In 2010, we continued our all-round positive performance, achieving significant growth in both sales and operating profit. We capitalised on the favourable economic climate, building on our global footprint and strong positions in emerging markets, especially in Asia.

Sustainability remains one of our strategic drivers. We thus continue to systematically implement our holistic concept aimed at lasting efficiency and productivity gains. So, for instance, we regularly verify our energy consumption patterns. In 2010, this allowed us to identify potential electricity savings of 290,000 megawatt hours – the equivalent of around 114,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. A good example of how we synergise cost management and climate protection.

Our efforts remain focussed on further strengthening our stable foundation so we can capitalise even more effectively on global megatrends such as energy and the environment, healthcare and dynamic growth in emerging markets. With a broad portfolio of energy and environmental technologies, we are actively contributing to the goal of sustainable development. Our solutions, for example, help reduce the current environmental impact of fossil fuels and reduce CO₂ emissions. And our innovative range of medical gas products and services is helping to meet the challenges of an ageing population and overstretched healthcare systems.

To achieve our goals, we build on the outstanding commitment of our team. With our People Excellence initiatives, we encourage our employees to give their very best. Key to our future success is also the ability to embrace diversity through international teams. Over 70 percent of senior managers at Linde come from countries other than Germany representing over 40 different nations in total.

In 2010, we held our first global employee survey. 73 percent of all employees participated voluntarily in the questionnaire. They confirmed, for instance, that safety and environmental protection are actively lived at Linde. Moving forward, we will be closely examining any improvement suggestions made by our employees.

For the first time, this Corporate Responsibility Report publishes figures on compliance training at Linde and on incidents reported to our Integrity Line reporting system. We have included these indicators to emphasise the fact that integrity is not negotiable at Linde. Our aim is to report additional corporate responsibility indicators over the coming years.

The United Nations Global Compact remains a valuable compass for our actions. We are committed to upholding the Global Compact principles across all of our corporate responsibility fields of action.

We see corporate responsibility management as an ongoing process and are always aiming to improve our performance. This report outlines our progress to date, the goals we have set ourselves and the biggest challenges we face moving forward.
 

Professor Dr. Wolfgang Reitzle
Chief Executive Officer of Linde AG

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