Sustainability is fundamental to the continued success of our company. By developing products that improve people’s quality of life, we also create economic benefits for many of our stakeholders. The financial transactions we carry out in the course of our business have a positive impact on our stakeholders and the economies where we operate. Examples of our economic impacts include:

• Wages and other benefits paid to employees
• Products sold to customers and shoppers
• Materials and services purchased
• Taxes paid to governments
• Community investment
• Our stock value and dividends paid to shareholders.

Much of the benefit of these economic impacts continues to ripple through local economies after these initial transactions have taken place. Examples include our employees and suppliers spending their earnings on other goods and services, the creation of more jobs as our suppliers grow with us, and increased opportunities for people in local communities supported by our well-being and education programs.

The table below shows the major direct economic impacts of our global consolidated businesses in 2007.