2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Principles into action.

In 2009, volatile economic conditions created challenges for our customers and certainly for our businesses. But ITW emerged stable and healthy, with steady improvements in operating results by year-end. Equally important, we maintained our strong commitment to good corporate citizenship and environmental responsibility.

That is partly because the same core ITW strategies that drive our businesses—80/20, global growth and innovation—are highly compatible with our corporate social responsibilities. When we simplify processes to use less material and reduce waste—that’s good for the environment and our businesses. And when we reach out to women and people of color to find the best talent at all levels of our organization, these diverse perspectives fuel our innovation. It’s not just the right thing to do…it boosts our competitive advantage.

There is no doubt that our decentralized, global operations make corporate social responsibility reporting more of a challenge for ITW. Data are spread over 840 businesses in nearly 60 countries, and local, national and international regulations vary widely. But as always, we’re using decentralization to our advantage. All of our businesses take our corporate social responsibility policies into their own hands and reach out to their communities in ways they feel are most effective for local needs and customs.