reduce and reuse materials and resources, Symantec focuses on recycling. Recycling facilities are available throughout the manufacturing site, and employees receive training and ongoing reminders to separate waste. Our recycling program has been so successful that Symantec was recently recognized for reducing the amount of waste being sent to landfills from its manufacturing site. In 2005, 79 percent of all waste generated at our manufacturing site was recycled.
ISO 14001
The Symantec manufacturing production site recently received extensive community recognition for its efforts as part of Symantec's ISO 14001 environmental objectives, winning a number of prestigious environmental awards. The International Standard ISO 14001 is used by thousands of organizations worldwide as a model for implementing an environmental management system that promotes environmental protection, resource conservation, and improved efficiencies.
The following is the ISO14001 Environmental Policy for the Symantec Dublin Site.
Symantec donates computers and peripheral equipment to benefit schools near the company’s corporate headquarters in the Bay Area's Silicon Valley. We have given surplus laptops, desktop systems, and associated components to Silicon Valley StRUT (Students Recycling Used Technology), a nonprofit organization that has placed thousands of computers in local elementary, middle, and high schools.
StRUT provides hands-on training to college students in evaluating, repairing, and refurbishing used computers. The refurbished equipment is then given to schools, completing the organization's dual mission of providing technology- and academic-standards-based education for K-16 students while also reducing waste in the environment.
Symantec plans to continue working with StRUT to enhance the quality of education at all levels in our local communities.
At our manufacturing facility in Dublin, Ireland, we are participating in the Microsoft Authorized Refurbisher (MAR) program. Beginning in October 2007, Symantec will install licensed copies of Microsoft operating systems on computers that it refurbishes, thus ensuring legal reuse of recycled computer equipment. The refurbished computers are distributed to local schools and charities, including organizations such as the Irish Wheelchair Society and the Dyslexia Association.
