As part of our commitment to be transparent about our corporate responsibility initiatives, including our business activities and operations, we report on our performance annually on this website.

This report covers Merck's corporate responsibility performance during 2011, with some additional information relating to 2012.

Where possible, we link readers to further information on Merck.com and in our annual financial reports.

We have used several external guidelines and measurement frameworks to inform the scope of our reporting. These include the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3.1 Guidelines, the Access to Medicine Index, the Millennium Development Goals, and the 10 principles of the U.N. Global Compact. We are pleased to be reporting at a GRI-checked level A using the GRI G3.1 Guidelines.

Data in this report relate to worldwide operations for the calendar year 2011, except where stated. We plan to publish our next comprehensive corporate responsibility report in 2013.

We also have published a brochure of 2011 highlights. Please visit MerckCR.com for an interactive version, or visit the downloads & media section of this website to view or print a copy of the brochure.