Corporate Social Responsibility

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9.08.2008 - 08:00am ET

CSR News from:	Symantec Corporation
News Categories:	Research, Reports & Publications
	CSR - General

Symantec Unveils First Corporate Responsibility Report

Report outlines Symantec's commitment to green IT, online family safety and key privacy and data protection measures for customers

(CSRwire) CUPERTINO, CA. - September 8, 2008 - Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) today released its first Corporate Responsibility Report, underscoring Symantec's leadership in promoting sustainability for the software industry. The fiscal year 2008 report demonstrates the company's commitment to focus its attention on critical environmental, social and governance issues. Included in the report is a full materiality analysis that defines good governance, online safety, privacy, customer satisfaction, the environment, and workforce issues as Symantec's top corporate responsibility priorities.

"In today's operating environment, corporate responsibility is a non-negotiable imperative for businesses," said John W. Thompson, chairman and chief executive officer, Symantec. "Corporate responsibility is intertwined with Symantec's overall strategy of securing and managing the world's information. We are pleased to communicate our achievements to date and are working toward the goals we have set for fiscal year 2009 and beyond."

Highlights of Symantec's corporate responsibility performance include:

Applied Symantec's own green IT technology to enable data center consolidation—resulting in energy savings of more than 300,000 kWh/month
Donated more than $16 million in cash and software to schools, nonprofit organizations and local communities
Provided necessary tools to consumers, businesses and communities to take action against cyberattacks and cybercrime
Launched a family online safety initiative
Increased employee volunteerism by more than 230 percent from the previous year through a 25th Anniversary volunteer challenge
Achieved LEED Gold Certification for new Culver City, Calif. campus
Established an executive steering committee to champion global diversity and inclusion initiatives
Adopted the Calvert Women's Principles(TM), the first global code of corporate conduct focused exclusively on empowering, advancing and investing in women worldwide
Appointed a chief privacy officer and formed a cross-functional privacy council
Continued integration of the 10 principles of the United Nations Global Compact into company operations

"By sharing the progress Symantec is making toward operating more sustainably and responsibly, we are hoping to encourage other businesses to communicate and share their efforts," said Cecily Joseph, director, Corporate Responsibility, Symantec. "We also hope to engage with our employees, customers, investors and broader society on the topics relevant to our business and industry so as to build a model for ongoing improvement."

Corporate Responsibility in Fiscal Year 2009 and Beyond
In addition to developing a more formalized system for tracking and reporting its focused corporate responsibility programs and efforts, Symantec will also spend time on several initiatives for fiscal year 2009 and beyond. One key area of emphasis in the company’s overall Corporate Responsibility program is Symantec's environmental strategy. The environmental focus will be structured around four key areas that reflect Symantec's most substantial environmental impacts: Green IT, resource conservation, responsible packaging and transportation. Additional initiative highlights for 2009 and beyond include:

Reduce CO2 emissions by 15 percent by fiscal year 2012 from a fiscal year 2008 baseline (on a per square foot basis)
Seek LEED certification for existing buildings and new construction on a worldwide basis
Continue developing green IT products and services to help customers reduce energy use in their data centers and beyond
Engage in global public policy activities around privacy and data protection legislation
Develop and launch compliance and ethics training for senior executives

Symantec convened an external Advisory Council, consisting of industry leaders in ethics, philanthropy, environment, sustainability practice and responsible investment, to help guide and advise on the reporting process. Symantec used the Global Reporting Initiative G3 Guidelines and the United Nations Global Compact principles in developing the report. To view the full report and executive summary, visit http://www.symantec.com/about/profile/responsibility/index.jsp.

About Symantec's Corporate Responsibility Program
Corporate responsibility at Symantec is intertwined with the company's core purpose of securing and managing our customers’ information-driven world. Symantec defines corporate responsibility as the way in which we fulfill our business objectives – by giving full attention and respect to ethical operation, the environment, and commitment to positive social impact.

About Symantec
Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help businesses and consumers secure and manage their information. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Symantec has operations in more than 40 countries. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

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For more information please contact:

Deirdre Sena, PR Manager
Symantec
310 739 7851
424 750 7585
www.symantec.com

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