About this Report

Sustainability Reporting Guidelines

The Bristol-Myers Squibb sustainability website is a GRI-based report.

We believe we are among the first companies to issue a GRI-based report, following the criteria in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2006 G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, published in October 2006.

GRI is a not-for-profit organization responsible for creating the global and trusted sustainability reporting framework. It convenes businesses, civil society, labor, and other professional institutions in a consensus-based dialogue to develop the framework. GRI’s vision is to make sustainability reporting as routine as financial reporting. GRI has not verified the contents of this website, nor does it take a position on the reliability of information reported herein.

Reporting Period and Scope

Bristol-Myers Squibb updates this sustainability website at least annually. The reporting period for this website is calendar year 2006. This website includes data from our research and development, manufacturing, and distribution facilities around the world, including joint ventures, subsidiaries, and leased facilities in which Bristol-Myers Squibb employees work. In the case of safety, we also include data from Bristol-Myers Squibb's administrative and sales offices worldwide. The scope of this report does not include sustainability performance data from external organizations or activities over which the company has limited control or influence (e.g., suppliers, contractors, and customers). Unless otherwise noted, the reported data are from 2004 through 2006. Previous progress reports are available for download.

Defining Report Content

Bristol-Myers Squibb worked with internal and external stakeholders to determining materiality and prioritizing the topics within this report. The material issues section and the executive summary of this web-based report are examples of new information included in the 2006 report.

We expect this website to be used by the following stakeholders:

Professionals from nongovernmental organizations, industry, academia, and government who are interested in sustainability issues
Employees (current and retired)
Prospective employees
Suppliers and partners
Contractors
Customers
Shareholders and prospective investors
Students
Members of the community

The "Guidance on Defining Report Content" and the associated Principles of the GRI G3 Reporting Guidelines provided a useful framework for determining what to include in this website.

Significant Changes in Operations

There were no significant operational changes in 2006.

Changes in Reporting

There have not been significant changes from previous reporting periods in the scope, boundary, or measurement methods applied in this website, or significant restatements of information provided in earlier reports. Bristol-Myers Squibb is committed to ongoing improvement of our EHS data gathering systems. As a result, our systems continue to become more robust over time. With more than 12 years of experience in public EHS reporting, we recognize the challenges faced by industry when collecting, reviewing, and analyzing data from facilities of varying size and complexity around the world. When we make an improvement and change the method used to measure data, or correct data reported in previous years, we provide an explanation in the relevant performance section of this site.

Assuring Accuracy and Reliability in Reporting

We strive to provide stakeholders with factual and balanced information regarding the economic, environmental, and social challenges we face, the initiatives we have developed to manage these challenges, and our performance in implementing these initiatives. This website has been prepared in accordance with the following principles:

This report covers our research and development, manufacturing, large offices, and distribution facilities worldwide. Deviations in coverage are noted in the report, along with the rationale.
The data reported include the key EHS aspects of the company's operations.
The report contains our EHS policy and goals and our performance against those goals. It also includes our performance against voluntary public EHS commitments. Baseline data are presented for each performance metric.
Key data in the report are compared over a three-year period, in addition to the baseline year for data related to goals.
Standard processes are in place for data collection and data reporting. This website updates information contained in previous printed reports.
We explain if we change the method used from one year to the next to estimate or otherwise determine data.
We follow a system for properly adjusting EHS data to take into account facility acquisitions, divestitures, and closings.
Whenever possible, data are presented in absolute terms and normalized to sales.
We strive to present data in this report clearly and without distortion.
The data are presented in a way that accommodates the needs of various stakeholders. We solicit and consider stakeholder feedback on how we present data and what data we collect.
Significant variations and deviations in performance are explained in the text of this report.
Supporting data are retained for at least one year from the date of publication of the report in which the data so supported were last used.

Verification

Since 1997, Bristol-Myers Squibb has engaged third-party reviewers to assess the company's EHS evaluation program and the systems for collecting and reporting data from facilities worldwide. Independent statements regarding these reviews are included in this website.

Contact Point for Questions

For additional information about this website or questions about sustainability at Bristol-Myers Squibb, please send an email message to ehs.cas@bms.com.

Last updated August 24, 2007 . Italicized product names are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company or one of its divisions or subsidiaries. Copyright © 1998-2006 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. Your use of the information on this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Notices.

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