Polaroid recognizes that its operations exist only with the permission of the community. Therefore, community impact is a major consideration in many operating decisions and an implicit consideration in virtually everything the company does. The company makes every effort to communicate candidly about environmental issues with neighbors, activists, government agencies, public safety officials, educational and health-care institutions, customers and business leaders. This annual report, first published in 1988, is made available to community leaders, and Polaroid conducts community meetings at least annually at major facilities, where managers answer questions and report on waste reduction and other environmental issues. The company's major manufacturing sites in Massachusetts also publish customized editions of Resource , a community newsletter on environmental issues of concern to Polaroid and its neighbors.
Some sites also host open houses for community residents during the year.
Company representatives also maintain formal contact with many community groups, selected on the basis of their interest in and relevance to environmental issues affecting Polaroid and the community. Company representatives make presentations on environmental programs and practices to professional societies, Chambers of Commerce, trade associations, educational institutions, government agencies and other leading companies. Polaroid employees volunteer as members of environmental associations, committees and advisory boards at local, state and national levels. Examples of these activities are highlighted in other sections of this report. In Waltham, Massachusetts, company representatives have spearheaded efforts over the past several years to educate local businesses about the potential impact of their operations on a nearby public water supply.