introduction | protecting threatened species | safeguarding biodiversity | improving water quality | enhancing the landscape | managing the archaeological heritage | restoring land for recreation | reducing neighbourhood noise | blending into the landscape | informing the community | creating nature reserves | conserving geological heritage | reducing environmental impacts

Introduction

We are pleased to have the opportunity to sponsor these sustainable development case studies. Being a manufacturer and caring for the world in which we live are not mutually exclusive. At Caterpillar, they go hand in hand. Around the world, Caterpillar is known as a company that makes things happen. When there are big jobs to do, people call us. It's both an honor and a responsibility. People know that we can supply the equipment to get the job done. But we can supply even more - the expertise and ingenuity to solve some of the world's most pressing problems. Solutions that not only make progress possible but also protect the environment and improve the quality of life for all. Such solutions rarely come easy. Differing needs and conflicting forces can come into play. That's where we can help the most: by developing new products and new methods for using them; by partnering with our customers to find new ways to meet the world's growing needs for essentials like food, housing, transportation, and energy; and by having the courage to take the lead. When we do that, we demonstrate the essential role we play in solving the world's problems. We support policies, mechanisms, and activities that are shown to both protect the global environment and strengthen fundamental principles inherently sound for our business and stakeholders.

Among our core commitments is a drive to build, improve and make the world a better place - physically. This includes designing more environmentally friendly products, planning reclamation projects to return land to nature when our machines finish working, and advising customers on how to work in ways that lessen the environmental impact.

We recognize our responsibility to develop products whose impact in the environment is minimized and we support development that meets the needs of the future, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Mr Gérard Vittecoq
Group President, Caterpillar

introduction | protecting threatened species | safeguarding biodiversity | improving water quality | enhancing the landscape | managing the archaeological heritage | restoring land for recreation | reducing neighbourhood noise | blending into the landscape | informing the community | creating nature reserves | conserving geological heritage | reducing environmental impacts