9.02.2008 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, D.C. - September 2, 2008 - The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA], the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined, today announced that it is joining the World Environment Center (WEC), a global non-profit organization that helps companies around the world implement environmentally sustainable business strategies and operations. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 160,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries.

Recognizing the serious challenges facing our planet's eco-system, Boeing has set aggressive targets for reducing its impact on the environment both for its operations and the lifecycle of its products.

"Joining the World Environment Center helps Boeing carry out our environmental strategy more effectively because we can work together with other corporate leaders to engage non-governmental organizations, share best practices and accelerate business contributions to solving environmental problems," said Mary Armstrong, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety at Boeing. "The great economic and social benefits aviation brings to the world means our industry -- and our company -- is growing, so Boeing is taking specific action to address our impact on the environment and we will work with the World Environment Center to focus those efforts."

Terry F. Yosie, WEC President and CEO, noted Boeing's membership decision by declaring that, "As the leading company in its business sector, Boeing has a truly global reach to advance the mobility of society in a more sustainable manner. Its technological leadership and innovation are essential to enabling society to progress, while reducing our global footprint. WEC welcomes Boeing and looks forward to a great partnership to advance sustainable development."

About Boeing
Boeing has a long tradition of aerospace leadership and innovation, and the company's greatest contributions to the eco-system will be through pioneering environmentally progressive technologies for its products, services and operations. Since the introduction of the first Boeing jetliner, airplane emissions of carbon dioxide have been reduced by around 70 percent and the noise footprints have been reduced by approximately 90 percent. Boeing targets improving fuel efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions of each new generation of commercial airplane by at least 15 percent compared to the airplanes they replace. Boeing has set aggressive targets to improve by 25 percent solid waste recycling rates, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions intensity at its major manufacturing facilities by 2012, with a comparable goal for hazardous waste reduction. For more information, visit the company's 2008 environment report at www.boeing.com/environment.

About World Environment Center
The World Environment Center (WEC) is an independent, non-profit, non-advocacy organization whose mission is to advance sustainable development through the business strategies and operations of its member companies in partnership with government and other stakeholders. WEC's activities and operations are global in scope, and it is unique in providing direct, on-the-ground support to companies to improve their performance, and that of their business partners, across the value chain.

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