6.08.2005 ET

(CSRwire) Calgary, Alberta - Suncor Energy Inc. today kicked off its Environment Week activities with the release of its 2005 Report on Sustainability - a comprehensive review of the company's social, economic and environmental performance in 2003 and 2004.

The 90-page report is one of the few Canadian reports published fully in accordance with the sustainability reporting guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). These internationally recognized guidelines aim to promote a consistent and transparent approach to triple bottom line reporting.

The report, entitled Stepping Forward Through Innovation and Technology, features more than 100 performance indicators in areas such as Suncor's land and water use, health and safety and economic contributions. It also features a discussion of how emerging technologies, such as gasification and carbon dioxide capture, could help Suncor enhance the sustainability of its business.

"This report reflects our belief that the innovative application of technology will help our company and our industry move closer to sustainability, even as we enter a new era of oil sands growth," says Rick George, Suncor's president and chief executive officer. "Measuring and reporting our progress along the way are essential steps toward meeting our sustainability goals."

Performance highlights outlined in the report include:

$3.1 billion spent on goods and services in 2004 and more than $1 billion paid in taxes and royalties

Suncor has reported on its triple bottom line performance every two years since 1995. The 2005 report was audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP to verify selected performance indicators. The complete report is available on Suncor's website at www.suncor.com/publications. Copies can also be obtained by calling 1-800-558-9071 or by e-mail to info@suncor.com.

Also in conjunction with Environment Week, Suncor celebrated other milestones to reduce its operational impact on air, water and land. See backgrounder below for more details.

Suncor Energy Inc. is an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta. Suncor's oil sands business, located near Fort McMurray, Alberta, extracts and upgrades oil sands and markets refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, while operations throughout western Canada produce natural gas. Suncor operates a refining and marketing business in Ontario with retail distribution under the Sunoco brand. U.S.A. downstream assets include pipeline and refining operations in Colorado and Wyoming and retail sales in the Denver area under the Phillips 66 brand. Suncor's common shares (symbol: SU) are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges.

Sunoco in Canada is separate and unrelated to Sunoco in the United States, which is owned by Sunoco, Inc. of Philadelphia.

BACKGROUNDER: ENVIRONMENT WEEK AT SUNCOR
Being responsible stewards of the environment is a year-round job for Suncor employees. Suncor is marking some of these efforts during Canadian Environment Week from June 5 to 11. Below is a round-up of recent environmental news and activities at Suncor sites across Canada:

Canadian toads making a comeback in reclaimed ponds
Suncor continues to monitor the resurgence in the Canadian Toad population at its reclaimed ponds at its oil sands facility. The Canadian Toad, listed as "may be at risk" by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, is considered a key indicator of ecosystem health.

Since 1997, Suncor has tracked the presence of Canadian Toads in the ponds. In 2001, the first recorded toads were found in some of the ponds sampled and their distribution and numbers have steadily grown over the years. This spring, an abundance of calling males, eggs, tadpoles and 'young of year' have been recorded at many of the ponds. It appears the toads like the sandy soil found in the ponds which allows them to burrow below the frost-line in the winter.

Over the next two years, Suncor will track the toads using radio transmitter belts to find out exactly why its reclaimed sites are all the rage for increasing numbers of Canadian Toads.

Suncor is also planning a "name a toad" contest for employees. The toads fitted with transmitter belts will be named so scientists can monitor and record their activity. Employees will have a chance to submit names for consideration and then follow the progress of the toads as they move around the reclaimed ponds.

Construction starts on Canada's largest ethanol plant
With government approvals in hand, Suncor has begun construction of its ethanol production facility in St. Clair Township near Sarnia, Ontario.
When commissioned in 2006, the new ethanol plant is expected to help reduce gasoline blending costs and reduce or eliminate the need to import ethanol. A clean-burning, renewable resource, ethanol helps reduce carbon monoxide emissions up to 30 per cent in older vehicles, and has been blended into Sunoco gasoline in Ontario since 1996.

The $120 million plant is expected to produce approximately 200 million litres of ethanol annually. The Canadian government committed $22 million in funding for plant construction through its Ethanol Expansion Program.

Commuting the environmentally friendly way
More than 100 Suncor employees are leaving their cars at home this week and joining the Calgary Commuter Challenge.

The week-long event, held annually during Environment Week, features Calgary companies competing for the honor of being the most environmentally friendly commuting company in the city. Employees sign up to walk, take public transit, cycle, rollerblade or carpool to work for one week. The event generates good-natured competition between companies while encouraging employees to explore environmentally friendly ways of traveling to and from work.

Save a sheet, save a tree
Starting in our Calgary office this week, Suncor is launching a company-wide printing efficiency program. The 'Save a Tree' initiative aims to significantly reduce the amount of printing paper used at Suncor. Employees with be armed with helpful tips on reducing paper waste and printers will be set to print double sided copies.

Harvesting the wind
Suncor has entered a three-year agreement with the non-profit Pembina Institute under its Wind Powered PC program. Suncor is allocating enough wind power from its own Magrath Wind Power Project in southern Alberta to offset the electricity consumption of its 4,500 personal computers company wide.

Under the program, Suncor will purchase approximately 5,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of wind power certificates from the Pembina Institute and redeem those over the life of the program. The initiative will help Suncor offset approximately 4,500 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next three years.

For more information on Suncor's environmental initiatives visit www.suncor.com

For more information please contact:

Darcie Park , Suncor Energy Inc.
403-205-7959

For more CSR news and information from this organization:

Corporate Social Responsibility Profile for Suncor Energy Inc.

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