a PDF of the Annex

Transcription

a PDF of the Annex
Sustainable
Value Report
GRI Annex
2015
Table of Contents
About This Report
2
General Standard Disclosures
3
Economic Disclosures
4
Environmental Disclosures
12
Social Disclosures
33
GRI Content Index
66
Forward-Looking Statement
This document contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date
the statements are made but involve risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation:
the performance of stock markets generally; developments in worldwide and national economies and other
international events and circumstances; changes in foreign currencies and in interest rates; the cost and availability of
electric power, natural gas and other raw materials; the ability to achieve price increases to offset cost increases;
catastrophic events including natural disasters, epidemics and acts of war and terrorism; the ability to attract, hire,
and retain qualified personnel; the impact of changes in financial accounting standards; the impact of changes in
pension plan liabilities; the impact of tax, environmental, healthcare and other legislation and government regulation
in jurisdictions in which the company operates; the cost and outcomes of investigations, litigation and regulatory
proceedings; continued timely development and market acceptance of new products and applications; the impact of
competitive products and pricing; future financial and operating performance of major customers and industries
served; the impact of information technology system failures, network disruptions and breaches in data security; and
the effectiveness and speed of integrating new acquisitions into the business. These risks and uncertainties may
cause actual future results or circumstances to differ materially from the projections or estimates contained in the
forward-looking statements. Additionally, financial projections or estimates exclude the impact of special items which
the company believes are not indicative of ongoing business performance. The company assumes no obligation to
update or provide revisions to any forward-looking statement in response to changing circumstances.
The above listed risks and uncertainties are further described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) in the company’s Form 10-K
and 10-Q reports filed with the SEC which should be reviewed carefully. Please consider the company’s forwardlooking statements in light of those risks.
Photo Captions
On left is Andrew Heidloff, Engineering Manager, and on the right is Joel Rieken, Plant Manager, of the Advanced
Materials & Equipment business based in Indianapolis where metal powders are manufactured for additive
manufacturing and thermal spray applications.
Dr. Heidloff and Dr. Rieken from Praxair Surface Technologies (PST) - are the pioneers behind the technology to
produce gas-atomized titanium powders for use in additive manufacturing primarily in the aviation industry. Using
their unique, close-coupled design they are able to produce aerospace-grade, manufacturing lot sizes that produce
10x greater yield over historical atomization processes.
They are standing in front of our 4-level titanium atomization operations.
For more about our titanium atomization application, visit www.praxair.com/additivemanufacturing .
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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About This Report
Praxair has provided a voluntary sustainable development report annually since 2002. During this period, the
company's global sustainable development program has grown and strengthened, as has reporting. Today, Praxair is
a leader in sustainable development. Praxair was the first company to post its CDP Investor Response on its website,
a practice now followed by others. Praxair's sustainability report has followed the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
framework since 2010.
This year, Praxair has produced a 2015 Sustainable Value Report (SVR). Praxair's Sustainable Value Report: GRI
G4 Annex is a complement to this document.
Praxair's 2015 SVR provides a high-level executive summary of sustainable development at Praxair.
This Annex includes the Management Discussion & Analysis (MD&A) sections at the start of the Economic,
Environmental and Social sections. It also includes detailed data and discussion against the GRI G4 framework and
demonstrates how Praxair is managing performance in its areas of key sustainable development priorities.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
2
General Disclosures
G4-16 Memberships of Associations
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
3
Economic
Disclosures on Management Approach
G4-DMA Management approach for material aspects
Financial performance is reported in Praxair's financial reports. The economic dimension of sustainability is broader: it
concerns the organization's impacts on the economic conditions of its stakeholders and on economic systems at the
local, national and global levels. The Economic category illustrates the flow of capital among different stakeholders,
as well as the main economic impacts of the organization throughout society. This chapter reports on Praxair's
contribution to the sustainability of a larger economic system: its economic performance, market presence and
indirect economic impacts.
GRI G4 identifies four Economic Aspects: economic performance; market presence; indirect economic impacts; and
procurement practices, and each aspect has one or more reporting indicators. The priority economic issues identified
in Praxair's Sustainable Development Materiality Assessment (SDMA) are Governance, Ethics and Compliance, Eco
Portfolio/Environmental Innovation, Energy and Climate Change, Sustainable Productivity/Supplier Sustainability
Management and People Development. Each of these priority elements has related key performance indicators
(KPIs) and targets, which are reported in the 2015 SVR. Praxair includes source data for priority factors (PFs) and
KPIs in this Economic chapter. These are denoted with a . We also include here some elements from the GRI G4
General Standard Disclosures section that pertain to governance and stakeholder engagement. Risks and
opportunities from climate change (GRI EC2) are also reported in Praxair's CDP Investor GHG response, which is
provided in the Sustainable Development Reporting Center area on our website: http://www.praxair.com.
Organizational Responsibility
This chapter reports on economic issues from the point of view of investors, governments, employees, customers,
suppliers and communities where we operate or affect. The most senior officers responsible for the economic health
of the company are the chief executive officer and the Board of Directors. Responsibility to achieve each of these
targets lies with the Praxair businesses. Performance is consolidated and reported by the responsible vice
presidents: chief compliance officer; chief technology officer; chief Human Resource officer; chief Sustainability
officer; and the vice presidents of Safety, Health and Environment (SH&E), Global Operations Excellence (GOE) and
Global Procurement and Materials Management (GPMM).
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Aspect: Economic Performance
G4-EC1 Direct economic value generated and distributed
Praxair 2015 revenue: $10.78 billion
Praxair Global Giving program spend: $6.417 million. See also G4-SO1.
A full description of Praxair's financial results is provided in the 2015 Annual Report.
In 2015, the Praxair Global Giving program donated approximately 12 percent of Global Giving funds toward efforts to
increase diversity and inclusion. More than one-third of the funding was directed to education, and approximately 8
percent was directed to the environment. Each of these three areas directly complements Praxair's strategic focus for
philanthropy. The balance provided impact in our communities through targeted community support and healthcare
support, as well as funding for disaster relief. Praxair also reports the breakdown of Global Giving support by purpose
and by region.
See also G4-SO1 for information on community engagement.
EC1 (1): Indexed Earnings per Share (EPS), 1992-2015
EC1 (2): Praxair Annual Return on Capital (ROC)
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EC1 (3): Global Giving Spending by Area, 2015
EC1 (4): Global Giving Spending by Geography, 2015
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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G4-EC2 Financial implications and other risks and opportunities for the organization’s
activities due to climate change
Praxair recognizes business risks and opportunities from the need to meet the world's increasing demands for
energy, while optimizing the use of non-renewable natural resources. Praxair's climate change strategy has been
influenced by business opportunities driven by climate change, as well as risks, including: final and proposed
regulations in the United States and around the world that require GHG reporting and/or cap and trade; the potential
for natural disasters, such as extreme weather, that could disrupt supply or operations; and not innovating quickly
enough to remain competitive with applications that meet markets created by environmental concerns or
environmental regulations.
Climate change risks and opportunities have served as drivers for the development of 10 new corporate GHG goals;
see the 2015 SVR. Praxair's energy and GHG intensity improvement targets reinforce our commitment to energy
efficiency improvements. This focus has also revealed an opportunity for cost savings. Praxair's productivity
organization saves over 5 percent off its cost stack each year. In 2010, Praxair started to report the environmental
savings from productivity projects, or what the company calls “sustainable productivity." In 2015, this grew to more
than $117 million gross savings and 393,000 MT CO2e saved.
Praxair also sees long-term business opportunities from innovation that takes advantage of opportunities presented
by climate change. Praxair has created measurement systems in operations and in R&D that allows the company to
explore the GHG costs and benefits of any operational improvement or innovation project. Praxair has a target that at
least 30 percent of revenue should come from "eco-innovation," by 2015, i.e., from products that bring environmental
benefit (22 percent in 2009; 33 percent in 2015). Overall, Praxair products and applications enabled twice the GHG to
be avoided than was emitted in all operations—a net benefit of 30 million MT CO2e. See G4-EN27.
Climate change has also influenced our long-term risk mitigation practices. In order to protect our financial results
against the potential increase in the price of energy, and as part of operational eco-efficiency, Praxair continues to
invest aggressively in energy efficiency. Praxair has a long-term target: From 2009–2020, achieve cumulative savings
in excess of $500 million, 8 million MWh and 5 million MT CO2e by the end of the goal period. In 2015, Praxair
operational energy efficiency delivered savings of $ 70 million. Cumulatively, the company has achieved savings of
$260 million, 1.4 million MWh and 2.1 million MT CO2e since 2009. See EC2 (1). Energy savings from Praxair's
energy efficiency program are 10 times better than that of typical solar projects, based upon 2014 pricing. This
confirms that energy efficiency is the best investment the company can make right now to reduce its global energy
footprint and natural resource consumption.
Praxair also invests in design improvements for energy efficiency. In 2015, Praxair showed an 8.5 percent
improvement since 2009, achieving the target for 2015.
See also Praxair’s 2015 Annual Report, SVR Performance Dashboard and 2016 Carbon Disclosure Project
response.
EC2 (1): Combined Power and Gas Improvement Annual Savings
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G4-EC3 Coverage of the organization’s defined benefit plan obligations
Either a defined benefit or a defined contribution plan is available to all U.S. employees, as well as to employees in
some other countries. Further detail is provided in Note 16, pages 88 and following, of the 2015 Annual Report.
Praxair has two main U.S. retirement programs that are non-contributory defined benefit plans: the Praxair Pension
Plan and the CBI Pension Plan (for former employees of CBI Industries, Inc., which Praxair acquired in 1996).
Effective July 1, 2002, the Praxair Pension Plan was amended to give participating employees a one-time choice to
remain covered by the old formula or to elect coverage under a new formula. The old formula is based predominantly
on years of service, age and compensation levels prior to retirement. The new formula provides for an annual
contribution to an individual account which grows with interest each year at a pre-determined rate. This new formula
applies to all new employees hired after April 30, 2002, into businesses adopting this plan.
Pension coverage for employees of certain of Praxair's international subsidiaries is provided by those companies
through separate plans that are typical for the country of employment.
G4-EC4 Financial assistance received from government
The government is not present in Praxair's shareholding structure.
Aspect: Market Presence
G4-EC5 Ratios of standard entry level wage by gender compared to local minimum wage at
significant locations of operation
One-hundred percent of employees in all business units earn at least the local minimum wage.
Praxair's Human Rights Policy states:
Fair Compensation and Equal Remuneration: Praxair will pay employees at least the minimum
wages and overtime rates required by law and collective labor agreements and, if no such laws or
agreements apply, wages in line with marketplace practices. Praxair will not discriminate in
remuneration on any basis covered by its Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment standards.
Praxair's compensation policy assigns jobs into pay levels based on job descriptions so that people performing the
same type of job functions are in the same pay range, regardless of age, gender, or race. To help ensure that its
compensation policy is being appropriately administered, Praxair conducts annual pay equity analyses in the United
States and in other countries where required by law. Specific salary information is confidential.
G4-EC6 Proportion of senior management hired from the local community at significant
locations of operation
Praxair's business model is locally focused: Consistent with our growth goals and goals to grow innovation capacity in
emerging economies, Praxair has a commitment to source and develop local talent. Ninety-five percent of Praxair
country or regional business leaders are emerging economy local or regional nationals. Praxair has a preferred
practice of hiring local leadership that understands the culture and business practices of the area. This provides ideal
role models for the local workforce and offers a more cost-effective option than moving leaders from another country.
Further detail on diversity is provided in G4-LA12.
The following activities help ensure that local talent receives leadership opportunities:
1. Increase local recruiting efforts.
2. Train and develop current workforce for advancement.
3. Offer English as a second language for colleagues to operate effectively in a multi-national environment.
4. Create opportunities for high-potential local nationals to have special assignments outside their home countries.
Aspect: Indirect Economic Impacts
G4-EC7 Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services supported
A significant portion of Praxair's applications support the development of social and economic infrastructures. Praxair
gases help to make safe drinking water for more than 125 million consumers each day, mostly in China. Industrial
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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and specialty gases enable cleaner and more efficient economic growth in industries from cement to steel. Praxair
applications are also integral to the development of future energy infrastructures (e.g., applications for renewable
energy and second-generation biofuels).
Praxair's growth also depends on strong and developing economies. Per capita industrial gas consumption in all of
the company's geographies is tracked as an indicator of market growth opportunity.
Praxair is committed to improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. Through financial contributions and
the volunteer efforts of employees, Praxair supports programs that address diversity, education, the environment and
community resilience—all important aspects of community sustainability. In 2015, the Praxair Global Giving program
contributed more than $6.5 million to a range of programs and charitable organizations around the world. See G4EC1 for information on how the Global Giving contribution was distributed by focus area and by business region.
In addition, employee and facility/business contributions from community engagement projects were estimated at
more than $400,000, and the dollar value of employee and facility in-kind contributions, such as food, clothing and
supplies, was estimated as more than $315,000.
The total Praxair contribution, not including volunteer time, was estimated at $7,200,203 (2014: $7,919,702).
G4-EC8 Significant indirect economic impacts, including the extent of impacts. Report
examples of the significant identified positive and negative indirect economic impacts the
organization has.
Praxair's business helps countries modernize with technologies that enable environmentally responsible economic
growth. Praxair provides careers and benefits to more than 26,500 employees, many of whom are hired locally, and
to thousands of retirees. Indirect benefits accrue to Praxair vendors (also, in many cases, hired locally), as well as
customers, shareholders and communities in which the company operates.
Nearly all of the company’s products are produced, and customer relationships managed, on a regional basis.
Distribution economics are specific to the local geographies in which the company operates and are consistent with
how management assesses performance. Praxair's business is structured to build density and integrated supply
between on-site, merchant and packaged gases, and to drive performance regionally. Praxair is at root a "local"
company: We aim to grow density in target geographies. We invest locally and for the long term in large-scale capital
projects. We increase density, and we supply our customers with a reliable, integrated service.
In many ways, sustainable development—and Praxair—are about the value of place. People who remain in their
home communities tend to have stronger ties to family and community, economy, culture and society. For Praxair,
business success depends on our ability to hire, retain and develop human and social capital in the geographies
where we invest capital and do business. Revenue is closely correlated with employee headcount. The company
hires local talent: More than 90 percent of emerging economy business leaders are host country or regional nationals;
it sources local contractors: 100 percent of contract drivers, and most contract construction workers, are sourced
locally; and it helps build capacity in local communities: Praxair employee volunteers provided a range of benefits to
nearly 350,000 people, mostly in communities local to Praxair sites.
All Praxair community engagement projects are encouraged to help meet specific needs identified by community
leaders, but there is no science with which to measure the impact of community outreach. Praxair uses a
methodology based upon that developed by the London Benchmarking Group (LBG) to evaluate the indirect
economic, environmental and social impacts of its community engagement activity for the company, its employees
and beneficiaries (see G4-SO1 and G4-SO2). In 2015, for more than 86 percent of projects, volunteers reported that
community engagement had a direct positive impact on recipients' quality of life. In approximately 79 percent of
projects, volunteers reported that community engagement provided the beneficiaries with value that could lead to
economic benefits, such as job skills or opportunities for personal growth.
The significance of Praxair's economic and governance priority factors and targets in the context of external
benchmarks and stakeholder priorities is explained in the Outlook section of the 2015 SVR.
Aspect: Procurement Practices
G4-EC9 Proportion of spending on local suppliers at significant locations of operation
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Local Sourcing
Praxair works with suppliers in more than 50 countries. Its commitment to emerging economy growth is
complemented by its commitment to investing in such economies. Due to the nature of Praxair's industrial gas
products, it is generally uneconomical to transport them distances greater than a few hundred miles from the
production facility. As a result, Praxair invests in building local facilities and hires locally for management, employees
and contractors. See G4-EC7 and the Performance Dashboard (page 28, note 20) in Praxair's 2015 SVR.
The most significant sets of suppliers from the point of view of local sourcing are facility construction contractors and
contract drivers. Installation of new equipment, as well as ongoing maintenance, is largely performed by local
suppliers. One-hundred percent of contract drivers in Asia, Europe and North and South America (where most of our
drivers are contractors) are local.
Praxair invests in supplier capacity-building in order to raise performance standards and share benefits at the same
time. One example of supplier collaboration is the investment Praxair made to install onboard computers (OBCs) on
contractor trucks to help reduce critical vehicle safety events and cut fuel consumption in Germany.
In Brazil, Praxair hosted its third annual "Forum on Best Practices for Suppliers." The Forum brought together 52
representatives from 45 supplier companies to learn about our company's sustainability guidelines and expectations
regarding our supply chain. The forum was used as an opportunity to reinforce the regional Sustainability Report to
vendors who had participated in helping to craft its priority areas. SA White Martins (SAWM) also launched the first
Supplier Award for Innovation and Sustainability, which was presented at the Forum. The top award was presented to
Panalpina, a company providing forwarding and logistics services for monitoring environmental data from its 500-plus
offices in Brazil and its fleet's carbon footprint, and using that information to set up strategies to cut back on the
amount of waste generated and carbon dioxide cast in the air.
Praxair Mexico provides examples of additional supplier collaborations: in financing and in promoting sustainability.
Eighty-five percent of Praxair Mexico's suppliers are local (i.e., based in Mexico and Central America). Many of these
suppliers are small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Praxair recognizes the social and economic advantages of
partnering with SMEs and works to contribute to their development. Praxair Mexico participated in a project of the
Mexican development bank (NAFINSA) to provide SMEs access to preferred supplier financing mechanisms. They
implemented a Supplier Development Program that provides targeted support to selected suppliers by organizing
meetings with other providers, identifying areas of opportunity and giving tips for improvement. At the end of 2014,
Praxair Mexico had 1490 suppliers in this program. In addition, Praxair Mexico committed to extend social
responsibility into their supply chain and assist suppliers to obtain certification for the distinctive CEMEFI Socially
Responsible Award. They provided support and advice that helped a local logistics supplier, Racing Cargo, to
participate in the process to be named a CEMEFI Socially Responsible Company.
Promoting Supplier Diversity
For the past decade, Praxair's Supplier Diversity Program in the United States has championed those companies
classified as small and diverse businesses. Praxair's vice president and controller serves as the small business
liaison officer and oversees Praxair's Small Business Subcontracting Program. On an annual basis, in collaboration
with management and support staff from Praxair's global procurement team (GPMM) team, a detailed small business
subcontracting plan is established with practical goals that Praxair strives to achieve with small businesses in
procuring designated commodities. In 2015, approximately $223 million was procured from small U.S. businesses,
representing products and services that covered approximately 470 different commodity codes.
Praxair has also invested in supplier capacity-building that has yielded benefits on both sides. For some suppliers,
formal and informal mentoring has been offered in areas of business that are mutually important. For some diverse
business suppliers seeking to increase their export service offerings to compete in the global marketplace, Praxair's
strong team of international trade professionals has offered assistance. In 2015, the GPMM team in the United States
and Europe also began a supply chain finance program that encourages the formalization and growth of micro, small
and medium enterprises through access to financial services. In its inaugural year, 44 diverse suppliers took
advantage of the supply chain finance program to receive accelerated payments for outstanding invoices coupled
with taking advantage of Praxair competitive interest rates. Suppliers in the program have achieved enhanced
working capital by receiving accelerated payments, enhanced borrowing capacity for business expansion, selfsufficiency, less reliance on external sources of capital to operate their businesses and overall economic growth.
Additional countries, starting with Canada, will begin to offer the supply chain finance program in 2016. See 2015
SVR, page 39.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Globally, an ongoing effort is underway to identify and enhance the supplier diversity initiatives in areas with
emerging programs and/or the potential to develop them. In 2015, Praxair entered into membership with the National
Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). This has allowed the company to identify additional diverse
sources of supply and provided a forum to benchmark and gain insight from other companies in fostering
collaboration and expanding business with diverse suppliers. GPMM also further enhanced its supplier qualification
process to ensure that all companies seeking qualification are asked about their business' diversity status and began
seeking supplier diversity program information from potential suppliers through its request for proposal process.
Capturing this information has allowed the team to advance its supplier diversity program for validating and tracking
Praxair spend with diverse businesses and has helped to identify collaboration opportunities with companies that
have established supplier diversity programs. In 2015, GPMM continued to enhance its minority and women business
enterprise supplier development strategies and continues to collaborate with its global affiliates to better understand
the supplier diversity landscape and additional opportunities in each country. Praxair strives to achieve an inclusive
environment where supplier diversity is understood as a valuable asset and a competitive advantage.
Investing in Supplier Relationships: A Win-Win-Win
Praxair works hard to deepen relationships with suppliers and contractors while ensuring that they meet its standards
and business values. This brings multiple benefits to the company and to communities near to its operations.
Worldwide contractor safety training: One-hundred percent of contract drivers, and most contract construction
workers, are hired from local firms. In addition to the jobs provided to locally based construction workers and drivers,
in 2015, Praxair invested more than 383,000 hours in safety training to contractors. This included training for 6,909
contractors in emerging economies. Contractor training averaged 39 hours a year, equivalent to nearly a full work
week. If each contractor hour costs Praxair $20, this investment can be estimated at more than $7 million. In all
cases, this training is directed towards achieving safer construction of Praxair facilities and safer, more secure and
more fuel-efficient transportation of Praxair products. Praxair's world-class results for contractor and driver safety are
a measureable consequence of this investment (see G4-LA6). In addition, the safety and other professional driver
training results in a transfer of professional skills that increases the employability of the recipient. For information on
human rights concerns and supplier management with carrier drivers in Brazil, see G4-HR11.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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ENVIRONMENTAL
Disclosures on Management Approach
G4-DMA Management approach for material aspects
The environmental dimension of sustainability concerns an organization's impacts on natural systems, including
ecosystems, land, air and water. Praxair's business depends on a natural resource (the air), and the company's
mission and business model is to create more value with fewer resources. Praxair's priority sustainable development
issues include a range of environmental aspects aimed at reducing operational environmental impacts and
maximizing environmental contributions—the benefits that Praxair applications bring to customers and the planet.
The GRI G4 Environmental Performance Indicators identify reporting aspects as materials, energy, water,
biodiversity, emissions, effluents and waste, products and services, compliance, transport, overall expenditures and
investments, supplier environmental assessment and environmental grievance mechanisms, and each of these
aspects has one or more reporting indicators. Praxair's SDMA identified two environmental PFs, each with several
KPIs, which were converted into targets. The Energy & Climate Change PF includes KPIs and targets for Sustainable
Productivity, Energy & GHG Emissions and Sustainable Transportation. The Eco Portfolio PF includes KPIs and
targets for Environmental Innovation and Product Stewardship. The SDMA and performance against our targets is
provided in the 2015 SVR. This chapter provides source data for performance reported in the SVR. These are
denoted with a . It also reports on additional GRI elements that are not PFs but that may be of interest to various
outside stakeholders. These and the basis for determining our priorities are described in the Outlook section of the
2015 SVR.
Organizational Responsibility, Accountability and Incentives
Praxair's senior vice president is accountable for Global Supply Systems (GSS), R&D, Global Market Development,
GOE, GPMM, Sustainability, and SH&E. Praxair environmental compliance issues are managed under the vice
president, SH&E. Environmental sustainability elements are managed under the vice president and chief
sustainability officer. Both report to the senior vice president. "Safety first" and "environmental and social
responsibility" are Praxair values and, therefore, non-negotiable.
Environmental Management System
Policies: A range of policies and commitments govern all environmental aspects, including the priority sustainable
development aspects that pertain to environmental issues. Related policies are provided on Praxair's website and
include: Global Safety, Health and Environmental Policy, Product Stewardship Policy, and Position Statement on
Sustainability and Climate Change. Each policy clearly communicates the scope of the policy and Praxair's
commitments to compliance with applicable law and conformance with relevant reference frameworks, identifies the
responsible managers and provides the date of issue and last review.
Environmental Management System (EMS): Praxair's global Environmental Management System (EMS) conforms
to the Responsible Care Management System® (RCMS®) and is aligned with ISO 14001:2004, the international
standard for EMSs. As an RCMS company, Praxair strives to continually improve its health, safety and environmental
performance; listen and respond to public concerns; work with customers, carriers, suppliers, distributors and
contractors to foster the safe and secure use, transport and disposal of chemicals; achieve optimum environmental
performance; and report goals and progress to the public. Praxair is also required to implement a third-party-certified
RCMS to ensure that appropriate actions are taken to improve, track and publicly report performance and to include a
security code that helps protect people, property, products, processes, information and information systems by
enhancing security throughout the businesses.
Praxair Mexico has participated in Mexico's national environmental agency, PROFEPA, Clean Industry program since
2009. Certification is awarded to companies that demonstrate they satisfactorily meet all environmental compliance
requirements as well as demonstrate natural resource efficiencies. Environmental audits of the EMS and
performance are required. Clean Industry certification has been achieved in all 18 of Praxair Mexico's major plants.
All Praxair Germany is externally certified to ISO 5001, the international standard for energy management systems.
Training: Environmental and safety training is conducted for all employees and all contractors (see G4-LA 9).
Continuous on-boarding training is conducted as part of the Sustainable Development Management System (SDMS).
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Internal SH&E Assessment Program: Praxair sites, and other sites where Praxair is a majority shareholder, are
evaluated for safety, environment and quality (the latter for FDA compliance). Monthly reports are provided to senior
management and quarterly reports to the Praxair Board. Regular assessments are a requirement of Praxair's Safety,
Health and Environment Management System (SHEMS) and help ensure consistently high standards in all areas of
safety, environmental protection, security and compliance. Corporate assessments ("A" assessments) of all sites and
facilities are performed by SH&E staff once every three, four or five years according to a set schedule, or more
frequently if management considers this warranted. In addition, businesses regularly conduct facility selfassessments ("B" assessments). In 2015, Praxair conducted 56 "A" assessment audits, including 53 audits of Praxair
sites, a minority JV site, an external supplier and a contractor. Two hundred forty-five internal "B" assessment audits
were conducted in business safety plans, including NuCO2, which was excluded from prior year reports. See table
EN DMA(1).
External EMS Audit: The American Chemistry Council (ACC) requires member companies to be externally audited
by authorized third-party auditors. In 2015, 100 percent of Praxair by revenue was covered by external certification to
the ACC's RCMS®. In the United States, Praxair is audited by Bureau Veritas per the requirements of the RCMS.
The 2014–2016 re-certification cycle requires corporate headquarters plus eight sites to be audited and certified over
the three-year period. The scope of the audit includes sites that "manufacture and distribute industrial gases per the
RCMS® Technical Specification (TC) RC 101.03." All of these sites were audited using Praxair's SHEMS system,
which incorporates TC RC 101.03 into the company’s Worldwide SH&E Manual for all facilities worldwide. Our global
external RCMS certification is provided in the Environment/Environmental Management section of our website:
http://www.praxair.com. Some businesses and sites are also certified to other international EMS certifications or their
national equivalents, such as ISO 14001, ISO 5001 for energy management and Mexico's Clean Industry Standard.
EN DMA (1): Internal Assessments
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Aspect: Materials
G4-EN1 Materials used by weight or volume
Almost 50 percent of Praxair revenue is from atmospheric products, with air as the only raw material. Using air as its
raw material, Praxair produces oxygen, nitrogen and argon through several air separation processes, of which
cryogenic air separation is the most prevalent. As air is a renewable natural resource, there is no negative
environmental consequence to using this raw material. For more information on our inputs, please see the Business
Model graphic in the About Praxair section of the 2015 SVR.
Process gases, including carbon dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, helium, specialty gases and acetylene, are
produced by methods other than air separation. In many cases, these are sourced as an industrial byproduct or
waste. Some of these byproduct sources are renewable but all offer a means to reuse products that would otherwise
have been waste.
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Most carbon dioxide is purchased from byproduct sources, including chemical plants, refineries and
industrial processes. These byproduct sources include ethanol manufacturing facilities, where the waste
carbon dioxide is considered renewable. A portion is recovered from carbon dioxide wells.
Hydrogen and carbon monoxide are produced by either steam methane reforming of natural gas or by
purifying byproduct sources obtained from the chemical and petrochemical industries.
Most of the helium sold by Praxair is sourced from helium-rich natural gas streams in the United States, with
additional supplies being acquired from outside the United States.
Acetylene can be produced from calcium carbide and water. A significant percentage is purchased as a
chemical byproduct.
The volumes of process gases procured are considered business confidential.
Praxair also builds air separation units (ASUs) and steam methane reformers (SMRs). Construction materials for
these are generally from non-renewable sources: aluminum, carbon steel, stainless steel, copper and brass alloys,
brass and metals. The estimated weight of capital equipment purchased worldwide (steel and aluminum in various
equipment and components) was 581,000 MT in 2015.
Raw materials are procured through a global procurement organization under global procurement standards and
expectations that include requirements for material sustainability. Praxair has Supplier Expectations that manage
sustainability in our supply chain.
G4-EN2 Percentage of materials used that are recycled input materials
Almost 50 percent of revenue from products sold in 2015 was sourced from a renewable natural resource - the air.
One hundred percent of Praxair's atmospheric products - oxygen, nitrogen, argon and some rare gases - are
separated from the air.
As part of its sustainable supply chain program, Praxair's GPMM organization works with vendors to reduce upstream
natural resource consumption. For some of its business lines, Praxair actively sources recycled input materials and
contributes to byproduct synergy (BPS) by making productive use of byproducts as sources of products. The total
weight of these byproducts as a percentage of total material use is not reported here.
Praxair looks for approaches to hydrogen and carbon monoxide production that reduce resource utilization, including
use of renewable methane sources and renewable energy sources.
As of 2011, most of the acetylene produced in the United States is sourced from byproduct acetylene, avoiding the
mining of calcium carbonate and the recycling or disposal of carbide lime. Most Praxair carbon dioxide sold is
sourced from ethanol fermentation (a biomass source). As a business, Praxair is constantly researching innovative
ways to expand the use of this application.
Most gases are transported in pipelines or cylinder trucks. Praxair's cylinders are recycled for decades (see G4EN28). There is minimal packaging and very little opportunity to take back recycled input materials from customers.
Example: Hydrogen Sourcing
Praxair sources approximately 15 percent of hydrogen from byproduct sources. Praxair is one of the largest suppliers
of carbon-free merchant hydrogen in the United States.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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By producing hydrogen at our Niagara Falls facility, Praxair is able to source by-product hydrogen from local sources
and take advantage of electricity produced from 100% renewable resources. During 2014, Praxair was awarded a
long-term contract to supply hydrogen to a fuel cell solutions provider and was able to meet their needs with our
"green" hydrogen. As demand increased, Praxair invested in on-purpose hydrogen production in 2015 to increase the
supply of hydrogen to our customers by 50%. The carbon footprint from this liquid hydrogen production continues to
benefit from the access to renewable electricity.
Aspect: Energy
G4-EN3 Energy consumption within the organization
Direct Energy Consumption
Praxair's total direct energy consumption in 2015 was 2,796,000 MWh (approximately 10.1 million GJ). This
represents a 15 percent increase over 2014. The increase is due to increases in hydrogen production, which is
Praxair’s main use of direct energy.
EN3 (1): Direct Energy Consumption
In millions of GJ
Indirect Energy Consumption
Total indirect energy (electricity and steam) consumed in 2015 was approximately 24,606,000 MWH, or 88.6 GJ. This
is a decrease of 0.01 percent from 2014, in line with the 1 percent worldwide decline in production.
Praxair procures about 30 percent of electricity from renewable sources. (* Based on country grid mixes provided by
the U.S. Energy Information Administration at
http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipbproject/IEDIndex3.cfm?tid=6&pid=29&aid=2# .)
In 2015, this included approximately 7 million MWH of renewable electricity as part of the energy mix from Praxair's
utility providers. As utility providers come under increasing regulatory pressure to include more non-fossil fuel sources
in their energy mix, more renewable energy sources will be brought into Praxair's mix. Praxair also purchased
325,000 MWH of hydropower in New York State, 49,000 MWH from a small hydro project in Brazil and 26,000 MWH
of wind power in India.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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EN3 (2): Indirect Energy Consumption (Electricity and Steam)
In thousands of MWh
G4-EN5 Energy intensity
Energy-efficient design in new ASUs improves the energy intensity per unit of oxygen manufactured in those plants.
See EC2. By 2016, this figure represented a 30 percent improvement in the Oxygen Cost Index (the energy cost of
producing a ton of oxygen) over a 2006 base.
Praxair does not report energy use per total production volume. Because of the company’s product mix, Praxair
tracks intensity by business. Air separation units (ASUs) are the largest energy users; Praxair reports performance
against the ASU energy and GHG efficiency target in the Performance Dashboard section of the 2015 SVR (item 9).
G4-EN6 Reduction of energy consumption
Praxair is vigilant about managing its energy footprint and has a range of design and operational initiatives to reduce
operational energy consumption. By the end of 2020, Praxair expects to see energy savings of 8 million MWh and
$500 million, from a 2009 baseline. From 2009 to 2015, Praxair saved 1.4 million MWh and $260 million.
Energy savings (electricity, natural gas and fuel) are collected as part of the overall environmental savings reported
per relevant sustainable productivity project. While total energy consumption is increasing year-over-year, these
increases are kept in check by finding ways to conserve and become more energy-efficient. Total sustainable
productivity in 2015 yielded savings equivalent to 393,000 MT of CO2e emissions. These projects provided energy
savings from enhancing the energy efficiency of Praxair's buildings, processes and transportation fleet.
Energy-efficient design in new ASUs improves the energy intensity per unit of oxygen manufactured in those plants.
See G4-EC2. By 2016, this figure represented a 30 percent improvement in the Oxygen Cost Index (the energy cost
of producing a ton of oxygen) over a 2006 base.
For an example of electricity reductions achieved with utility partners, see the Engaging Stakeholders/External
Engagement/Suppliers section of the 2015 SVR.
G4-EN7 Reductions in energy requirements of products and services
Some Praxair products and applications support renewable energy solutions. Praxair's materials business currently
serves more than 50 solar production facilities worldwide with a combined capacity of over 6 gigawatts. Praxair's gas
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
16
products, delivery systems and technologies are provided globally throughout the solar supply chain, enabling the
production of crystalline and thin-film solar cells. Gas offerings include bulk, on-site and specialty gases such as
nitrogen, hydrogen, silane, ammonia, high-purity argon, phosphorous and boron dopants, together with associated
distribution equipment.
Praxair also offers a full line of planar and tubular sputtering targets for the deposition of metal and transparent
conducting oxide (TCO) thin-film layers, which are critical to the performance of photovoltaic devices. Praxair is a
leader in the development of AZO, copper, nickel vanadium and aluminum next-generation tubular targets, which
enable more cost-effective fabrication of thin-film photovoltaic cells.
In 2015, Praxair announced the introduction of its patented OPTIMELT™ thermochemical regenerator system. The
company's technology productively recovers waste energy from furnace flue gases, reducing emissions and
improving the energy efficiency of glass production. Through the process, incoming natural gas is heated and reacted
with a portion of waste flue gas to produce a hot syngas fuel that captures both the heat and chemical potential of the
waste stream. This process can result in a reduction in fuel consumption of up to 20 percent compared to oxy-fuel
glass furnaces and as high as 30 percent when compared to air-fuel furnaces. In addition to increased productivity,
reduced emissions and fuel savings, the OPTIMELT system delivers operational benefits that help ensure production
of high-quality glass. The OPTIMELT system equipment is custom-designed by Praxair and can be installed with new
furnaces or retrofitted to existing facilities. Praxair's OPTIMELT system is being made available market-wide for glass
melting furnaces and has been proven on a commercial scale in a glass-melting furnace at Grupo Pavisa in Mexico.
Aspect: Water
Praxair uses water mainly as a coolant to produce its products. The company focuses on resource efficiency,
including the optimization of water use. Water quality and availability are local issues and vary substantially from
region to region. Praxair's worldwide environmental standards require all sites to evaluate water risks and to comply
with Praxair standards, applicable local rules, regulations and programs. This activity is audited by Praxair's Internal
Assessment program.
G4-EN8 Total water withdrawal by source
Praxair's water withdrawals in 2015 totaled 58.0 million cubic meters. This does not include once-through, noncontact cooling water, which is drawn from and discharged to the same body of water with no change in quality.
Praxair estimates once-through cooling water usage in 2015 amounted to 263 million cubic meters, a decrease of 14
percent from 2014.
Praxair reports water for all sites where monthly use exceeds 10,000 gallons/month (120,000 gallons/year); in 2015,
this totaled 391 sites. Global water withdrawals (not including once-through) increased 3 percent from 2014. Even
though worldwide production decreased by 1 percent, production fluctuated in various parts of the world. Five large
plants were brought on-line in Asia and a few plants that came on-line late in 2014 experienced a full reporting year in
2015.
We are vigilant about managing our own water footprint and have a range of initiatives to reduce operational water
use. For example, water use is measured as an environmental KPI in our sustainable productivity activity. In 2015, a
subset of projects reported environmental savings, including over 216 million gallons (817,600 cubic meters) of water
saved.
In 2015, water supplied by municipalities or other water utilities was 16 percent (9.4 million cubic meters) of the total
water used. The balance of 84 percent (49.7 million cubic meters) came from customers or was procured from
surface and well waters or other industrial sources. Some Praxair sites gather rainwater for reuse; this information is
not collected for corporate reporting.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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EN8 (1): Water Usage
In Million Cubic Meters
G4-EN9 Water sources significantly affected by withdrawal of water
No water sources are significantly affected by Praxair's withdrawal of water. Of the 391 sites that reported water use
in 2015, 13 are currently in areas of extreme water scarcity, according to the World Business Council on Sustainable
Development's Global Water Tool. Of these, six are in Mexico, four in the United States, and one each in Spain, Peru
and Brazil. The total water usage from these 13 sites is less than 40,000 cubic meters per year or less than 0.1
percent of Praxair's total water used.
G4-EN10 Percentage and total volume of water recycled and reused
In 2015, 95.5 percent of the water Praxair used (55.3 million cubic meters, not including once-through) was recycled
numerous times through cooling towers before discharge. This excludes once-through non-contact cooling water
where water is returned to the same water body from which it was taken after only one cycle.
Aspect: Biodiversity
G4-EN11 Operational sites owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas
of high biodiversity value outside protected areas
As part of its Enterprise Risk Management program, Praxair is required to assess the environmental and community
risks for any new or expanded facilities. Issues evaluated are land use and ecosystem impacts, including the
evaluation of a project's potential impact on sensitive ecological receptors (wetlands, ecologically significant areas,
endangered/ threatened species, etc.) and the specification of measures that will be used to protect these receptors.
The results of this assessment can influence decisions to modify the project (e.g., selecting a new location or
modifying a plant's footprint to avoid ecological or sensitive receptors) or to develop mitigation strategies (e.g.,
installing additional containment structures or pollution control equipment such as oil/water separators or air quality
and noise control equipment) to ensure the ecological health of the region is maintained or enhanced.
Praxair requirements for investment approval involve an environmental impact assessment and consideration of site
environmental conditions (soil or water contamination or depletion can cause biodiversity loss). External
stakeholders, particularly local authorities, are included in these assessments, where appropriate. Praxair's SHEMS
system, which requires continuous site monitoring of emissions to air and water, and compliance with and
achievement of Praxair's environmental and GHG goals and targets, is in place at all Praxair businesses and is
integrated for all acquisitions.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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G4-EN12 Description of significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity in
protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas
One of the major themes in Praxair's sustainable development strategy is to emphasize the link between its mission
(making our planet more productive) and multiple interconnected activities, including a new global Greenway
program. Through the Greenway program, Praxair made a multi-year commitment totaling more than $1 million to
plant or preserve one million trees in sensitive ecosystems around the world by the end of 2016.
In collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the Arbor Day Foundation and other conservation organizations,
Praxair has made contributions that so far have helped plant or preserve 900,000 trees in Brazil, Belize, China,
Mexico and the United States.
An additional 91,000 trees were planted in 2015 through community engagement projects. Many Praxair businesses
are engaged in coordinated tree-planting activities with local conservation groups. In 2015, 17 percent of employee
community engagement projects were directed towards environmental conservation and 8 percent of Praxair Global
Giving program donations supported this theme.
G4-EN13 Habitats protected or restored
Previous Praxair Sustainable Development Reports have highlighted biodiversity conservation in Brazil, Mexico,
France and the United Kingdom. EN12 describes a set of partnerships with environmental conservation organizations
that are expanding Praxair's activity in biodiversity preservation.
See also videos on our Greenway projects in Brazil and Mexico on our website at: http://www.praxair.com/ourcompany/our-people/environmental-engagement.
G4-EN14 Total number of IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with
habitats in areas affected by operations, by level of extinction risk
In 2012, Praxair performed an initial scan of its larger facilities against a world map of areas at risk of biodiversity
loss. The only site that overlapped the IUCN Red List was near the Iguatama facility in Brazil, near the Sao Francisco
River. The river is on the IUCN Red List because the Sao Francisco sparrow is categorized "near threatened."
Restoring habitats is considered to be the best strategy to allow the sparrow to return to previous levels, and Praxair
is actively engaged in this undertaking.
Aspect: Emissions
G4-EN15 Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 1)
G4-EN16 Energy indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 2)
Praxair GHG emissions disclosures have been prepared based on a reporting year of January 1 to December 31, the
same as the financial reporting period. All GHG emissions figures are in MT of CO 2e and cover all six GHGs covered
by the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perfluorocarbons (PFCs),
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6).
For more information on GHG emissions results and methodology, see Praxair's 2016 CDP response (containing
calendar year 2015 data) on our website at: http://www.praxair.com/our-company/sustainable-development/reportingcenter.
Total GHG Emissions
Total GHG emissions from Scopes 1 and 2 were 20.8 million metric tons in 2015. This represents a 3 percent
increase over 2014. Despite an overall decrease in production worldwide, GHG emissions increased due to increases
in production in regions with high GHG emission factors, namely in Asia.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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EN15-16 (1): Total GHG Emissions
In Million MT CO2e
EN15-16 (2): Statement of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
CO2e Emissions in Thousands of Metric Tons
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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EN15-16 (3): GHG Emissions by Business Unit
CO2e Emissions in Thousands of Metric Tons
Scope 1 (Direct Emissions)
In 2015, Scope 1 GHG emissions were 8.199 million metric tons CO2e. This is an increase of 5.6 percent over 2014.
Praxair's largest source of direct GHG emissions is hydrogen production. Ninety-five percent of global hydrogen is
produced through steam methane reforming, which generates carbon dioxide in a fixed chemical relationship and
limits the possibilities for Praxair to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions from hydrogen production. The increase in
direct emissions is largely due to an increase in hydrogen production in regions with high GHG emissions factors.
EN15-16 (4): Sources of Scope 1 GHG Emissions by Business
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Scope 2 (Indirect Emissions)
Indirect GHG emissions for 2015 were 12.6 million metric tons CO2e, a 1 percent increase from 2014. Overall, 84
percent of Scope 2 emissions were from ASUs. Electricity consumption is one of Praxair's largest expenses and is
rigorously managed both in terms of price and quantity used. While total production worldwide decreased, total
electricity consumption remained constant with 2014. Production increased in certain regions with high GHG
emissions factors, which resulted in the slight increase in total Scope 2 emissions.
EN15-16 (5): Sources of Scope 2 GHG Emissions by Business
GHG Inventory Methodology
The GHG emissions information has been prepared with reference to the World Resources Institute/World Business
Council for Sustainable Development Greenhouse Gas Protocol: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard,
revised edition (the GHG Protocol®) and the Climate Change Reporting Framework (CCRF) developed by the
Carbon Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB). Praxair is an associate member of the CDSB.
Praxair's Scope 2 emissions are calculated using the GHG Protocol's location-based methodology.
Boundary
Direct and indirect GHG emissions from electricity have been reported from entities where the company has financial
control (as defined by the CCRF). One-hundred percent of emissions from entities within the global organizational
boundary have been reported.
All Scope 1 (direct GHG) and Scope 2 (indirect GHG) emissions were reported for operations within the financial
boundary. There are two areas of Praxair's business that are material to its GHG emissions, but where it has limited
ability to control emissions:

Praxair plants that are owned and operated on customer sites, where the customer pays for the power and
provides it to Praxair (these are called "standard plants"). As in past years, these are reported as Scope 2
because Praxair owns these plants.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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
Contractor GHG emissions from driving: Praxair is implementing its own fuel use management program and
working with contractors to align them with this program, but it has a limited ability to control these
emissions. Emissions from contractor driving are reported in Scope 3.
Emissions Factors
Praxair uses conversion factors (called Emissions Factors) to calculate GHG emissions from energy data. For
electricity, Praxair uses the IEA country carbon dioxide emissions factors, except in the United States, where it uses
the latest release of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) eGRID regional emissions factors. For
natural gas and other fuels, Praxair uses emission factors from the EPA's AP-42 document.
Base Year GHG Emissions
Praxair established a base year of 2009 for its 2009–2015 GHG targets. Praxair's baseline recalculation policy takes
into account factors such as acquisitions and divestitures and methodology changes.
Uncertainty
All businesses are required to sign off on their performance against corporate GHG targets on a monthly basis, and
there is a quarterly review by the Office of the Chairman. This review process creates a level of internal oversight and
management over the company's GHG emissions data.
Excluded Sources of GHG Emissions
Praxair has a number of very small office sites, many with only one or two people. Praxair estimated these emissions
and, as they represent less than 1 percent of its Scope 2 emissions, considers them to be de minimis.
Prior Year Revisions
No revisions to Scope 1 and 2 emissions from prior years have been made.
External Verification
Praxair has had its GHG inventory verified by a third party since 2009. In 2015, a Moderate Assurance was
performed on Scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions. A copy of Praxair's 2015 assurance statement is available on the
website.
G4-EN17 Other indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Scope 3)
Other indirect sources of GHG emissions are emissions as reported in EN17 (1). In line with the newly published
GHG Protocol Scope 3 Standard, Praxair created a process map of all inputs and outputs and estimated the
proportion of GHG emissions that might come from each activity. As Praxair is a basic materials company at the start
of the value chain and as it sources much of its product from air as its principal raw material, Praxair's Scope 3 GHG
emissions are significantly lower than its direct or indirect emissions. Scope 3 emissions account for 12 percent of
Praxair's carbon footprint (Scopes 1+2+3).
Criteria for selecting Scope 3 reporting categories were:
1. Relevance and transparency: This includes activity over which Praxair has a level of operational control but
where the GHG emissions are reported by another party.
2. Relevance or materiality to Praxair's footprint: This includes activity that may have a potentially significant
GHG consequence.
3. Activity where the data was easy to obtain from a cost/benefit perspective.
As standards and metrics for reporting Scope 3 GHG are clarified over time, Praxair anticipates additional precision in
this area.
At this time, its reporting represents a good faith effort to focus on the most material and/or visible aspects of its
Scope 3 emissions.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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EN17 (1): Scope 3 GHG Emissions
CO2e Emissions in Metric Tons
Upstream Scope 3 Emissions
The most significant source of upstream Scope 3 emissions is from fuel- and energy-related activities not included in
Scopes 1 or 2. This source represents 74 percent of Praxair's Scope 3 emissions and 9 percent of Scopes 1+2+3. As
this source is related to energy (it includes upstream emissions from purchased fuel and electricity and transmission
and distribution losses), and as energy is a significant cost for Praxair, emissions from this category are the most
relevant to the company's overall carbon footprint.
Praxair's methodologies for upstream Scope 3 emissions are described below.
Fuel- and Energy-Related Activities not Included in Scopes 1 or 2
The methodology used is based on the GHG Protocol Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) Accounting and Reporting
Standard, Category 3. For electricity, Praxair prorated the fuel mix ratios in seven countries where it uses more than 1
billion kWh. These seven countries represent more than 87 percent of Praxair's total electricity usage. The company
then extrapolated this mix to the remaining 13 percent of its electricity usage. It then assumed a T&D (transportation
and distribution) loss rate of 7 percent, based on information from the U.S. Department of Energy, and added in
emissions from upstream natural gas.
Capital Goods
The principal material Praxair procures for capital projects is steel. Based on its annual spend, Praxair used its
Steelfirst subscription to calculate the price of carbon steel per country. The weight of steel was then calculated as
price per ton divided by spend. Related GHG emissions were calculated by multiplying the weight of carbon steel
using a GHG emission factor derived from the U.S. EPA (0.87 MT CO2e/per MT carbon steel).
Waste Generated in Operations
As reported in EN23, Praxair disposed of 70,700 metric tons of waste in 2015. Of this, 75 percent was recycled, 12
percent went to landfills and 13 percent was diverted from landfills by other means. The amount of waste handled by
third parties is recorded in Praxair's EKPI database according to the waste treatment methods used (landfill, recycled,
other not landfilled). To calculate the CO2e emissions resulting from waste treated in landfills, Praxair multiplies the
total amount of waste in this category by an emissions factor provided by the EPA, which is associated with the
municipal waste mix in the United States. The IPCC suggests that any CO2e emissions associated with recycling
should not be included in Scope 3 inventories. Therefore, Praxair uses an emissions factor of zero for recycled waste
treated by third parties. The "other" waste that is not landfilled or recycled is calculated equally as if it were landfilled.
Downstream Scope 3 Emissions
Praxair's most significant source of downstream GHG emissions is contractor truck driving. Praxair contract drivers
logged 153.5 million miles in 2015, 50 percent of the overall total of 307 million miles driven to deliver Praxair
products. To improve GHG intensity in trucking, Praxair works to improve distribution efficiency around the world with
technology investments such as route optimization and on-board computers, and with training in fuel-efficient driving
techniques. These initiatives are conducted with both Praxair drivers and contract drivers. In addition, contract drivers
are expected to adhere to Praxair's supplier expectations, including environmental improvement. Contract drivers
receive the same professional driver training in eco-efficiency that is provided to Praxair drivers. Praxair prioritizes its
engagement in regions with the highest proportion of contract drivers, namely Europe and South America.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Praxair's methodologies for downstream Scope 3 emissions are described below.
Downstream Transportation and Distribution (Contractor Driving)
Praxair products are delivered by pipeline, through on-site product production and by truck. A small portion is
delivered by train and ship. Contractor miles driven are collected in each country and business or region and tracked
as part of Praxair's safety program. Praxair's Scope 3 emissions resulting from delivery of products by third-party
carriers were derived using the same methodology to calculate GHG emissions from Praxair's trucks: Total miles
were converted into gallons (assuming a weighted average constant miles per gallon), then converted to GHGs using
an EPA emissions factor for diesel fuel to metric tons CO2e. Product delivered by Praxair trucks is reported as Scope
1.
Scope 3 Sources Not Reported
Praxair does not report emissions in the following categories: purchased goods and services, upstream transportation
and distribution, business travel, employee commuting, upstream leased assets, downstream leased assets and
investments. These emissions have been calculated or estimated and were determined to be not relevant due to their
very small contribution to Praxair's Scope 3 footprint.
Praxair also does not report emissions from processing of sold products, use of sold products, and end-of-life
treatment of sold products. Praxair is at the beginning of numerous value chains and provides many intermediate
products with many downstream applications, each of which has a very different GHG profile. Praxair does not
estimate the downstream emissions associated with the various end uses of all of its products.
Emissions from carbon dioxide sales to the food industry may be traceable. This market segment is a subset of
Praxair's food and beverage end market, which accounts for 6 percent of the company's annual revenue. Actual
carbon dioxide volumes are business confidential.
G4-EN18 Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity
See the following for GHG intensity ratios:

EN15-16 (2): Statement of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (in G4-EN15-16).

Praxair's SVR, Performance Dashboard, items 9, 10 and 11, for information on performance against GHG
intensity targets.

Praxair's 2016 CDP response (on calendar year 2015 data), which is available on our website:
G4-EN19 Reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Praxair has a range of targets to reduce GHG emissions. See Praxair's 2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard, items 2,
7, 9, 10, 11, 12a and 12b.
Scopes 1+2 GHG Emissions Reductions
Total sustainable productivity in 2015 yielded savings equivalent to 393,000 MT of CO2e emissions. These projects
provided energy and GHG savings from enhancing the energy efficiency of Praxair's buildings, processes and
transportation fleet. Information on the projects, including investment made, can be found in Praxair's 2016 CDP
response, which is available on our website.
Scope 3—Customer GHG Benefits
Praxair provides, and has under development, several technologies and applications that help mitigate the effects of
climate change. Refer to our website. For example, for the electronics industry, the company provides rare gases that
are used in liquid crystal display (LCD) flat panels that lower unit power consumption in televisions, computers and
cell phones. For the agriculture industry, Praxair provides oxygen-delivery technology to optimize sustainable fish
farming.
Several Praxair carbon dioxide industrial applications chemically "fix" carbon and provide a climate mitigation solution
because the carbon dioxide is not emitted into the atmosphere. Refer to our website. For example, in the pulp and
paper industry, carbon dioxide is used for brownstock (brown pulp) washing and paper pH control. Carbon dioxide
reacts with the alkaline compound contained in the pulp/paper, fixing the carbon.
Praxair carbon dioxide can also be used for climate adaptation. In Spain, Praxair carbon dioxide is helping to make
desalinated water drinkable. See Praxair's 2015 SVR, page 12. See also G4-EN27.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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G4-EN20 Emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS)
While Praxair does not consider emissions of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) to be significant, sites measure the
quantity of ODS contained in equipment as well as any emissions to the atmosphere. The company continues to
pursue opportunities to reduce the use and emissions of ODS through the use of alternatives and enhanced leak
detection and repair programs for equipment that still uses ODS. In 2015, Praxair released 10.1 metric tons of ODS,
which is less than 0.4 metric tons in CFC-11 equivalent. The three refrigerants included in Praxair's total are R-12, R22 and R-123.
EN20 (1): ODS Emissions by Type
In Metric Tons
G4-EN21 NOX, SOX, and other significant air emissions
In 2014, we removed air emissions from our list of priorities. As an industrial gases company, Praxair operational
NOx, SOx and VOCs emissions are modest relative to the chemical industry. Praxair's electricity use has an impact
on NOx and SOx emissions, which are managed through our operational energy targets.
Even though air emissions are not priorities in Praxair's business model, they are of interest to key stakeholders and
Praxair will continue to disclose non-GHG air emissions in this report.
NOx Emissions
Praxair's NOx emissions in 2015 decreased 5 percent over 2014. The majority of this decrease is due to the use of
newer engines in Praxair-owned trucks (which have lower NOx emissions) and decreased production (which led to
lower NOx emissions from air separation plants).
Combined NOx emissions from Praxair and contract drivers were 1,505 MT, a decrease of 7.7 percent from 2014
(1,631 MT). Contractors accounted for 50 percent of the total miles driven in 2015 to deliver Praxair products. See
Praxair's 2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard, item 13, for information on Praxair's NOx target.
EN21 (1): NOx Emissions
In Metric Tons
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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SOx Emissions
Total SOx emissions in 2015 were 29.1 MT, a 17 percent increase over 2014. The increase is due to the startup of a
new hydrogen plant in India; this plant uses refinery byproduct gas as a feedstock as well as a fuel. Praxair puts
approximately 90 percent of the refinery byproduct gas through a desulphurization process so that we can use it in
our process. Nevertheless, this resulted in an increase of Praxair’s SOx emissions by 4.2 MT.
The effect of using the byproduct steam is shown in EN21 (2).
In 2015, driving was the largest contributor of SOx emissions, accounting for 50.5 percent of emissions. SOx
emissions from driving have been steadily decreasing as Praxair updates its fleet with cleaner engines and invests in
fuel efficiency measures, and as fuel requirements around the world require lower sulphur content.
EN21 (2): SOx Emissions
In Metric Tons
VOC Emissions
Total VOC emissions in 2015 were 456 metric tons, a 7 percent decrease from 2014. The decrease is due to a
worldwide decrease in production, which led to lower emissions at hydrogen plants and in surface technologies. VOC
emissions from trucking also decreased as a result of the ongoing replacement of older engines.
EN21 (3): VOC Emissions
In Metric Tons
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TRI Emissions
In the United States, Praxair reports on- and off-site releases as part of the SARA Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). In
2015, Praxair released 242,468 pounds of reportable chemicals, compared to 223,585 pounds in 2014, an increase
of 8 percent. The majority of releases were ammonia used in the neutralization of NOx emissions and methanol,
which is flared and destroyed.
Aspect: Effluents and Waste
G4-EN22 Total water discharge by quality and destination
Praxair did not have any unplanned water discharges in 2015.
Praxair has begun collecting wastewater discharge volumes. We will begin reporting this data in the next several
years, once we can ensure data quality and completeness.
G4-EN23 Total weight of waste by type and disposal method
Praxair tracks hazardous and non-hazardous wastes by disposal method: landfill, recycling and other (incineration,
etc.). Our management metrics focus on reducing waste to landfill and increasing recycling; therefore, we do not track
"other" waste in specific categories; the mass of waste in this category in 2015 was about 9,000 metric tons. This is
an increase of 7,000 metric tons from 2014, mainly due to waste generated in Brazil for which regulations require
incineration.
Total waste generated by Praxair in 2015 was 70,700 metric tons, a decrease of 12 percent compared to 2014. This
is partially due to an overall decrease in production, as well as the success of Praxair's Zero Waste Program.
Of the total waste generated in 2015, 75 percent was diverted from landfill either by recycling or repurposing. Of this,
we estimate 26,500 metric tons was marketable (sold for repurposing/recycling). The amount of landfilled waste
decreased from 9,700 metric tons in 2014 to 8,700 metric tons in 2015. The amount of waste we recycled
(marketable plus non-saleable) decreased from 69,000 to 53,000 metric tons over the same period.
Waste is managed as part of People Development (one of Praxair's six PFs). To support this PF, Praxair created the
Zero Waste program, which is an employee engagement activity. Because Praxair's recycling rate is already greater
than 80 percent, our Zero Waste program focuses on improving waste data reporting and diverting waste from
landfills. For more information on the Zero Waste program, see Praxair's 2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard and
Notes, item 23.
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EN23 (1): Waste by Disposal Type
In Thousands of Metric Tons
G4-EN24 Total number and volume of significant spills
The Spill Center operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has access to all federal and state agencies,
emergency response authorities and local emergency response contractors. Because of the nature of Praxair's
business, oil spills with environmental significance have not been a material concern. A facility's oil impacts are
limited by the capacities of the compression equipment. These pieces of equipment are protected by a scuppering
system; oily water separators; spill prevention, control and countermeasure (SPCC) plans; and best management
practices. The majority of oil spills are from vehicle hydraulics and engine components. When applicable, spills are
promptly reported to the appropriate regulatory authorities. Praxair also tracks releases of atmospheric products from
operational equipment, such as pressure vessels (on-site and at customer locations). These releases are also
reported to the applicable regulating authorities.
There were 179 spills in the United States and Canada reported internally in 2015. None were deemed significant
and, therefore, no spills were reported in Praxair's 2015 Annual Report.
G4-EN25 Weight of transported, imported, exported or treated waste deemed hazardous under the
terms of the basel convention2 annex i, ii, iii and viii, and percentage of transported waste
shipped internationally
Praxair does not transport, import or export hazardous waste across international borders.
G4-EN26 Identity, size, protected status and biodiversity value of water bodies and related
habitats significantly affected by the organization’s discharges of water and runoff
Refer to the biodiversity issues reported in EN9 and EN11 through EN14.
Aspect: Products and Services
G4-EN27 Extent of impact mitigation of environmental impacts of products and services
Praxair measures and validates customer carbon productivity for selected applications, including oxygen for
steelmaking, hydrogen used by oil refiners to make ultra-low sulfur diesel (used in vehicles with diesel particulate
filters), argon for welding and krypton for window insulation. In 2015, these four applications, which contributed 11
percent of revenue, enabled the avoidance of 51.5 million MT CO2e, or a 30.7 million MT net benefit. See Praxair's
2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard, item 2, and page 12.
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Many of Praxair's environmental applications bring customers or their end users environmental benefits. For example,
the company's water and wastewater treatment services develop and deliver customized systems to help industrial
plants and municipalities meet their wastewater management goals. Praxair works directly with its customers to
provide beginning-to-end treatment methods, from needs assessment and treatment strategy to equipment design,
installation and industrial supply. It also offers a wide range of applications that treat and reuse process water, all
while maximizing treatment capacity, reducing VOC emissions, improving safety and reducing costs. See Praxair's
2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard, items 1 and 3.
As the global demand for potable water continues to rise, Praxair is advancing industrial technology to make this lifesustaining resource accessible to a growing population. Last year, Praxair technologies and gases helped bring clean
drinking water to more than 125 million people around the world. See Praxair's 2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard,
item 3.
In energy markets, Praxair continues to develop and advance industrial applications, supply systems and
technologies that reduce emissions and improve efficiency to power a cleaner future. Praxair gases support
applications and industries that supply hydrogen to power cars, buses and forklifts; build and operate world-class
oxygen supply units for gasification; and aid in the production of the next generation of biofuels, bio-based chemicals
and photovoltaic cells.
G4-EN28 Percentage of products sold and their packaging materials that are reclaimed by
category
Overall, Praxair produces very little packaging waste. Praxair delivers most of its product in pipelines or bulk cylinder
trucks. As the products are consumable, there is nothing to reclaim and no packaging material for the majority of
products. For the packaged gases business, either disposable cylinders or reusable cylinders are utilized. The metal
cylinders last about 40 years, are returnable and are typically reused multiple times. In addition, the company's
GPMM organization has launched an asset management program that is actively identifying idle assets (e.g.,
cylinders) to ensure they are put back into use rather than purchasing new materials. The program actively tracks all
assets, is well reported and is yielding good results.
Aspect: Compliance
G4-EN29 Monetary value of significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for noncompliance with environmental laws and regulations
Praxair maintains an outstanding record of global environmental compliance, which is measured and reported by the
cost of worldwide penalties. Penalties are reported for the year that the fine is assessed. The total monetary value of
environmental penalties in 2015 was $10,669, representing the ninth consecutive year that Praxair has been
assessed for less than $50,000 in environmental penalties.
Praxair is not aware of any non-monetary sanctions for environmental non-compliance or any actions brought through
dispute resolution mechanisms involving independent third-party review.
EN29 (1): Environmental Penalties
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Aspect: Transport
G4-EN30 Significant environmental impacts of transporting products and other goods and
materials for the organization’s operations, and transporting members of the workforce
A range of environmental aspects of transportation, including employee commuting and upstream heavy equipment
transportation, are not considered material in comparison to product transportation (see Scope 3 discussion in G4EN17).
Product transportation by truck is considered a material issue for Praxair both by internal and external stakeholders.
Praxair's risk assessment as reported in its 2015 Annual Report, page 9, states: "Also inherent in the management of
the company's production facilities and delivery systems, including storage, vehicle transportation and pipelines, are
operational risks that require continuous training, oversight and control. …the occurrence of vehicle transportation
accidents could result in loss of life, damage to the environment, loss of production and/or extensive property
damage."
Praxair product is transported in pipelines, bulk trucks and packaged gas trucks. Praxair and its contractors drove
more than 307 million miles in 2015. This is equivalent to driving around the earth almost 34 times each day. Praxair
drivers accounted for 153.5 million of these miles (50 percent). The principal environmental impact from driving is
GHG emissions. Principal safety aspects are vehicle accidents (reported in G4-LA6). Praxair reports safety and
environmental metrics for both Praxair and contract drivers.
Distribution productivity savings were $33 million. This activity made a substantial contribution to Praxair's margin
creation and contributed to sales revenue: Additional delivery capacity resulting from these efficiencies generated
$775,000 in additional, or incremental, sales revenue, from Praxair drivers. Praxair also has four targets addressing
sustainable transportation—see Praxair's 2015 SVR, Performance Dashboard, items 11, 12a, 12b and 13.
To support customer service, safety, environmental and community responsibility, and product safety and security,
Praxair invests heavily in a range of initiatives, including systems and technology, logistics and route optimization,
partnerships for best practices, and training. Some of these are described below.
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Systems and Technology
As fuel is a major cost, Praxair continuously invests in fuel efficiency. Efforts include investing in aerodynamic shields
and roll stability systems for bulk trucks, acquiring hybrid and hybrid-electric packaged gas delivery trucks and
replacing the U.S. sales teams' small truck fleet with fuel-efficient sedans.
OBCs installed on most Praxair bulk gas delivery trucks have helped Praxair drivers significantly improve vehicle
safety, save fuel and limit carbon dioxide emissions. To help contract carriers achieve these same results, Praxair
began a pilot program in Germany, where distribution is conducted exclusively by contract carriers.
Logistics and Route Optimization
Logistics optimization brings environmental benefits from fuel efficiency as well as safety and security benefits from
fewer miles driven.
This is a key area for productivity teams around the world, and they identified 855 projects that saved 4.8 million
gallons of diesel fuel and 204,500 gallons of gasoline and avoided 53,500 MT of CO2e from Praxair drivers.
Partnerships for Best Practices
Since 2010, Praxair Mexico has been a participant in the Clean Transportation voluntary national program, developed
by SEMARNAT (Mexico's Department of Environmental and Natural Resources) and industry representatives. One
part of the program focuses on reducing fuel consumption, GHG emissions and the cost of transportation, as well as
adopting advanced technology, fleet modernization and driver training and certification.
Training
Eco-driver training is described above. Praxair makes a substantial investment in environmental and social
responsibility training for all employees and contractors. Much of this is directed at drivers. See G4-LA9. Anti-rollover
training is part of the annual requirements for professional drivers.
Sleep management workshops: See G4-LA2.
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Social
Disclosures on Management Approach
G4-DMA Management approach for material aspects
Social performance indicators focus attention on the impacts organizations have on the local communities in which
they operate, and disclosing how the risks that may arise from interactions with other social institutions are managed
and mediated.
The GRI Social Performance Aspects identify reporting elements for labor practices, human rights, society and
product responsibility, and each aspect has one or more reporting indicators. Praxair's SDMA identified four social
PFs, each with several KPIs, which were converted into targets. The priority social issues identified in Praxair's
SDMA are Safety, Compliance, Eco Portfolio/Product Stewardship and People Development. Each of these priority
elements has related KPIs and targets. Both the SDMA as well as performance against our targets are provided in
the 2015 SVR.
This chapter provides source data for performance reported in the SVR and provides disclosures for GRI elements
that are considered PFs. These are denoted with a . It also reports on additional GRI elements that are not PFs but
that may be of interest to various outside stakeholders. Further information is provided in the 2015 SVR and in this
chapter.
Praxair's social disclosures encompass the areas of Labor, Human Rights, Society and Product Responsibility. Labor
practices are based on internationally recognized universal standards, including the United Nations Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and related United Nations Conventions and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental
Principles and Rights at Work. Human rights performance indicators require organizations to report on the extent to
which processes have been implemented, on incidents of human rights violations and on changes in the
stakeholders' ability to enjoy and exercise their human rights, occurring during the reporting period. Among the
human rights issues included are nondiscrimination, gender equality, freedom of association, collective bargaining,
child labor, forced and compulsory labor and indigenous rights.
These and the basis for determining our priorities are described in the Outlook section of the 2015 SVR.
Labor
Safety and people development are PFs for Praxair, and targets are developed for safety, diversity and employee
engagement. The most senior executives responsible for the Social area include the chief compliance officer and
executives in HR and SH&E, along with business leaders.
Society
People Development is a PF for Praxair, and this includes Community Engagement and Stakeholder Engagement.
Targets are developed in this area. Employee community engagement is managed under the vice president,
sustainable development, with Praxair's director, sustainable development and community engagement reporting to
her. Public policy and compliance with policies prohibiting corruption or anti-competitive behavior are managed under
the chief compliance officer.
Product Responsibility
Product Stewardship is a KPI area for Praxair within the PF of Eco Portfolio. Targets are developed in this area. The
most senior executive in charge of Praxair's product stewardship is the senior vice president. The directors of product
safety and process safety report into the vice president, SH&E, who reports to the senior vice president.
Human Rights
Governance, Ethics and Compliance is a PF for Praxair, and targets are developed in this area. The chief compliance
officer is responsible for this area. Praxair has a very strong commitment to its global standards and policies and to
compliance. Praxair recognizes and adheres to these global standards and to all labor and employment laws
wherever it operates, including those respecting freedom of association, privacy and equal employment opportunity.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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LABOR PRACTICES AND DECENT WORK
Aspect: Employment
G4-LA1 Total number and rates of new employee hires and employee turnover by age group,
gender and region
Total Employment
The number of employees as of December 31, 2015, was 26,657, reflecting a decrease of 1,123 employees from
December 31, 2014. See LA1 (1). Praxair's workforce includes professional/managerial-level employees,
technical/administrative employees (drivers), and technical and administrative staff. Many of the company's truck
drivers and administrative assistants in the United States are non-exempt employees. Praxair has implemented a
centralized tracking system for workforce statistics and continues to phase this system globally.
U.S. employees who work more than a pre-defined number of hours per week are entitled to benefits. The distribution
of employees by region is provided in LA1 (2).
LA1 (1): Number of Praxair Employees
Overall, 76 percent of Praxair professional employees are men and 24 percent are women. The senior management
team is 20 percent female. Praxair's workforce does not include a substantial portion of work performed by selfemployed workers or by individuals other than employees. Regional HR is responsible for managing each respective
region and the company consolidates key metrics at the global level; these are reported here. This indicator is
partially reported. Praxair does not typically employ seasonal labor.
LA1 (2): Praxair Employees by Region
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Turnover
Praxair's global turnover rate was 11.4 percent. Globally, Praxair does not provide additional details about the
number and rate of new hires or employee turnover, as it considers this information to be confidential.
G4-LA2 Benefits provided to full-time employees that are not provided to temporary or part-time
employees, by significant locations of operation
Praxair offers a high-performance culture, values ambitious and creative employees, and incentivizes and rewards
good performance. Employees can expect to receive a competitive pay package that recognizes the experience,
skills, and abilities they bring to the company.
Training and development are offered, as well as a full range of benefit programs ranging from wellness to work-life
balance. Benefits are available to all full-time employees and vary according to business unit. Paid vacations and
holidays, life and accident insurance, healthcare, disability/invalidity coverage, primary caregiver leave
(maternity/paternity leave, including for adoption), flextime, education reimbursement, wellness allowances and a
range of personal and family insurance policies, options for professional services (legal, counseling, medical care,
childcare, eldercare), purchasing subsidies (personal office equipment and supplies, gym membership/equipment)
and retirement provisions are some of the types of benefits provided to employees of the organization. Many specific
program descriptions here apply to U.S. programs, but equivalent programs may be offered in each country and
referenced on that country's careers website. These benefits are generally not provided to temporary or part-time
employees by major operations.
Flexible Work: Praxair understands that everyone has commitments outside of work. Recognizing this, the company
has global policies that provide work arrangements that help employees meet enduring or shorter-term personal
needs through formal and informal means. For example, in the United States, Praxair offers paid personal days and a
Flexible Work Policy that allows flexible scheduling.
Work/Life: Praxair offers a confidential resource and referral service for practical advice and referrals related to
parenting and childcare, eldercare, financial and college planning, retirement planning, survivor support programs
and more. Facilities at the headquarters and in Monterrey have onsite daycare. Praxair's largest office/facility in
Tonawanda and the Danbury headquarters feature a mother's room for breastfeeding.
Health and Wellness: A range of activities are offered to all employees to support employee health and wellness.
They include seminars on such diverse topics as financial health/retirement, sleep management and managing such
work-life issues as a family member with Alzheimer's disease; community engagement; office picnics/parties; and
"bring your child to work day." Some activities are managed by an Employee Activity Council or similar, and vary by
site. For those participating in the Praxair medical plan, benefits include a Healthy Living Plan, health risk
assessments and a 24-hour nursing consultation.
Volunteerism: Praxair is committed to supporting the communities around the world where its employees live and
work. Employees are encouraged to participate in volunteerism and in community engagement activities. The Praxair
Global Giving program provides generous matches to a range of employee giving.
Community engagement is one of Praxair's core values, and employees at all levels of the company contribute their
time and skills to help build resilient communities. Corporate policies allow employees to volunteer during work hours
with the support of their managers. Options for employees include employee-driven projects, giving campaigns such
as the annual United Way campaign held at various locations, and the year-round matching gift program.
G4-LA3 Return to work and retention rates after parental leave, by gender
Subject to country or region's laws, Praxair employees of either gender are entitled to parental leave or benefit
entitlement that may be used for parental leave purposes.
Additional employee benefits and entitlements in the United States fall under the Family and Medical Leave Act
(FMLA) and Short Term Disability (STD). To be eligible for FMLA leave benefits of 12 weeks in a year, an employee
must meet some eligibility requirements, for example, time worked for Praxair (12 months). The FMLA covers birth,
adoption or foster care of an employee's child within 12 months after the birth or placement of the child ("Bonding
Leave"); care for an immediate family member (spouse, child or parent) with a serious health condition ("Family Care
Leave"); and an employee's inability to work because of a serious health condition ("Serious Health Condition
Leave"). Other countries have equivalent programs. For example, in Mexico, under their Diversity and Inclusion
Forum, a program, Policies for Motherhood and Fatherhood in Praxair Mexico, was launched. This program was
designed to provide greater flexibility to carry out work and family activities during the first year after the birth/adoption
of a child.
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Starting in 2016, in the United States, parents of newly birthed or adopted children are eligible for a Primary
Caregiver Leave for full time employees with one year of company credit, which allows parents of newly birthed or
adopted children up to 10 weeks of leave, 4 weeks of which are paid. In addition, subject to management's
discretions, all new parents are subject to flexibility or accommodations in the six months after birth or adoption.
At this time, Praxair does not report on the number of employees who took parental leave or their return to work
retention rates.
Aspect: Labor/Management Relations
G4-LA4 Minimum notice periods regarding operational changes, including whether these are
specified in collective agreements
Praxair considers relations with its employees to be excellent. Praxair's Human Rights Policy upholds its employees'
right to choose which organizations they join and whether to unionize or not. Thirty-two percent of Praxair employees
belong to an independent trade union or are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Employees in Europe are
members of work councils.
Praxair has collective bargaining agreements with unions at numerous locations throughout the world, which expire at
various dates. Most of the company's labor agreements have language that defines severance arrangements. In
countries or companies where employees have third-party representation via a works council or collective bargaining,
Praxair respects these relationships and works with these third parties in a mutually respectful manner. In the case of
work councils, Praxair meets any predetermined notice periods mutually agreed to by the parties.
As a matter of business practice, Praxair keeps employees well informed of operational changes through normal
internal communications channels, most notably its corporate intranet, through which global/corporate information
and business unit information (in home country language) is provided directly to employees. Business leaders also
communicate through regular channels that include periodic business teleconferences, newsletters, and issue
communications.
Praxair makes every effort to be proactive and to provide reasonable notice to all employees if a significant change
occurs, and it has a good record of employee relations in countries where it does business.
Aspect: Occupational Health and Safety
G4-LA6 Type of injury and rates of injury, occupational diseases, lost days and absenteeism,
and total number of work-related fatalities, by region and by gender
Employees and contractor safety, including near-miss safety incidents and events with the potential to cause a
fatality, are KPIs for Praxair's safety performance. They are reported monthly to the Office of the Chairman and
quarterly to the Board. Accidents and near misses are closely monitored, reported and investigated. Evaluations of
these events are performed, and the lessons learned are communicated in safety training and special safety alerts for
the relevant work groups. The benefit of these continuous efforts is that Praxair's employee and contractor safety
performance continues to be better than general industry benchmarks and among the best within the industrial gases
and chemical industry.
To promote continuous improvement and recognize efforts contributing to a safe working environment, Praxair
presents an annual Chairman's Safety Award. The award is given to businesses that meet or exceed their best-ever
performance over the last five years in reducing recordable injuries, lost workday cases and/or product vehicle
accidents. Several Praxair businesses achieved best-ever safety performance in 2015: Praxair Surface Technologies,
Praxair NuCO2 and Praxair Mexico and Central America achieved best-ever recordable injury rates and lost workday
case rates. Praxair HyCO and Praxair USA achieved best-ever lost workday case rates. Praxair Canada achieved
best-ever recordable injury rates, lost workday case rates and product vehicle accident rates. Praxair South America
achieved best-ever lost workday case rates and product vehicle accident rates.
See LA6(1).
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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LA6 (1): Global Safety Performance by Region
LA6 (2): Worldwide Product Vehicle Safety: Praxair Drivers
Rate per million miles
LA6 (3): Worldwide Product Vehicle Safety: Praxair Drivers
Number of Events and Distance Traveled
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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LA6 (4): Worldwide Product Vehicle Safety: Contract Drivers
Rate per million miles
LA6 (5): Worldwide Product Vehicle Safety: Contract Drivers
Number of Events and Distance Traveled
Aspect: Training and Education
G4-LA9 Average hours of training per year per employee by gender, and by employee category
Business Benefits from Training and Education
Like many companies, Praxair must attract, hire and retain qualified personnel in order to develop, market or sell its
products or successfully manage its business. Praxair is dependent upon its highly-skilled, experienced and efficient
workforce to be successful. Much of Praxair's competitive advantage is based on the expertise and experience of its
key personnel regarding marketing, technology, manufacturing, distribution infrastructure, systems and products. The
inability to attract and hire qualified individuals or the loss of key employees in very skilled areas could have a
negative effect on the company's financial results. Investments in employee training and development bring value, but
this is often hard to measure, or of indirect business benefit. The challenge in this area is to create training
interventions that bring direct learning and measurable business benefits.
One example of Praxair's activity in 2015 demonstrates the multiple values from employee development programs. In
2015, Praxair implemented two blended leadership programs: Leadership in Action and Finance for Managers, which
is for female employees. Both programs are immersive, virtual learning opportunities lasting several weeks. The
experiences feature team discussions, blogs and team mentoring by an executive sponsor. Already, the program has
enhanced the leadership capabilities for 177 leaders at no incremental training cost. Prior to implementation, the
Talent Development team conducted a detailed needs assessment to ensure that the program met the needs of a
company with highly technical talent and which helps to develop the financial acumen necessary for high performing
employees to move well through the organization.
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Employee Learning and Development
Praxair employee careers and career paths are strategically managed. Employees and management use a range of
competence-based and goal-setting tools. Employees store and maintain resumes, experience, completed training,
certifications achieved, performance appraisals, and career goals and aspirations. Career paths are planned in
conversations with their managers against competency ladders. These plans are used for talent development and
succession planning and in internal recruitment.
Praxair has invested in Learning Management System (LMS) software that facilitates global reporting of formal
training. The data reported below is a subset of all the Praxair-sponsored formal training provided. The LMS system
enables all businesses and functions to house, track and offer training and training-related information on a single
enterprise platform.
Due to the installation of new global training systems, Praxair now collects global training statistics by region. For all
types of training, excluding safety training, Praxair reports an average of 12 hours of training globally (regional
average); however, these hours vary depending on training needs and budgets. See LA9 (1).
In 2015, Praxair continued to expand the use of technology to offer significant training with increased efficiency of
time and cost:

Praxair fully implemented e-learning, offering development to more than 2,700 employees. In 2015, nearly
7,000 courses were taken, representing 3,500 training hours, and more than 1,800 books were resourced.

Praxair also launched a series of webinars reaching out to more than 3,000 employees and managers.

Praxair expanded the use of e-learning to reach substantially all employees for business integrity and
sustainability training.
When added to standard compliance training and safety training, employees received an average of at least 51 hours
in 2015. See LA9 (2).
This training consists of:
1. Ethics and compliance training: This is mandatory at all levels. The average employee receives two hours of
training each year.
2. Employee development training: Praxair employees received an average of 12 hours of formal training in 2015.
3. Professional skills training: Employees in specific businesses and functions receive additional training as needed
or requested. This will be tracked globally when Praxair's LMS is fully automated.
4. Management and development training: Trainees received an average of 27 hours of management and
development training per year. This is approximately the same as in 2014.
Improving managerial effectiveness is a key to employee engagement. In 2014, Praxair introduced the concept of
micro-learning for managers through TAKE5, a leadership development video series that provides five-minute videos
for managers, including application exercises to help them with day-do-day situations. The tool has allowed Praxair to
reach thousands of managers and to continue to improve skill building in management and supervision, and
ultimately, employee engagement. To date, the program has experienced more than 50,000 views.
Safety Training
Praxair is committed to providing our employees with a safe operating environment by investing in state-of-the-art
technology and driving a culture in which safety is our top priority. Accordingly, Praxair rigorously focuses on training
to prevent work-related risks and/or occupational health hazards for employees, their families, contractors and, in
many cases, for community members. Its industry-leading safety performance is the result of a program of continuous
training and communication using a wide range of media.
In 2015, Praxair invested more than 1 million hours in safety training for its employees and contractors. The average
Praxair employee (at facilities and offices) received 37 hours of formal safety training in 2015 (see G4-EC 6).
All sites in all regions and business units have periodic safety meetings and an annual Safety Commitment Program,
which is held at every facility globally and represents Praxair's commitment to safety (operations are shut down for
Safety Commitment Programs). There are periodic "stand-down" meetings when operations are stopped for a safety
program, continuous short "toolbox" reviews, and additional annual training for specific job functions and for
compliance purposes. In addition, Praxair conducts general safety training and communication through a range of
global, regional and site-based channels on a needs basis, for example, in relation to safety changes in different
seasons, a worldwide health threat or to communicate learnings after a safety incident. Safety training is conducted
for all employees, in all functions.
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Cultural Awareness, Diversity and Inclusion and Unconscious Bias Training
Diversity and inclusion training is offered globally through multiple platforms and to various levels across the
organization. This training enhances managerial and leadership capabilities and also equips employees to effectively
manage talent in a multicultural, increasingly diverse environment. Classroom training and e-learning are used to
enhance personal and managerial skills and are offered on a mandatory and voluntary basis. There is activity in this
area, building steadily over the years. For example, in 2013, cultural awareness training was offered to all employees,
and a learning tool, Culture Wizard, was introduced. The tool benefits global business managers, business travelers,
international assignees and employees working in virtual teams to strengthen their global business skills and work
effectively with others from diverse backgrounds. In 2014, more than 1,200 global managers were trained on a newly
embedded segment within our Leading in Praxair (LIP), "Managing Diversity." The program defines diversity and
inclusion within Praxair’s cultural context and enhances managers' capability to drive inclusion in the organization. In
2015, Praxair implemented unconscious bias training and tools for managers starting with a cohort of more than 200
managers.
Also in 2015, many locations celebrated Global Diversity Day and International Women’s Day events, offering
learning webinars and inclusion activities. Praxair also celebrates up to six heritage days around the world celebrating
the global diversity of its employees.
Leadership and Skills Development
Classroom training is only part of the education that employees receive. Mentoring, networking, skills training and
work experience are all designed to enhance employee career opportunities. Some employees receive formal
mentoring, and there are various networks for employees to join based on interest (e.g., Toastmasters clubs or
"Success Network" events). Eligible employees receive tuition reimbursement for approved studies, including
university degrees. Following are highlights of additional initiatives that promote the career development of Praxair
employees:

Widespread e-learning opportunities to increase technical and managerial skills and for personal
development. The Personal Development Center, for example, provides on-line coaching and tools for
developing competencies used in annual performance evaluations, and other valued skills.

An enterprise-wide LMS system enables all businesses and functions to house, track and offer training and
training-related information on a single enterprise platform.
Business Programs
Praxair's commercial and corporate programs offer challenging projects that will help prepare dynamic sales and
corporate talent within the business. Examples include the following rotational programs:

Commercial Leadership Program (CLP): The CLP is designed to expose employees to key areas within
Praxair's sales arena and cylinder gas business.

Corporate Leadership Development Program (CLDP): This two-year rotational program exposes employees
to the critical issues, decision-making processes and data analysis methods unique to each Praxair
business.

Hydrogen Technical Orientation Program (HyTOP): HyTOP is a nine-month program designed to expose
employees to key areas across the hydrogen business and give them hands-on experience in a variety of
plant operations areas, such as safety, quality, environmental control and maintenance.

Leadership and Technical Orientation Program (LTOP): LTOP is a one-year program designed to introduce
employees to the operations and commercial aspects of Praxair's U.S. Industrial Gases (USIG) business,
such as plant start-ups or shutdowns, maintenance, project planning and execution, project management,
sales and planning.

Operations Leadership Program (OLP): OLP is a one-year program that exposes employees to key plant
operations within Praxair Distribution, Inc.

International Leadership Development Program (ILDP): ILDP is a two-year international program designed
to expose attendees to key business areas and help them to build their skills. Rotations can be across
several functions, including the financial, business development and marketing areas.
Corporate Development Programs
•
LIP: This three-day supervisory skills program is offered in all geographies. To date, more than 2,025
managers have benefitted from this training, helping them to expand their managerial skills. This program
allows Praxair to standardize managerial practices around the world.
•
Career Development Program (CDP): This program was developed for early-career employees. In 2015,
more than 150 employees benefitted from this program. "Train the trainer" sessions for regional groups
allow for the capability to deliver this CDP to more employees, as millennials continue to enter the
workforce.
•
General Managers Program: This program teaches employees how to create value using experiential
techniques. The program enhances employees' ability to operate in a competitive business environment.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
40
•
Global Leadership Program: In order to prepare the future Praxair executive, the Global Leadership Program
develops the business management and leadership skills required to achieve both short- and long-term
business objectives. Successful executives have the opportunity to understand their leadership strengths
and weaknesses and to develop the potential of direct reports.
This indicator is partially reported. Praxair businesses are responsible for HR management at their respective
regional level. Key metrics are consolidated at the global level and reported here.
LA9 (1): Global Employee Development Training: Average Hours, not Including Safety Training
LA9 (2): Global Training: Average Hours per Employee
G4-LA10 Programs for skills management and lifelong learning that support the continued
employability of employees and assist them in managing career endings
Eligible employees can receive tuition reimbursement for eligible studies such as an MBA. Globally, Praxair directed
approximately 12 percent of its training budget towards educational reimbursement in 2015. Several learning and
development tools are made available to employees to allow them to develop professional and interpersonal skills.
Employees participate in industry conferences and seminars that facilitate best-practice sharing and professional
networking. Praxair's financial services vendor routinely offers on-line and in-office seminars on financial planning,
including financial planning for employees approaching retirement.
In the United States, under the company's generally applicable severance plan, if employment terminates for certain
reasons, U.S. employees are generally eligible for severance benefits of up to a maximum of 26 weeks of base pay,
depending on their completed years of service. See the 2015 Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, pages 50 and
61-62.
G4-LA11 Percentage of employees receiving regular performance and career development
reviews, by gender and by employee category
Talent Management
At least annually, Praxair employees meet formally with their supervisors to review their performance and
development opportunities. Employees receive a performance appraisal through the systematic use of agreed-upon
measurable targets and a multi-dimensional performance appraisal. Performance reviews and development plans are
a part of a global talent management system, which is designed to effectively utilize and advance employees across
all regions. In 2015, Praxair deployed new communications to convey the company's development philosophy, which
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41
further encouraged all employees and managers to have frequent performance conversations and increase employee
engagement.
Performance
Every year, Praxair ensures that managers and employees measure the results of individual objectives, creating a
transparent link between performance and rewards. All employees around the world are expected to obtain results
and demonstrate a series of competences and behaviors that support the local business strategy. Praxair's
Performance Management Process (PMP) is designed to:
•
Ensure alignment between employee and business unit/function goals.
•
Enhance communication between employees and managers.
•
Promote meaningful assessment and evaluation of individual performance.
•
Promote alignment between individual performance and pay.
The first step in the PMP is to set annual performance goals. Goal setting is a collaborative process between
managers and employees. Goals are the driving force behind achievement and provide an opportunity to challenge
employees and improve their skills. Goals serve the needs of the company and aid in the development of employees.
An additional tool is Praxair's Career Positioning System (CPS). This initiative provides employees with a toolkit to
effectively navigate their own career path. It offers users both self-assessment and management assessment against
expected performance and future goals. Employees are given a clear map of the competencies expected at each
level and can examine career ladders by functional area. Employees are empowered to work on their own
development and to explore the wide range of career opportunities within the company. The CPS helps an employee
understand his/her competency gaps and what learning and developmental activities would be beneficial to his/her
advancement in the company.
Aspect: Diversity and Equal Opportunity
G4-LA12 Composition of governance bodies and breakdown of employees per employee
category according to gender, age group, minority group membership, and other indicators of
diversity
Diversity and inclusion is a formal business function through the Office of Human Resources and focuses on four
pillars: Talent Management, Workplace Culture, Managerial Training and Marketplace Branding. Praxair's CEO and
Office of the Chair monitors results in recruiting, development and promotion; representation in senior leadership;
managerial training; and culture, inclusion and workforce engagement. This ensures that diversity and inclusion is
sustained as a top priority as the company's business grows. Each subsidiary and business unit is responsible for
developing and implementing action plans and initiatives to maintain an inclusive culture, increase Praxair's workforce
diversity and train its managers. Among other things, Praxair (1) sponsors talent pipeline initiatives for diverse talent
and employee resource groups for diverse talent segments; (2) celebrates heritage days and cultural awareness
events; (3) offers managerial and bias training and webinars to employees; and (4) brands itself through community
engagement. See also G4-LA9.
LA12 (1) provides information on diversity in Praxair's Board, global senior leadership team, and CEO senior
management team.
All of Praxair's Board members are over the age of 50.
Eight executive officers were elected by the Board of Directors and serve at the discretion of the Board. It is expected
that the Board will elect officers annually following each annual meeting of shareholders. For 2015, four executive
officers were over the age of 50 and four were 50 or below. Praxair is committed to sourcing and retaining local
talent, particularly in its emerging economy countries. Below the level of corporate executive, 94.7 percent of
Praxair's emerging economy country businesses are managed by local or regional national leaders (country
presidents, managing directors or regional vice presidents).
Globally, the percentage of women employees is 19 percent (24 percent for professional employees). Praxair does
not currently report global diversity breakdowns in all the ways requested by the GRI. Praxair also reports data from
Mexico and Central America in the sustainability reports for that business.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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LA12 (1): Diversity in Global Leadership and Management
Aspect: Equal Remuneration for Women and Men
G4-LA13 Ratio of basic salary and remuneration of women to men by employee category, by
significant locations of operation
Praxair's compensation policy assigns jobs into pay levels based on job descriptions so that people performing the
same type of job functions are in the same pay range, regardless of age, sex and race. To ensure that its
compensation policy is being appropriately administered, Praxair conducts annual pay equity analyses in the United
States and in other countries where required by law.
Specific salary information is confidential.
HUMAN RIGHTS
Aspect: Investment
G4-HR1 Total number and percentage of significant investment agreements and contracts
that include human rights clauses or that underwent human rights screening
All significant investment decisions incorporate human rights screening in keeping with Praxair's Human Rights
Policy. Potential investment agreements that would violate this policy are not pursued. This includes capital
investments and acquisitions.
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G4-HR2 Total hours of employee training on human rights policies or procedures concerning
aspects of human rights that are relevant to operations, including the percentage of employees
trained
Praxair defines human rights in our Human Rights Policy, which was updated in 2015. One-hundred percent of
employees are trained annually in our Standards of Business Integrity (SBI), 100 percent of contractors are trained in
safety and large portions of the employee base are trained in elements of compliance, diversity and antiharassment— all of these are activities included within our Human Rights Policy.
In 2015, custom training was developed for the revised Human Rights Policy. In 2016, this training was distributed
through the LMS to managers globally in functions that have a direct role in the implementation of the policy:
Compliance, HR, SH&E, GPMM, communications and sustainable development; and certain others that have an
indirect role, for example, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and security. This was more than 1,000 managers.
In 2015–2016, at least 15 percent of Praxair employees received training in the company's Human Rights policy.
One-hundred percent of the Security and Internal Audit organizations were trained in 2015–2016 and employees, by
level, from HR, GPMM and SH&E were included in the training cycle in 2016. A work process has been established
to refresh this training each year.
In SAWM, training in human rights is included in their annual Compliance Day (mandatory for all employees). In
addition, SAWM includes aspects of human rights training in their training in diversity, inclusion and the prohibition of
sexual harassment. Training in these subjects was provided to nearly 2,000 employees. With the publication of the
updated Human Rights Policy in early 2015, training and communication will be delivered to affected groups on a
planned cycle.
The total company training in the Human Rights policy is more than 1,500 hours
Aspect: Non-discrimination
G4-HR3 Total number of incidents of discrimination and corrective actions taken
Discrimination is prohibited by Praxair's policies. The Board of Directors has adopted an Ethics Policy, and, pursuant
to this policy, management has also developed Praxair's SBI in booklet form and a related program to provide
additional, specific business conduct guidance to employees.
Praxair is committed to recruiting, hiring, compensating and promoting people based solely on their abilities,
performance and qualifications for their jobs and to maintaining a professional work environment in which employees
are treated with respect and dignity. As part of its commitment to equal employment opportunity, Praxair prohibits
discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status,
pregnancy or gender identity or expression. This prohibition is applicable to all Praxair employees worldwide whether
such behavior is prohibited by the laws in the regions where we operate. Praxair is also committed to complying fully
with applicable labor and employment laws wherever it operates.
This information is distributed to Praxair employees worldwide to outline management's expectation of ethical conduct
and integrity wherever Praxair does business. All employees are required to annually certify that they have read and
understand the material.
Praxair takes these standards very seriously and any non-compliance, depending on the circumstances, can result in
serious disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment. Employees are actively encouraged to
report suspected complaints and concerns, and are expected to report violations through a number of channels,
including the Integrity Hotline. Reports through the Integrity Hotline may be made anonymously. Praxair's complaint
handling procedures and policy are outlined on its website. All reports to the hotline are appropriately investigated
and satisfactorily closed. It is a violation of Praxair policy for any person to retaliate against any individual who has
reported an SBI matter in good faith.
In 2015, 388 reports were made to the Integrity Hotline. Of these reports, more than 74.7 percent were related to
workplace issues not within the scope of the SBI. The remainder addressed a range of issues under the SBI, which
were investigated and addressed where appropriate. The director of internal audits is responsible for maintaining and
retaining complete records concerning the receipt of all targeted complaints, their reporting, investigation and final
resolution. The director of internal audits, acting through the Corporate Security department, develops and maintains
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a control and follow-up system for targeted complaints, including, to the extent he/she deems appropriate, a written
tracking system to ensure that each complaint is promptly followed up and resolved, accountabilities are assigned
and communicated, and each step in the handling of the complaint is described in detail.
HR3 (1): Aggregate Number of Hotline Reports
Aspect: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining
G4-HR4 Operations and suppliers identified in which the right to exercise freedom of
association and collective bargaining may be violated or at significant risk, and measures taken to
support these rights
These rights are referenced in Praxair's Human Rights Policy. For actions taken, see G4-HR2.
Aspect: Child Labor
G4-HR5 Operations and suppliers identified as having significant risk for incidents of child
labor, and measures taken to contribute to the effective abolition of child labor
These rights are referenced in Praxair's Human Rights Policy. For actions taken, see G4-HR2.
Aspect: Forced or Compulsory Labor
G4-HR6 Operations and suppliers identified as having significant risk for incidents of forced
or compulsory labor, and measures to contribute to the elimination of all forms of forced or
compulsory labor
These rights are referenced in Praxair's Human Rights Policy. For actions taken, see G4-HR2.
Aspect: Security Practices
G4-HR7 Percentage of security personnel trained in the organization’s human rights policies
or procedures that are relevant to operations
One-hundred percent of security personnel were trained in Praxair's Human Rights Policy and its application to their
work in 2015. Training was provided to third-party security personnel in 2012. See G4-HR2.
Aspect: Indigenous Rights
G4-HR8 Total number of incidents of violations involving rights of indigenous peoples and
actions taken
In 2015, there were no determinations of Praxair's operations precluding employees from their rights to freedom of
association, there was no likelihood of incidences of child labor or forced labor, and Praxair was not involved in any
incidents of violation of the rights of indigenous people, so action was not required.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Aspect: Assessment
G4-HR9 Total number and percentage of operations that have been subject to human rights
reviews or impact assessments
One-hundred percent of operations were reviewed.
Aspect: Supplier Human Rights Assessment
G4-HR10 Percentage of new suppliers that were screened using human rights criteria
G4-HR11 Significant actual and potential negative human rights impacts in the supply chain
and actions taken
Supplier expectations include safety, environment and human rights and are built into Praxair's GPMM management
system. Praxair's supplier expectations are integral to supplier quantitative and qualitative selection. These
expectations influence all steps of the supplier management process including qualification, policy commitments,
contractual obligations, training, communication and performance assessments and reviews. One-hundred percent of
relevant suppliers are screened for applicable human rights aspects.
Safety is a key priority of Praxair's supplier management strategy. Safety, environmental performance and
management systems at or above the requested standards are preconditions for qualification, contracts, assessment
and requalification, as well as the subject of much of Praxair's supplier training and capacity building. Inadequate
performance is grounds for contract termination. Safety is integrated into procurement at all levels.
Human Rights in the Supply Chain
An "adverse human rights impact" occurs when an action removes or reduces the ability of an individual to enjoy his
or her human rights. Praxair seeks to avoid causing or contributing to adverse human rights impacts through our own
activities and to address such impacts when they occur. We seek to prevent or mitigate adverse human rights
impacts that are directly linked to our operations, products or services in our business relationships, even if Praxair
has not contributed to those impacts.
Policy
Praxair has not identified a material risk from human rights. Nevertheless, Praxair's corporate values and its Human
Rights Policy makes clear our active commitment to the recognition and safeguarding of human rights in all the
countries in which we operate and in our business relationships. Praxair complies with all applicable national laws
and international treaties concerning human rights, social rights and labor rights. The Policy is consistent with the
principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and referenced elements of the International Labour
Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. At the same time we respect the
sovereignty of nations throughout the world and affirm their primary responsibility to protect their citizens' human
rights. The policy reflects Praxair's SBI. Praxair seeks to do business with partners—customers, suppliers and
contractors—who share the same commitment to human rights that we have.
All employees are responsible for complying with this policy, which is publicly available on the Praxair website and
communicated internally and externally to all employees, business partners and other relevant parties. Suppliers,
vendors and contractors must agree to abide by Praxair’s Human Rights Policy, or demonstrate a commitment to
human rights via their own policies.
Due Diligence
Praxair has developed and implemented a systematic due diligence process to identify issues and vulnerable people,
and to prevent, mitigate and report how we address the company's potential impacts on human rights, including
enabling the remediation of potential adverse human rights impacts that Praxair may have caused or to which it may
have contributed. This process is informed by the UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework and guided by the
Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Model Supply Chain Policy for a Responsible
Global Supply Chain of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Area. This process has developed over time in
response to issues as they emerged in various countries. Praxair reports on human rights issues on its website and in
this SVR Annex, as well as in regulatory filings (see below).
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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The chief compliance officer oversees compliance with the SBI and related policies including human rights. He
follows a planned process with the business Compliance Review Boards (CRBs) and with senior management to
oversee emerging regulatory issues and hotline reports and take appropriate action. Praxair relies on its country
management, who are close to local issues, to identify potential human rights risks, either through their CRBs or
through sustainable development. Praxair's vice president, sustainable development, reviews emerging issues in
human rights and takes appropriate action. She communicates closely with country sustainable development
coordinators, monitors media for trends in the industry and among non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and
annually reviews the country human rights reports, issued by the U.S. Department of State, for countries where
Praxair operates or seeks to operate. She provides potentially relevant information and updates to the chief
compliance officer and, if appropriate, to applicable functional leadership such as M&A, SH&E, HR and Security, or to
a specific business. A summary table of the Human Rights Due Diligence process is provided below.
Issue 1: Conflict Minerals in Electronic Materials
Based on Praxair's commitment to governance, compliance and human rights, the most salient human rights issue
associated with Praxair activities and business relationships is the issue of potential "conflict minerals" in our supply
chain. This issue was brought to public attention by the electronics industry in the late 2000s, and was coordinated
under the Coalition and the Global e-Sustainability Initiative, the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative, founded in 2008.
The U.S. SEC requires Praxair to report on the potential sourcing of conflict minerals. Praxair has reported its due
diligence process and results of findings since 2013 in accordance with the SEC rule.
Praxair's primary industrial gases products are atmospheric and process gases. There are no conflict minerals
included in these products. Praxair may have "conflict minerals" in its sputtering targets [used by certain customers in
the production of semiconductors that (1) either contain or may contain tantalum, tin, tungsten and/or gold), and (2)
certain equipment related to its gases business (approximately 2 percent of revenue)] and/or in its surface
technologies business that supplies wear-resistant and high-temperature corrosion-resistant metallic and ceramic
coatings and powders and may use materials that either contain or may contain tantalum, tin, tungsten and/or gold
(approximately 6% revenue, 38 locations). Therefore, Praxair has determined that approximately 8 percent of its 2015
consolidated sales relate to products that Praxair manufactures or contracts to manufacture that may contain
necessary conflict minerals.
The human rights issues violated in the extraction and trade of conflict minerals are atrocities caused by armed
conflict, particularly atrocities affecting women and children, and forced labor. To mitigate these potential human
rights violations, Praxair's due diligence process conforms, in all material respects, with the framework set forth in the
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk
Areas (OECD Guidance) and the related supplements for gold and for tin, tantalum and tungsten. This process
includes monitoring performance and continual improvement of our suppliers and, where relevant, with their
suppliers, and reporting to the U.S. SEC, on Praxair's website and in this SVR Annex.
Issue2: Sex Trafficking on Truck Driving Routes (Brazil)
Praxair's Brazil business, SAWM’s sustainability team, together with its legal and HR departments, identified a
potential human rights risk that Praxair was indirectly exposed to and was in a position to help prevent: the sex abuse
of children and adolescents along major highways and at truck stops. Praxair Brazil operates 600 vehicles driven by
about 1,100 contract driver-operators in all regions, separated by states of the country. The incidence of this crime
escalated, and it received increased media attention around the 2012 World Cup in Brazil.
In line with its commitment to ethics and compliance and social responsibility and its Human Rights Policy, Praxair
elected to participate in Na Mao Certa (On the Right Hand), a multi-stakeholder partnership established under the
aegis of Childhood Brazil and the Ethos Institute, and signed its Corporate Pact Against Sexual Abuse of Children
and Adolescents on Brazilian Roadways. SAWM established and achieved a target that 100 percent of its contract
driver companies would sign the pact by the end of 2014. In 2014, it also created a program of education and
awareness for Praxair carrier drivers. The first action was to train employee drivers at SAWM's Paulinia distribution
center, to sensitize them to the crime and explain actions they could safely take to alert the relevant authorities, who
could then apprehend the criminals and rescue the victims. Presentations were made by the national logistics
manager and a logistics consultant and supported by the supervisor of sustainability and diversity.
As of end 2015, 100 percent of contract driving companies had maintained their certification to Na Mao Certa. In
2015, additional communication was rolled out during White Martins' weekly Security Dialogue and monthly meetings.
A “train the trainer” program was launched to train driving instructors from other distribution centers to replicate the
training for contract drivers. Based partly on this experience, this issue was proactively explored in the USA in 2015
and similar risks and NGO partners were found. See the Human Rights Due Diligence process below. Praxair will
report on actions taken in its 2016 SVR.
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Monitoring, Communication and Training
Praxair conducts regular reviews across all regions to confirm that processes have been set up to ensure compliance
with corporate policies, including human rights and labor standards. Action to ensure compliance with the policy is led
by the office of Compliance, and is required of managers and supervisors in HR, SH&E and GPMM. Human rights
adherence is a condition in Praxair's Supplier Expectations. A clear process is established and communicated to
employees and third parties to report incidents of suspected violations of the Human Rights Policy into an anonymous
hotline.
Praxair's CRB reviews information supplied to the Integrity Hotline, monthly at the business level and each quarter at
the corporate level (including the Office of the Chairman). Of these reports, in 2015, 25.3 percent received via the
service line were related to workplace issues, including human rights. Worldwide and in various regions, Praxair took
steps to raise employee awareness. A custom training program was developed for the Praxair Human Rights Policy,
which was rolled out to 270 Praxair senior managers globally in compliance, sustainable development and
communications; in the United States, this program was rolled out to managers of those functions and of SH&E and
GPMM. The rollout will be extended to another 700 people globally later in 2016. At the business level, for example,
more than 650 employees in India attended training on workplace harassment.
HR10-11 (1): Human Rights Due Diligence Process
Aspect: Human Rights Grievance Mechanisms
G4-HR12 Number of grievances about human rights impacts filed, addressed and resolved
through formal grievance mechanisms
To Praxair's knowledge, in 2015, there were no grievances related to human rights filed through formal organizational
grievance mechanisms by individuals or groups, internal or external to the organization.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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SOCIETY
Aspect: Local Communities
G4-SO1 Percentage of operations with implemented local community engagement, impact
assessments and development programs
Social responsibility is part of the culture at Praxair and is executed through two philanthropic programs. Community
Engagement represents employee- and corporate-led programmatic efforts in Praxair communities. Praxair's Global
Giving program provides financial philanthropic support in the form of scholarships, contributions and support for
employee volunteerism and matching gifts.
Both programs are strategically aligned and work together to provide a significant, lasting value to local communities,
to positively impact the company's reputation, and to develop and engage Praxair employees. Strategically, the
programs work to deepen impact, engage employees and drive business goals, complementing Praxair's mission.
One-hundred percent of Praxair businesses participate in employee volunteer community engagement activities. All
businesses also provide charitable development through Praxair's Global Giving program. Impact assessments are
performed on all reported community engagement efforts and on significant and long-term projects supported by the
Global Giving program.
Community Engagement Overview
Community engagement is a core value at Praxair. Over the past seven years, since the formal launch of Praxair's
community engagement program, the quality and quantity of both the projects and the reported data has increased.
In 2015, Praxair employees spearheaded more than 304 projects across the globe—a substantial increase from 244
projects in 2014. These projects represent the efforts of 384 sites. Frequently, sites collaborate on projects. In 2015,
26 percent of Praxair community engagement projects were sponsored by more than one site. The incidence of
volunteerism—a measure of the number of times individual employees engaged with the community—was 11,585.
Praxair's sixth Community Engagement Highlights summarizes the community engagement program and some of the
projects completed during the 2015 cycle.
Praxair has a healthy mix of established projects and a growing pipeline of new efforts launched to address changing
needs. Approximately 8 percent of projects have continued for more than five years, and approximately half (49
percent) of projects in 2015 were new initiatives. Community engagement projects are classified by focus area:
environment, health, education/diversity, and general community support. These focus areas parallel the focus areas
of the Praxair Global Giving program. See SO1(1), EC1 (1) and G4-EC8.
More than half of the projects are in the priority focus areas of education, diversity and environment. Examples of
projects include:
 Education
REAL Reading Program: Three years ago, employee teams from the company headquarters collaborated
with a local elementary school and a community organization to increase early literacy skills by reading to
classes on a regular basis. The program has grown to reach more than 500 children and has expanded to a
second school. Educators report that the student's scores have improved, partly due to the REAL (Read
Excel Achieve Lead) program. Expectations are that this early literacy will help to increase the likelihood for
long-term success.
 Diversity
Praxair Female Elite Program: Praxair China partnered with Zhe Jiang University to launch a new program
designed to develop the leadership capabilities of female students pursuing education in STEM fields, a
priority area for Praxair. Praxair employees and managers work with students through discussions and
training workshops. The program also provided shadowing opportunities and internships for students. Long
term, students are expected to benefit from the industry-relevant skills and leadership skills developed in this
initiative.
 Environment
Save the Planet: The Iguatama facility in Brazil successfully replicated a long-term project originated by the
Belo Horizonte/Contagem facility: enabling jobs in waste recycling for local low-income families. The team
created a local Association of Waste Pickers, which provides environmental education and training for local
residents who then can generate income by waste sorting. The archetype project in Belo
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Horizonte/Contagem has helped many families to achieve self-sufficiency, and the new program in Iguatama
is also making an impact: Participating families have realized an increase in income, and the local
community benefits by reducing the waste to landfill.
Community engagement efforts seek to make a lasting impact on communities and to address enduring problems.
Seventeen percent of these projects addressed specific United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UNMDGs)
for emerging economies. This also reflects congruence with Praxair's priority areas, focusing on development in the
areas of environment, diversity/inclusion and education. For such projects in emerging economies:

In approximately 30 percent of the projects, teams sought to develop and implement strategies for
decent work for youth.

In approximately 20 percent of the projects, efforts were made to integrate the principles of sustainable
development into country policies and programs and/or to reverse the loss of environmental resources.
Transition to measurement based upon the SDGs will begin for the 2016 project cycle.
Enthusiasm for community engagement is complemented by Praxair's global award for Community Engagement.
Introduced in 2009, this recognition from Praxair's CEO honors successful efforts that demonstrate a high level of
commitment and impact. Exemplary projects from each business or region are recognized, along with five global
winners. Award-winning project teams are honored at the company's Global Leadership Conference and receive a
significant charitable donation. Since 2012, when the award criteria was updated to include a focus on projects that
produce lasting outcomes, increase employee engagement and reinforce Praxair's mission, making our planet more
productive, projects have demonstrated increasing strategic alignment with Praxair goals. For the past few years,
charitable awards, when possible, have been donated to the original beneficiary organization to enable the project
teams to deepen their efforts and, ultimately, to increase the impact to communities. Profiles of all the Community
Engagement Award winners and honorable mention projects are published in the annual Community Engagement
Highlights.
Strategy
Three strategic elements for community engagement at Praxair are: deepen, engage and drive.
Deepen: Community need is a primary driver of community engagement at Praxair.
Projects are dictated by the needs of local communities combined with the desire and ability of local project teams to
help address these needs. Praxair community engagement is a proactive outreach to help build community
resilience. In order to facilitate needs assessment, Praxair has conducted training on incorporating community needs
assessments when determining projects, and guidance for needs assessment is included in the community
engagement reporting tool.
Sites are encouraged to build strong relationships with local communities. In order to identify and meet local needs,
community engagement is frequently conducted with partners, including local government agencies, suppliers,
customers and community groups. These partnerships help deepen and extend Praxair's ability to help build resilient
communities.
The Praxair-Holmes Mentor Program is one example of a deep collaboration with local stakeholders. For more than
two decades, Praxair employees have mentored students and worked with the staff at Holmes Elementary School,
which neighbors the Praxair Technology Center, to raise funds and supplement the educational experience.
The school has cited impact, including increased social and emotional confidence, increased student achievement
and career readiness, seen over the 23 years the program has existed. The program exemplifies the long-term
impact that results when corporations work hand-in-hand with stakeholders to thoroughly understand needs and
when volunteers use their capabilities, creativity and resources to the address the need.
Engage: Community engagement within Praxair is considered a leadership activity and is initiated by employee
volunteers. It is also a way to increase community engagement.
In 2012, Praxair launched a new initiative to incorporate community engagement at company-sponsored meetings
and conferences and to use these events to develop employee skills and company networks. With the support and
participation of business leaders, these events continue to spur additional community engagement participation in
locations around the globe.
Within the 2015 project portfolio, there are many examples of projects where Praxair businesses and teams built
camaraderie.
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Both PDI's Food Bank of Iowa and USIG's New Eyes for the Needy collection drives featured fun team
contests to increase support for the project and energize teams around the goal. In all such efforts, a team
leader helped to convey an awareness of the community need and the ways the employees help to
specifically address the need.
Praxair Europe and Praxair Mexico both encourage participation in business-wide efforts around one of the
priority focus areas. These events serve not only to engage local teams, but to also build team spirit across
large geographic regions.
PST employees have incorporated safety—a primary value at Praxair—in many projects, including the 2015
Build a Bike for Kids project, which featured bike safety lessons for local children.
Many sites, including Praxair Canada and the HYCO business, form teams to participate in walks, cycling
and other events, encouraging wellness and support of charitable concerns.
In addition to the camaraderie, community engagement also helps to develop leadership and other beneficial skills,
for all employees.
In 2013, Praxair launched a new program specifically aimed at developing skills through volunteerism. For the third
year, the Talent Development team engaged employees in reviewing social entrepreneurship business cases in order
to reinforce decision-making skills.
Millennials and new employees report enhanced relationships with colleagues and their communities from their
participation in philanthropic efforts. Community service has long been a part of LTOP program for new employees in
the USIG business. Employees take responsibility for managing increasingly larger community engagement efforts.
They also help to embed community engagement further into the company culture.
Long-term employees also enhance and benefit from community engagement. Employees in Praxair India joined
together to form a trust, voluntarily funded by employees and also supported by Praxair. Over the past decade, the
Samvedana cooperative has helped to address some of the most compelling concerns facing local communities,
mostly in the areas of health, education and environment.
Employees continue to affirm the value of time spent in these activities, and community engagement has been cited
as a factor contributing to choosing to join Praxair for employment.
Drive: Driving impact through community engagement is the third main strategic objective. Along with employee-led
efforts, Praxair's corporate-led community engagement efforts work to confirm our mission and align with business
drivers through strategic initiatives, especially in the STEM fields.
In 2015, Praxair launched a new collaboration in the field of advanced manufacturing. In conjunction with Buffalo
Manufacturing Works, the new initiative helps to increase the pipeline of technical talent in the Buffalo, New York,
area, near the Praxair Technology Center. Praxair's participation is championed by one of its R&D fellows and
contains opportunities for employees to engage and also to enhance technical skills.
Within the Buffalo community, high school students and others who may be under-skilled make use of the facilities
and training curriculum in the Praxair laboratory. This effort also increases competency in advanced manufacturing,
which is an area central to Praxair surface coatings and powders business. The program is exemplary of the
continued strategic alignment between the company's business and philanthropy.
TM
In 2015, Praxair also saw the completion of the inaugural year of the Praxair Skills Pipeline workforce development
program, which was created to address the skilled-crafts gap that exists across the United States, including
Louisiana, where Praxair maintains a presence through its many plants and welding stores. It was an opportunity to
introduce future workers to the opportunities that exist in an industry key to Praxair's business.
The first phase of this program was launched in collaboration with the Louisiana Community and Technical College
System (LCTCS) and with multi-stakeholder input.
The program offers a multi-faceted approach to workforce development including community awareness campaigns;
scholarships to provide accelerated training for 100 new welders; professional development opportunities; support to
increase the skills of existing welders; and instructorships for welding teachers.
The skills gap comprises problems for many stakeholders:
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Workers: Lack of preparedness for the underemployed and unemployed.
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Colleges: Disconnects between training and industry expectations.
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Industry: Increased cost or project delays, due to training or retraining.
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In 2014, the program set targets for impact, including deeper engagement with community colleges, customers, and
suppliers to create a more skilled, ready workforce. In 2015, 87 new welders graduated from the program, having
achieved more than 131 welding credentials, which are being put to work by many of the students.
Starting with Need… Ending With Impact
Praxair assesses the short- and long- term impacts generated by its philanthropic activity. By understanding the
community need and how the company can best help address those needs, impacts are anticipated at the beginning
and then measured at appropriate times during projects.
Assessment of Impact
Community Engagement Impact Assessment
Impactful projects are the goal of all community engagement efforts. Praxair's SDMA identified community
engagement as a priority for Praxair and its stakeholders. Goals and targets are developed and maintained based on
the SDMA, managed and reported in the SDMS and published in this report and in the annual Community
Engagement Highlights. Praxair's strong culture of execution complements its efforts to measure the impact of
community engagement. As in prior years, Praxair measures and reports the social and environmental impact and
outcomes, as well as the employee and company benefits, of community engagement based upon a methodology
developed by the United Kingdom-based LBG report, Making a Difference.
Prior to the start of community engagement efforts, project teams focus on desired outcomes from the projects. At the
conclusion of each project, the team measures benefits, as reported by volunteers and/or beneficiaries. Increasingly,
third parties help to validate project benefits.
Inputs are measured by number of volunteers, number of sites participating and incidence of volunteerism. See SO1
(2).
Outputs are measured by number of beneficiaries, money raised and goods donated. Volunteers brought direct
benefits to more than 346,000 people, a 3 percent increase. This equates to more than 12 beneficiaries for every
Praxair employee. See SO1 (3). Additionally, projects reported funds that employees and facilities raised or donated
in support of community engagement. In addition to funding from the Praxair Global Giving Program, employees and
facilities raised or donated approximately $776,000 in cash and in-kind donations, including food, clothing,
trees/seedlings and other forms of in-kind support. This contribution included more than $460,000 in cash
contributions from employees and facilities. As a part of efforts to continually validate the program, the cash
component of this reported contribution was independently verified by an external party for 2015.
Outcomes are reported as benefits to project recipients, employee volunteers and to the company. Praxair compares
the performance of these metrics over time, and the results are strong year over year. See SO1 (4).
In 88 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement created a positive impact on the attitudes
of recipients. In 79 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement provided recipients with job
skills or opportunities for personal growth. In 86 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement
had a direct impact on the recipients' quality of life.
Employees benefitted also: In 87 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement helped to
increase their own personal growth and effectiveness. In 88 percent of projects, employees reported that volunteering
helped increase their interpersonal development. In 78 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community
engagement helped to increase their management effectiveness. Further, in 53 percent of projects, employees
reported learning and/or developing skills that were transferable to the workplace.
Community engagement affects how employees view both Praxair and their communities. In 90 percent of projects,
volunteers reported that community engagement positively impacted their outlook on Praxair and/or their job. In 87
percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement gave them a better awareness of the
community.
Benefits to Praxair are measured in terms of increased engagement with customers and employees and impact on
reputation. In 52 percent of projects, volunteers reported that the community engagement projects allowed better
engagement with customers. In 86 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement helped to
build employee engagement. In 87 percent of projects, volunteers reported that community engagement projects
were likely to enhance Praxair's reputation. In more than half of projects, teams reported that third parties have
provided validation of their efforts or of the positive impact of their project(s).
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Longer term, Praxair assesses the impact on multiple stakeholders from signature efforts. Considered impacts are
both qualitative and quantitative.
For example, as the Skills Pipeline program moves to its second year in Louisiana and other Praxair geographies,
students have reported high levels of preparation and increased quality of life and self-sufficiency.
The college system has cited increased ability to gauge student completion and the ability to enhance student
preparation due to close input from industry.
Praxair has seen increased engagement with customers and suppliers, and ultimately, available skilled talent to meet
current demands for welders.
Global Giving Impact Assessment
Since 2014, Praxair's Global Giving Program has strategically performed impact assessment, also based upon the
LBG methodology. Large contributions above a pre-determined threshold and long-term contributions are assessed
to ensure that outcomes have been achieved. The result of such assessments is annually reviewed by the Global
Giving advisory board.
Environmental Impact Assessment
Community impact is a broad consideration at Praxair and extends beyond employee philanthropy. Environmental
impact assessments are performed in advance of all Praxair capital investments. Ongoing monitoring is provided
through Praxair's cycle of safety and environmental internal assessments. Praxair continues to consider ways to
further reach and align with local communities.
SO1 (1): Community Engagement Projects by Focus Area
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SO1 (2): Community Engagement Project Inputs
Number of Sites Participating
Incidents of Volunteerism
SO1 (3): Community Engagement Project Outputs
Number of Beneficiaries
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SO1 (4): Community Engagement Project Outcomes
Benefits to Recipients
Benefits to Employees
Benefits to Praxair
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G4-SO2 Operations with significant actual and potential negative impacts on local
communities
Praxair is unaware of situations where it has had a negative impact on local communities. Praxair exercises great
care to ensure that its investments in local communities are positive and that local communities perceive the
company as a safe place to work and as a good employer. Praxair has had no reports of significant potential or actual
negative impacts on local communities. Rather, community engagement efforts have demonstrated tangible positive
outcomes. See SO1.
Praxair's STEM programs and workforce development programs are examples of the ways that Praxair aims to make
positive, relevant impact in communities.
Both the collaboration with Buffalo Manufacturing Works and the Skills Pipeline program are indicative of the
collaboration with local communities, other members of industry, academia and/or government.
Such programs are intended to have positive economic impact for communities and for individuals and have been
well regarded by legislators, industry groups and academic leadership as offering a creative solution to address a
recognized need.
Aspect: Anti-corruption
G4-SO3 Total number and percentage of operations assessed for risks related to corruption
and the significant risks identified
Praxair administers an annual risk assessment that is circulated to all business managers globally and to all
functional leaders and covers 100 percent of all business units. Potential risks related to corruption are an explicit
focus.
Praxair operates in certain jurisdictions identified as high risk based on the Corruption Perception Index from
Transparency International. The company has not identified significant risks other than regular risks that are dealt
with training and certifications to the employees.
G4-SO4 Communication and training on anti-corruption policies and procedures
Praxair trains the entire Board of Directors annually on anti-corruption policies and procedures. The company also
trains all its salaried employees globally on anti-corruption
The company has an established process to conduct thorough due diligence prior to contracting and sends training to
100 percent of all third parties and agents who interact with the government on Praxair's behalf
Praxair has adopted a code of ethics that applies to the company's directors and all employees, including its chief
executive officer, chief financial officer and controller. This code of ethics, the Compliance with Laws and Business
Integrity and Ethics Policy, has been approved by the Praxair Board of Directors. To assist employees and directors
in complying with this code of ethics, management periodically develops specific standards implementing certain
provisions of the code; these standards are contained in Praxair's SBI. The SBI is posted on Praxair's website in all
country languages where Praxair operates.
One-hundred percent of salaried Praxair management and employees and some non-exempt employees are
required to annually certify that they have read and understand Praxair's Compliance with Laws and Business
Integrity and Ethics policy and the SBI, which includes a rigorous outline of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
This is an online training and survey. In 2015, as in previous years, Praxair achieved 100 percent compliance with
this requirement.
G4-SO5 Confirmed incidents of corruption and actions taken
Praxair takes its SBI very seriously and non-compliance, depending on the circumstances, can result in serious
disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment. Employees are actively encouraged to report
suspected complaints and concerns, and are expected to report violations through a number of channels, including
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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the Integrity Hotline. Reports through the Integrity Hotline may be made anonymously. It is a violation of Praxair
policy for any person to retaliate against any individual who has reported an SBI matter in good faith.
The table HR4(1) provides the aggregate number of hotline reports and a summary of the types of reports received.
All hotline reports are promptly handled and identified issues are addressed. Further details are not provided in
Praxair's public reporting as they are business confidential. No confirmed incidents of corruption occurred in 2015.
Aspect: Public Policy
G4-SO6 Total value of political contributions by country and recipient/beneficiary
There were no contributions made in Asia, Europe, South America or Mexico. In the United States, the Praxair PAC
contributed $178, 250 to state and federal candidates for elected office representing both political parties.
The Lobbying Contribution Reports provided in response to the request above include any in-kind contributions.
Nevertheless, we do not make in-kind contributions.
Aspect: Anti-competitive Behavior
G4-SO7 Total number of legal actions for anti-competitive behavior, anti-trust and monopoly
practices and their outcomes
No anti-trust regulatory or enforcement action was initiated in 2015. Also refer to the "Contingent Liabilities" section of
Praxair's 2015 Annual Report, page 95.
Aspect: Compliance
G4-SO8 Monetary value of significant fines and total number of non-monetary sanctions for noncompliance with laws and regulations
No anti-trust regulatory or enforcement action was initiated in 2015. Also refer to the "Contingent Liabilities" section of
Praxair's 2015 Annual Report, page 95.
PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY
Aspect: Customer Health and Safety
G4-PR1 Percentage of significant product and service categories for which health and safety
impacts are assessed for improvement
Minimizing Product Risk
Praxair has a team of business, engineering, operations and safety professionals that examine the potential
environmental, health and safety risks of every new product. The entire life cycle of the product—from raw material
procurement through manufacturing, distribution, use and disposal—is reviewed.
Significant product or service categories are covered by and assessed for compliance with these procedures.
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Risk Review: Identify the potential risks in each phase of the product's life cycle and the design features and
management systems that minimize those risks.
Product Design Safety: Consider how a product may be used or misused, and identify design features that
could mitigate potential hazards.
Procurement Specification and Control: Verify compliance with purchased material requirements and
specifications.
Manufacturing Control: Establish procedures and train personnel to ensure consistent product quality within
product specifications.
Distribution and Installation Control: Establish procedures and train personnel to ensure safe product
deliveries, storage and customer application.
Hazard Communication: Communicate information on the safe use and handling of each product in a timely
manner through appropriate use of Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), product labeling, product use instructions,
customer training and support.
Product Disposal: Establish procedures to identify products that are no longer suitable for customer use and
refurbish, replace or dispose of them in an environmentally safe manner.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Incident Reporting and Investigation: Report, investigate and analyze incidents involving product misuse and
disposal to learn more about product risks and to take corrective action.
PR1 (1): Product Responsibility
G4-PR2 Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes
concerning the health and safety impacts of products and services during their life cycle, by type
of outcomes
For 2015, Praxair is not aware of reported incidents of non-compliance with regulations or voluntary codes
concerning health and safety impacts of products and services during their life cycle.
Aspect: Product and Service Labeling
G4-PR3 Type of product and service information required by the organization’s procedures
for product and service information and labeling, and percentage of significant product and
service categories subject to such information requirements
Under Praxair's product safety procedure, "each new product is evaluated to identify potential health, safety, and
environmental risks associated with each phase of the product's life, as well as the product design features and
management systems that will adequately control those risks." Processes are in place to provide labels for 100
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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percent of significant product and service categories. For hazard communication, information on the safe use and
handling of each product, together with relevant health, safety and environmental protection information, is
communicated to the customer in a timely manner through appropriate use of SDSs, product labeling, product use
instructions, customer training and support upon request.
SDS Worldwide Library: SDSs have been prepared in accordance with either U.S. or European directives and are
country-specific. As the use of this information and the conditions of the use of the product are outside of Praxair's
control, the user is obligated to determine the conditions of safe use of the product.
Chemicals of Concern and REACH: Praxair is in compliance with the REACH regulations promulgated by the
European Union, which require complete information on the chemical properties, hazard profile and uses of all
products manufactured in or imported into Europe. Praxair is also implementing activities required for compliance with
the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling.
Praxair tracks the status of all substances that have to be registered through the European Chemicals Industry
Association's REACH website. During the pre-registration phase, which ended on December 1, 2008, Praxair
submitted more than 85 pre-registrations. (Some of the chemicals that were pre-registered will not require final
registration due to business decisions that have occurred since December 2008.)
G4-PR4 Total number of incidents of non-compliance with regulations and voluntary codes
concerning product and service information and labeling, by type of outcomes
Praxair is aware of no incidents of non-compliance with regulations or voluntary codes concerning product and
service information and labeling in 2015.
G4-PR5 Results of surveys measuring customer satisfaction
Praxair's goal is to be the best performing company in the industry as determined by its customers, and customer
satisfaction is among the pillars of its global strategy. The company is committed to helping increase customer
productivity, and, in many cases, its innovative technology solves environmental challenges, allowing its customers
be more productive while using fewer natural resources and energy, and producing fewer emissions. Praxair
measures customer satisfaction across its businesses, and its target is 88 percent. The target was achieved. The
global average rate in 2015 was 88 percent.
Praxair received recognition in 2015 for exemplary customer service. For example, Samsung named Praxair Korea
one of its Best Suppliers; Praxair India was named a Preferred Supplier by Abbott Healthcare; and Fairchild named
Praxair 2015 Gas Supplier of the Year.
Aspect: Marketing Communications
G4-PR6 Sale of banned or disputed products
Praxair is unaware of any questions or concerns regarding the sale of banned or disputed products. In 2015, no
incidents of non-compliance concerning marketing communications were identified.
Aspect: Customer Privacy
G4-PR8 Total number of substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and
losses of customer data
Praxair's SBI has a section on information security that defines how important it is for employees to follow the law and
comply with Praxair procedures, protocols and guidelines. This issue has been strongly prioritized in recent years
because of new complexities being created by the proliferation of electronic communication; thus, the policies and
training provided have increased.
Praxair's 2015 Annual Report, page 9, identifies the risk regarding information technology systems. As far as the
company can determine, there have not been substantiated complaints regarding breaches of customer privacy and
losses of data.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
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Aspect: Compliance
G4-PR9 Monetary value of significant fines for non-compliance with laws and regulations
concerning the provision and use of products and services
Praxair is unaware of any significant penalties imposed in 2015 resulting from the use of its products.
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Assurance Statement
To the Management of Praxair and its Stakeholders:
Responsibilities
Responsibility for producing Praxair’s 2016 Sustainable Value Report (“Report”) rests solely with Praxair. The
Report covers activities occurring primarily from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015.
Upon being retained, Carbon Verification Service conducted a conflict of interest review to ensure that its
assurance would be free of bias and would be done on an independent basis. Carbon Verification Service is not
owned or operated by any other entity. Carbon Verification Service was not responsible for preparation of any
part of the Report, nor has it undertaken any projects that would conflict with its independence. Carbon
Verification Service provides only assurance services. It does not provide consulting services to any client.
Consequently, Carbon Verification Service is, and remains, an independent assurer of the content and processes
pertaining to the Report.
Carbon Verification Service agreed to provide Sustainability Assurance Services in accordance with the
AccountAbility AA1000 Assurance Standard (2008) and is licensed by AccountAbility to use the AA1000
Assurance Standard Marking. One of the Lead Verifiers was trained and certified as an Associate Sustainability
Assurance Practitioner to AccountAbility criteria. Carbon Verification Service is also accredited by the State of
California Air Resources Board (CARB) as a verification body. Each of the verifiers who participated in this
assurance is also accredited by CARB as Lead Verifiers. To receive accreditation by CARB as a Lead Verifier
requires appropriate education, experience and passing a CARB-administered verification exam.
Assurance Standard
This engagement was performed in accordance with AccountAbility’s AA1000AS (2008) assurance standard,
where the format of the engagement was structured to meet the AA1000AS Type 2 (Moderate) requirements.
The focus in a moderate level of assurance engagement is on the plausibility of the data. The level of effort
required is less extensive than the effort necessary to achieve a high level of assurance.
Assurance Scope
Carbon Verification Service, LLC, was commissioned by Praxair Inc. to provide independent third-party assurance
of certain content within its 2016 Report. The type of assurance provided was Type 2, moderate level. The
scope of the assurance included:
•
An assessment of Praxair’s materiality determination process and whether or not it conforms to the
AA1000APS (2008) principles of Inclusivity, Materiality and Responsiveness;
•
Whether or not select KPI assertions in Praxair’s Report are accurate and reliable in accordance with the
AA1000APS (2008) standard; and
•
Whether or not Praxair’s priority factors are in general alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative
GRI (G4), United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), Responsible Care Management
System (RCMS), and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) frameworks.
Praxair Inc. - 2016 Assurance Statement
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Disclosures Covered by This Assurance Statement
Praxair retained Carbon Verification Service, LLC to provide assurance of certain Key Performance Indicator (KPI)
assertions within its 2016 Sustainable Value Report. These assertions included greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
year-over-year change in Scope 2 GHG emissions, energy use, water use, air emissions, zero landfill, chemical
oxygen demand (COD), lost time injury rates and community engagement.
Praxair reported Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emission data for its global facilities, including air separation units,
hydrogen production, carbon dioxide production, packaged gases, electronics, surface technologies, trucking
and corporate offices. The GHGs reported included the six Kyoto Protocol GHGs (CO2, CH4, N2O, HFCs, SF6, and
PFCs). Scope 3 GHG emissions were not subject to verification, except for contractor driving.
The scope of the assurance also included Praxair’s global consumption of energy including natural gas, diesel and
electricity as well as water consumption. Based upon its company-wide usage of fossil fuels, NOx, SOx and VOC
emissions were also assured by Carbon Verification Service. Praxair’s “Zero Landfill” results, chemical oxygen
demand discharges, lost time injury and illness rates, and community engagement assertions were also subject
to assurance by Carbon Verification Service.
Criteria for Report Preparation
Carbon Verification Service assessed conformance of Praxair’s GHG emission inventory with The Greenhouse Gas
Protocol®: A Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard, Revised Edition, developed by the World Resources
Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.
Consensus protocols for the verification of the KPI metrics, other than GHG emissions, do not currently exist.
Carbon Verification Service utilized the same principles prescribed by AA1000AS (2008) to guide the assurance of
this data.
The assurance was based on site visits to Praxair’s corporate headquarters in Danbury, CT, hydrogen production
plants in St. Charles, LA and Ontario, CA, and an Air Separation Unit in Deer Park, TX. Review of documentation
from seven other locations was also performed. The 10 sites represented a sample of Praxair’s major business
units and geographic regions, and accounted for approximately 25% of Praxair’s global Scope 1 and Scope 2
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Review of the data and associated documentation supported assurance of
the global KPI data.
Assurance Methodology and Limitations
The process used in performing the assurance was based on AccountAbility’s AA1000AS (2008) guidance. The
approach to assurance included:
•
•
•
•
A review of Praxair’s materiality determination procedure and process.
A review of the information collection and reporting procedures undertaken by Praxair.
A review of sustainability data assertions for any significant errors and/or anomalies within stated
assertions; and
Review of whether or not Praxair’s priority factors are in general alignment with the Global Reporting
Initiative GRI (G4), United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), Responsible Care
Management System (RCMS) and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) frameworks.
The assurance process was limited to the content and assertions made within Praxair’s Report for the period
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under review, and did not include a comprehensive analysis of the accuracy, reliability, completeness and/or
consistency of all the data presented by Praxair. Rather, certain data presented within the Report was subject to
sampling and verification. The process included reviewing policies and procedures for governance, materiality
determination, and stakeholder engagements, and included interviews with internal stakeholders to arrive at
our assurance opinion.
Findings and Conclusions
Based upon the assurance work performed from March through June 2016, nothing came to our attention that
prevented Carbon Verification Service, LLC from concluding that:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Praxair has applied the AccountAbility AA1000APS (2008) principles of Inclusivity. Praxair has a process
to identify the issues to be included in the SV Report including consultations with internal and external
stakeholders. Praxair relies, in large measure, upon the input of organizations such as CDP, Global
Reporting Initiative, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Responsible Care
Management Standard. These organizations represent the collective view of a large number of
individual stakeholders.
Praxair has applied the AccountAbility AA1000APS (2008) principles of Materiality. Based upon the
views of stakeholders, Praxair has in place a Sustainable Development Materiality Analysis to evaluate
and select the issues that are material to it. These issues are known within Praxair as Priority Factors. It
is our opinion, that as a result of implementing its Sustainable Development Materiality Analysis, no
material issues have been omitted.
Praxair has applied the AccountAbility AA1000APS (2008) principles of Responsiveness. Praxair annually
reports its progress on its targets for each of its Priority Factors in its public Sustainable Value Report. It
reviews progress on achieving its targets and re-sets its targets on a 5-year basis. In addition, through
regular engagement with stakeholders, it has an on-going program to identify and respond to emerging
stakeholder concerns.
The selected sustainability data assertions are accurate and reliable;
Praxair’s Priority Factors are in general alignment with the GRI G4, UNSDGs, SASB and RCMS
frameworks; and
Praxair’s KPI assertions, which appear in the table below, are materially correct and are a fair
representation of data and information and have been prepared in accordance with accepted standards
and practice.
Recommendations
The following recommendations are offered for Praxair’s consideration in future reporting:
With respect to the principle of Inclusivity:
• Use the AccountAbility’s AA1000AS (2008) Assurance Standard and AA1000 Stakeholder Engagement
Standard in part as a model to develop a Praxair procedure that describes how the organization
manages and reports on sustainability. This will help to better define how Praxair addresses Inclusivity,
as well as Materiality, and Responsiveness.
• Undertake some additional stakeholder engagement at the local/site level to check whether the proxy
model of stakeholder engagement (using GRI, SASB, UNGC, DJSI) is capturing all significant material
issues. This will also enhance inclusiveness, and perhaps responsiveness. Such additional engagement
may also present the opportunity for capacity building in engagement itself.
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With respect to the principle of Materiality:
•
Consider developing science-based targets for GHG emission reductions.
With respect to the principle of Responsiveness:
• Clarify usage and simplify the language used when describing sustainability. A range of terms are used in
the provided documentation: sustainability, sustainable development, social responsibility, etc. to
denote similar, the same or overlapping constructs.
For Carbon Verification Service, LLC
James J. Groome
Lead Verifier
Francis J. Maher
Assistant Lead Verifier
Kent Adams
Independent Reviewer
Date: June 27, 2016
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th
10 East 38 Street, 11 Floor
New York, NY 10016
www.CarbonVerificationService.com
PRAXAIR’S ASSERTIONS
Praxair reported the following KPI values:
Metric
2015 Value
Units of Measure
GHG Emissions Scope 1
8,199,000
Metric Tons CO2e
GHG Emissions Scope 2
12,640,000
Metric Tons CO2e
Proportion of reported Scope 1 and 2 emissions verified
GHG Emissions Scope 3 - Contractor Driving
100
260,000
%
Metric Tons CO2e
Electricity Consumption
22,960,000
MWh
Natural Gas Consumption
2,796,000
MWh
Diesel/Gas Oil
354,000
MWh
Steam
806,000
MWh
5,000
MWh
Distillate Fuel Oil #2
Water Use (not including once-through cooling water)
58,000,000
Cubic meters
NOx Emissions
1,690
Metric Tons
SOx Emissions
29
Metric Tons
VOCs
456
Metric tons
Zero Landfill
Chemical Oxygen Demand
112,568,000
817
Lbs. of waste not landfilled
Metric Tons
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate
0.042
Lost time injuries per 200,000 hours worked
Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate
0.211
Lost time injuries per 1,000,000 hours worked
Occupational Illness Frequency Rate
0.003
Occupational Illness Cases per 200,000 hours worked
Occupational Illness Frequency Rate
0.015
Occupational Illness Cases per 1,000,000 hours worked
Contractor Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate
Community Engagement: cash raised or donated by
employees and facilities
Year-over-Year Change - Scope 2 Emissions
Praxair Inc. - 2016 Assurance Statement
0.0
Approx.
776,000
1
Page 5 of 5
Lost time injuries per 200,000 hours worked
USD
%
The GRI Content Index
The report is ‘In Accordance’ with the GRI G4 Guidelines – Core option. The report was submitted for
the GRI Content Index Service, and GRI confirmed the accuracy of the GRI G4 Content Index
GENERAL STANDARD DISCLOSURES
General
Standard
Disclosures
Description
External
Assurance
Cross-reference/Direct Answer
STRATEGY AND ANALYSIS
G4-1
Provide a statement from
the most senior decisionmaker of the organization
(such as CEO, chair, or
equivalent senior position)
about the relevance of
sustainability to the
organization and the
organization’s strategy for
addressing sustainability.
See Sustainable Value Report, page 5
No
Praxair, Inc.
No
See pages 3–4 of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report
No
Danbury, Connecticut, USA
No
See page 4 of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report
No
ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
G4-3
G4-4
G4-5
G4-6
Report the name of the
organization.
Report the primary brands,
products, and services.
Report the location of the
organization’s headquarters.
Report the number of
countries where the
organization operates, and
names of countries where
either the organization has
significant operations or that
are specifically relevant to
the sustainability topics
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
66
covered in the report.
Report the nature of
ownership and legal form.
Report the markets served
(including geographic
breakdown, sectors served,
and types of customers and
beneficiaries).
Report the scale of the
organization, including:
a. Report the total number of
employees by employment
contract and gender.
b. Report the total number of
permanent employees by
employment type and
gender.
c. Report the total workforce
by employees and
supervised workers and by
gender.
d. Report the total workforce
by region and gender.
e. Report whether a
substantial portion of the
organization’s work is
performed by workers who
are legally recognized as
self-employed, or by
individuals other than
employees or supervised
workers, including
employees and supervised
employees of contractors.
f. Report any significant
variations in employment
numbers (such as seasonal
variations in employment in
the tourism or agricultural
industries).
Report the percentage of
total employees covered by
collective bargaining
agreements.
Praxair is publicly traded.
No
See Sustainable Value Report, page 10
No
See the inside cover of and pages 3–6 of the 2015
Praxair Annual Report
See Sustainable Development Report, GRI Annex,
Section G4-LA1, pages 34-35; see also pages 4–5
of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report
No
See Sustainable Development Report, GRI Annex,
Section G4-LA4, page 36
No
Describe the organization’s
supply chain.
G4-13
Report any significant
changes during the reporting
period regarding the
organization’s size,
structure, ownership, or its
supply chain, including:
See Sustainable Value Report, page 18; see also
Sustainable Development Report, GRI Annex,
Section G4-EC9, pages 9-11
See pages 20–21 of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report
No
G4-12
G4-7
G4-8
G4-9
G4-10
G4-11
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
No
67
G4-14
G4-15
G4-16
Report whether and how the
precautionary approach or
principle is addressed by the
organization.
List externally developed
economic, environmental
and social charters,
principles, or other initiatives
to which the organization
subscribes or which it
endorses.
List memberships of
associations (such as
industry associations) and
national or international
advocacy organizations in
which the organization:
See Sustainable Value Report, page 10
No
See Sustainable Value Report, page 10
No
See Sustainable Value Report, page 19
No
IDENTIFIED MATERIAL ASPECTS AND BOUNDARIES
G4-17
G4-18
G4-19
G4-20
G4-21
G4-22
G4-23
a. List all entities included in
the organization’s
consolidated financial
statements or equivalent
documents.
b. Report whether any entity
included in the
organization’s consolidated
financial statements or
equivalent documents is not
covered by the report.
a. Explain the process for
defining the report content
and the Aspect Boundaries.
b. Explain how the
organization has
implemented the Reporting
Principles for Defining
Report Content.
List all the material Aspects
identified in the process for
defining report content.
For each material Aspect,
report the Aspect Boundary
within the organization, as
follows:
For each material Aspect,
report the Aspect Boundary
outside the organization, as
follows:
Report the effect of any
restatements of information
provided in previous reports,
and the reasons for such
restatements.
Report significant changes
from previous reporting
periods in the Scope and
Aspect Boundaries.
See pages 18–19, 54–59, and notes on pages 60101 of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 8–9, 20, and
31- 34
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 32-33
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 32-33
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 32-33
See Sustainable Value Report, page 9
There were no significant change from previous
reporting periods.
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
68
G4-24
G4-25
G4-26
G4-27
Provide a list of stakeholder
groups engaged by the
organization.
Report the basis for
identification and selection
of stakeholders with whom
to engage.
Report the organization’s
approach to stakeholder
engagement, including
frequency of engagement by
type and by stakeholder
group, and an indication of
whether any of the
engagement was
undertaken specifically as
part of the report preparation
process.
Report key topics and
concerns that have been
raised through stakeholder
engagement, and how the
organization has responded
to those key topics and
concerns, including through
its reporting. Report the
stakeholder groups that
raised each of the key topics
and concerns
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 17–19
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 17–19, and
31.
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 17–19
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 17–19
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
Yes. See
Sustainable Value
Report, pages 42–
43
REPORT PROFILE
G4-28
G4-29
G4-30
Reporting period (such as fiscal
or calendar year) for information
provided.
Date of most recent previous
report (if any).
Reporting cycle (such as annual,
biennial).
G4-31
Provide the contact point for
questions regarding the report or
its contents.
G4-32
a. Report the ‘in accordance’
option the organization has
chosen. b. Report the GRI
Content Index for the chosen
optionc. c.Report the reference
to the External Assurance
Report, if the report has been
externally assured. GRI
recommends the use of external
assurance but it is not a
requirement to be ‘in accordance’
with the Guidelines.
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015
No
2015 (2014 data year)
No
annual
No
Dr. Riva Krut, VP and Chief Sustainability
Officer, Praxair Email: riva_krut@praxair.com
or sustainability@praxair.com Telephone: 203837-2337
'In Accordance' Core. Please see GRI Content
Index, starting at page 66, of the Sustanable
Value Report, GRI Annex.
No
No
69
G4-33
a. Report the organization’s
policy and current practice with
regard to seeking external
assurance for the report
.b. If not included in the
assurance report accompanying
the sustainability report, report
the scope and basis of any
external assurance provided.
c. Report the relationship
between the organization and the
assurance providers.
d. Report whether the highest
governance body or senior
executives are involved in
seeking assurance for the
organization’s sustainability
report.
See Sustainable Value Report, page 9. See
also Sustainable Value Report, GRI Annex,
pages 61-65.
No
GOVERNANCE
G4-34
Report the governance
structure of the organization,
including committees of the
highest governance body.
Identify any committees
responsible for decisionmaking on economic,
environmental and social
impacts.
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 14 and 16;
see also page 5 of the 2015 Praxair Annual Report;
see also Notice of 2016 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders and Proxy Statement, pages 16–19.
No
See Sustainable Value Report, pages 10 and 13.
See also www.praxair.com/our-company/policiesand-position-statements/business-integrity-andethics-policy.
No
ETHICS AND INTEGRITY
G4-56
Describe the organization’s
values, principles, standards
and norms of behavior such
as codes of conduct and
codes of ethics.
SPECIFIC STANDARD DISCLOSURES
Identified
Omission(s)
DMA and
Indicators
Page
External
Assurance
Reasons for
Omission(s)
Explanations for
Omission(s)
CATEGORY: ECONOMIC
MATERIAL ASPECT: ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EC1
Direct economic value
generated and distributed
G4-EC2
Financial implications and
other risks and opportunities
for the organization's
activities due to climate
change
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Economic DMA,
page 4
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EC1,
pages 5-6
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EC2,
pages 7-8
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
No
No
70
MATERIAL ASPECT: MARKET PRESENCE
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EC6
Proportion of senior
management hired from the
local community at
significant locations of
operation
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Economic DMA,
page 4
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EC6,
page 8
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: INDIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACTS
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EC8
Significant indirect economic
impacts, including the extent
of impacts
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Economic DMA,
page 4
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EC8,
page 9
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: PROCUREMENT PRACTICES
G4-DMA
G4-EC9
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Economic DMA,
page 4
Proportion of spending on
See Sustainable Value Report,
local suppliers at significant
GRI Annex, Section G4-EC9,
locations of operation
page 9-11
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENTAL
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: ENERGY
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EN5
Energy intensity
G4-EN6
Reduction of energy
consumption
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Environment DMA,
pages 12-13
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN5,
page 16
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN6,
page 16
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Environment DMA,
pages 12-13
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN18,
page 25
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN19,
page 25
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN21,
page 25-26
No
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: EMISSIONS
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EN18
Greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions intensity
G4-EN19
Reduction of greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions
G4-EN21
NOX, SOX, and other
significant air emissions
No
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: EFFLUENTS AND WASTE
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EN23
Total weight of waste by
type and disposal method
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Environment DMA,
pages 12–13
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN23,
page 28
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
Yes - portion of data.
See Sustainable
Value Report, pages
42-43
71
MATERIAL ASPECT: PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EN27
Extent of impact mitigation
of environmental impacts of
products and services
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Environment DMA,
pages 12–13
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN27,
pages 29-30
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Environment DMA,
pages 12–13
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-EN30,
pages 31-32
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: TRANSPORT
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-EN30
Significant environmental
impacts of transporting
products and other goods
and materials for the
organization's operations,
and transporting members of
the workforce
No
CATEGORY: SOCIAL
SUB-CATEGORY: LABOR PRACTICES AND DECENT WORK
MATERIAL ASPECT: OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-LA6
Type of injury and rates of
injury, occupational
diseases, lost days, and
absenteeism, and total
number of work-related
fatalities, by region and by
gender
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-LA6,
pages 36-38
No
Yes - portion of data.
See Sustainable
Value Report, pages
42–43
MATERIAL ASPECT: TRAINING AND EDUCATION
G4-DMA
G4-LA10
G4-LA11
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Programs for skills
management and lifelong
learning that support the
continued employability of
employees and assist them
in managing career endings
Percentage of employees
receiving regular
performance and career
development reviews, by
gender and by employee
category
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-LA10,
page 41
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-LA11,
pages 41-42
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
72
G4-LA12
Composition of governance
bodies and breakdown of
employees per employee
category according to
gender, age group, minority
group membership, and
other indicators of diversity
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-LA12,
page 43-44
The following are
not disclosed: %
of employees by
age group and by
minority group.
This information is
subject to specific
confidentiality
constraints. The
information is
considered
business
confidential.
No
SUB-CATEGORY: HUMAN RIGHTS
MATERIAL ASPECT: INVESTMENT
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR1
Total number and
percentage of significant
investment agreements and
contracts that include human
rights clauses or that
underwent human rights
screening
G4-HR2
Total hours of employee
training on human rights
policies or procedures
concerning aspects of
human rights that are
relevant to operations,
including the percentage of
employees trained
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR1,
page 43
No
The following is
not disclosed:
total number of
contracts. This
information is
subject to specific
confidentiality
constraints. The
information is
considered
business
confidential.
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR2,
page 44
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR3,
pages 44-45
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: NON-DISCRIMINATION
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR3
Total number of incidents of
discrimination and corrective
actions taken
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR4
Operations and suppliers
identified in which the right
to exercise freedom of
association and collective
bargaining may be violated
or at significant risk, and
measures taken to support
these rights
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR4,
page 45
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: CHILD LABOR
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
73
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR5,
page 45
G4-HR5
Operations and suppliers
identified as having
significant risk for incidents
of child labor, and measures
taken to contribute to the
effective abolition of child
labor
The following are
not disclosed: The
percentage of
discrimination
incidents and their
corrective actions
is not completely
reported,
separately within
the total number
of hotline reports.
This information is
subject to specific
confidentiality
constraints. The
information is
considered
business
confidential.
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: FORCED OR COMPULSORY LABOR
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR6
Operations and suppliers
identified as having
significant risk for incidents
of forced or compulsory
labor, and measures to
contribute to the elimination
of all forms of forced or
compulsory labor
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR6,
page 45
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR7,
page 45
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR8,
page 45
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR9,
page 46
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: SECURITY PRACTICES
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR7
Percentage of security
personnel trained in the
organization's human rights
policies or procedures that
are relevant to operations
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR8
Total number of incidents of
violations involving rights of
indigenous peoples and
actions taken
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: ASSESSMENT
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR9
Total number and
percentage of operations
that have been subject to
human rights reviews or
impact assessments
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: SUPPLIER HUMAN RIGHTS ASSESSMENT
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
74
G4-DMA
G4-HR10
G4-HR11
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Percentage of new suppliers
that were screened using
human rights criteria
Significant actual and
potential negative human
rights impacts in the supply
chain and actions taken
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR10,
pages 46-48
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR11,
pages 46-48
No
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: HUMAN RIGHTS GRIEVANCE MECHANISMS
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-HR12
Number of grievances about
human rights impacts filed,
addressed, and resolved
through formal grievance
mechanisms
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-HR12,
page 48
No
No
SUB-CATEGORY: SOCIETY
MATERIAL ASPECT: LOCAL COMMUNITIES
G4-DMA
G4-SO1
G4-SO2
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Percentage of operations
with implemented local
community engagement,
impact assessments, and
development programs
Operations with significant
actual and potential negative
impacts on local
communities
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-SO1,
pages 49-55
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-SO2,
page 56
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-SO3,
page 56
No
Yes - portion of data.
See Sustainable
Value Report, pages
42-43
MATERIAL ASPECT: ANTI-CORRUPTION
G4-DMA
G4-SO3
G4-SO4
G4-SO5
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Total number and
percentage of operations
assessed for risks related to
corruption and the significant
risks identified
Communication and training
on anti-corruption policies
and procedures
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-SO4,
page 56
See Sustainable Value Report,
Confirmed incidents of
GRI Annex, Section G4-SO5,
corruption and actions taken
page 56-57
SUB-CATEGORY: PRODUCT RESPONSIBILITY
No
No
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: CUSTOMER HEALTH AND SAFETY
G4-DMA
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
G4-PR1
Percentage of significant
product and service
categories for which health
and safety impacts are
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-PR1,
pages 57-58
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
No
75
assessed for improvement
G4-PR2
Total number of incidents of
non-compliance with
regulations and voluntary
codes concerning the health
and safety impacts of
products and services during
their life cycle, by type of
outcomes
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-PR2,
page 58
No
MATERIAL ASPECT: PRODUCT AND SERVICE LABELING
G4-DMA
G4-PR3
G4-PR4
Generic Disclosures on
Management Approach
Type of product and service
information required by the
organization's procedures
for product and service
information and labeling,
and percentage of significant
product and service
categories subject to such
information requirements
Total number of incidents of
non-compliance with
regulations and voluntary
codes concerning product
and service information and
labeling, by type of
outcomes
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Social DMA, page
33
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-PR3,
pages 58-59
No
See Sustainable Value Report,
GRI Annex, Section G4-PR4,
page 59
No
Praxair 2015 Sustainable Value Report: GRI Annex
No
76
© Copyright 2016 Praxair Technology, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Praxair,and the Flowing Airstream design and
Making our planet more productive, are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Praxair Technology, Inc. in the United States
and/or other countries. Other trademarks
used herein are the registered trademarks of
their respective owners.
Praxair, Inc.
39 Old Ridgebury Road
Danbury, CT 06810-5113
USA
www.praxair.com
info@praxair.com
The information contained herein is offered
for use by technically qualified personnel at
their discretion and risk without warranty of
any kind.
07-16
P-15-757