Alcoa: News: News Releases: Alcoa Plants 1 Millionth Tree, Reaching Its Goal in Half the Planned Time; Launches New Goal to Plant 10 Million Trees by 2020

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June 5, 2003

Alcoa Plants 1 Millionth Tree, Reaching Its Goal in Half the Planned Time; Launches New Goal to Plant 10 Million Trees by 2020

POCOS DE CALDAS, Brazil & PITTSBURGH, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2003--Representing the 127,000 employees who helped achieve the goal, Alcoa Chairman and CEO, Alain Belda today planted the one-millionth tree in ceremonies at the Company's Pocos de Caldas, Brazil facility - and replicated at Alcoa facilities throughout the world -- as part of the company's program to plant one million trees by the year 2008. Launched in 1998, Alcoa employees reached the one million-tree goal in half the planned time.

At the ceremony in Pocos de Caldas, Belda also announced a new company goal for employees to plant 10 million trees by the year 2020.

Alcoa's tree planting program is an extension of the Company's commitment to sustainable development and environmental initiatives. The new goal melds the Company's goals for measuring progress toward achieving its 2020 strategic plan for cleaner air, better use of land and water, and the protection of human health, with community and employee involvement.

"Trees are intergenerational symbols of the connection between us and the people who will follow us," said Belda. "They provide shade, habitat, beauty and resources, all of which benefit our generation and generations to follow.

"When we launched this program in April 1998, our goal was to average one tree planted each year by each of the Company's 100,000 employees at the time, for ten years," said Belda. "Consistent with our philosophy to excel in everything we do, we reached our goal well ahead of schedule.

"Now we have set an even more ambitious goal - 10 million trees planted by the year 2020 - which triples the rate of our employees' effort in planting the first million trees. Our employees have consistently shown what they are capable of achieving when they put their efforts toward a publicly stated goal," added Belda. "We look forward to planting the 10 millionth tree in this new program."

In addition to the one-millionth-tree ceremony in Pocos, de Caldas, Brazil, company employees participated in events throughout Alcoa's more than 350 operating communities, including:

Portland (Australia) hosted more than 300 local primary school children, parents and teachers on World Environment Day as part of the One Million Trees initiative. Employees also participated in World Environment Day, through a local clean-up and recycling program.
Alcoa Automotive Castings (Farsund, Norway) employees and plant management planted a tree in its plant garden.
Massena, New York (USA) employees, union officials and local government representatives -- together with the St. Regis Mohawk tribe, the Mohawk Nation and the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne -- participated in the commissioning of a wetlands observation area. Two butternut trees were planted at the site where 4,000 black ash trees and 3,000 other companion species were planted last month as part of a wetlands and natural resource restoration program. A joint effort with the Akwesasne Mohawks, the Black Ash reforestation will renew a valuable resource for culturally important industries.
Alcoa Fjardaal (Iceland) will shortly present 2007 spruce trees to the community of Fjardabyggd for planting on the grounds where Alcoa will build a new aluminum smelter. Each year until 2007 - the year Fjardaal will begin production - Alcoa will present Fjardabyggd a gift of 450 additional trees, 450 being the number of personnel who will work at the Fjardaal.
Rockdale, Texas (USA) Operations planted a live oak tree with the Rockdale Chamber of Commerce as part of a new local public-use park.
Alcoa Portovesme (Italy) employee volunteers and local officials planted 24 trees - bringing the facility's total within the program to 6,696 trees planted - as part of a community and Alcoa Foundation initiative.
Alcoa Baie-Comeau (Canada) smelter will have each of its employees plant two trees - or a total of 3,900 trees -- next week as part of a broad employee/community program.

Trees produce much of the oxygen needed now and in the future, and they have the potential to assist in balancing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to help in managing the world's future climate. A rapidly growing tree can remove several 100 pounds of carbon from the atmosphere in a single year and keep in place for decades or even centuries.

Alcoa is the world's leading producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina, and is active in all major aspects of the industry. Alcoa serves the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation and industrial markets, bringing design, engineering, production and other capabilities of Alcoa's businesses as a single solution to customers. In addition to aluminum products and components, Alcoa also markets consumer brands including Reynolds Wrap(R) aluminum foil, Alcoa(R) wheels, and Baco(R) household wraps. Among its other businesses are vinyl siding, closures, precision castings, and electrical distribution systems for cars and trucks. The company has 127,000 employees in 40 countries. For more information go to www.alcoa.com