Cookie Policy

How we use cookies and similar technologies     

PPG uses cookies (including Google Analytics), Flash cookies, tracking pixels, and social media/network plug-ins ("first party cookies"). Certain vendors may place and read cookies on our Sites ("third party cookies") to help PPG deliver marketing messages on the Sites and on other online locations you visit after you leave the Sites (see below for more details).

What are cookies and what cookies we use

PPG uses the following types of cookies on its Sites:

Cookies are text files containing small amounts of information which are downloaded onto a user's computer, smartphone, or similar device when they visit a website. Cookies are then sent back to the originating website on each subsequent visit, or to another website that recognizes that cookie.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Some cookies are essential for the operation of the Sites. For example, some cookies allow us to identify registered users and ensure they can access the Sites. If a user opts to disable these cookies, the user may not be able to access all of the content of the Sites.

Performance Cookies

Other cookies may be used to analyze how users use the Sites and to monitor its performance. This allows us to provide a high-quality experience by customizing the offering and quickly identifying and fixing any issues that arise. For example, performance cookies may be used to keep track of which pages are most popular and to determine why some pages are receiving error messages.

Google Analytics is a web analysis service provided by Google, Inc. We use Google Analytics to monitor how visitors use the Sites, to compile reports and to help us improve the Sites. Please see Google’s privacy policy here for further information on the data Google collects and how it is processed. If you prefer to not have data reported by Google Analytics, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On by following the instructions here. You may opt out of Google's use of tracking technologies by visiting the Google advertising opt-out page here.

Functionality Cookies

Functionality cookies are used to allow us to remember users’ preferences and tailor the Sites to provide enhanced features.

Targeting Cookies

Targeting cookies are used to serve users with adverts, and to collect information about users' browsing habits and usage of the Sites in order to make adverts more relevant to users and their interests. They are also used to limit the number of times users see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. PPG may use third party service providers to provide you with more relevant data, including advertising based on your perceived interests on our and third-party sites and platforms (“Interests-Based Advertising” or “IBA”).

Social Media Cookies

These cookies allow users to share what they’ve been doing on the Sites on social media such as Facebook and Instagram (e.g. if you use a "like" or a "share" button for a feature on our Sites) – when this is the case, such third party providers will share information with us.

Flash Cookies (or 'local shared objects')

These are text files containing small pieces of information which are downloaded onto a users'  computer, smartphone or other device when a website uses Adobe Flash. PPG uses them on certain Sites for purposes such as map functionality and animations.

Tracking pixels

These are small image files which are embedded within, for example, a webpage or in emails which businesses use to track things like website visits, digital ad impressions, email opens, sales conversions and other types of activity on the web. PPG uses tracking pixels to help manage online advertising and conduct traffic analysis on the Sites'. These image files are provided by third parties for external ad management, search marketing tracking, affiliate marketing, and analytics. In all such instances, the tracking pixels are programmed to collect your computer's IP address and certain other limited information when you are on our Sites.

Social media/network plug-ins

AddThis: Our Sites use AddThis plug-ins provided by Oracle America, Inc. (“Oracle”). These plug-ins enable you to share content with other users, for example, via social media/networks. This helps us to improve our content and to make it more interesting for you as a user. Through these plug-ins, your browser establishes a direct connection with the Oracle servers and, as the case may be, with the selected social media/network service. The recipients get the information that you have visited the respective Site along with related information such as IP address, date and time of request, browser, the Site from which the request originated, transmitted data volume, and operating system used. This information is processed on Oracle servers in the U.S. If you share content from our Sites, for example, via social media/networks, your visit of our Sites may be associated with your user profile on the respective social network. We do not have any influence or further information on the processing of your data. Oracle stores your data in user profiles and uses them for purposes of marketing, market research, and/or demand-based design of its website. Even with regard to users not logged in, such analysis especially serves the provision of demand-based advertising and to inform other users of the respective social network about your activities on our Sites. Additional information is available at http://www.addthis.com/privacy.

Social media/network providers: Generally, the above also applies to other social media/network plug-ins we use on our Sites provided directly from social media/network providers, namely Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. You can identify the respective provider by the name and/or logo on the plug-in button. Depending on the PPG website, by using these plug-ins, you can either share content or you will be simply redirected from our website you are visiting to our respective social media/network page. Additional information is available at https://www.facebook.com/policy.php, https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388, https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy, and https://twitter.com/en/privacy.

Third Party Service Providers

PPG may use third party service providers to analyze how users move around the Sites and/or Apps to help provide you with a more streamlined web experience and provide you with more relevant data. These third-party service providers may collect and aggregate tracking information such as the browser and/or internet service provider you use, which pages and advertisements you view, demographic data, hardware/software type, and date/time. This information does not identify you personally and is not combined with any PII you may provide, such as your email address. Third party service providers may include and are not limited to:

In addition, PPG may use PayPal on certain Sites and/or Apps to handle purchases of goods. PayPal's privacy policy can be found at https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-full.

Opt-out of cookies or similar technologies

You have choices about whether certain information collected on websites, including PPG Sites, is used, for example, to customize advertising based on predictions generated from your visits over time and across different websites. Please keep in mind that refusing cookies may affect your experience on PPG Sites.

Cookies: You have the right to object to the setting of cookies. You can do so by using PPG’s consent center on Websites and Apps. Alternatively, you can follow the instructions contained in the help section of your browser. For certain cookies that target advertising, you may visit the European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance at http://www.youronlinechoices.com/ and opt out of the behavioral advertising delivered by the EDAA's member companies. Also, most browsers can be set to notify you when a cookie is being placed on your computer or other device.

Flash Cookies: You have the right to object to the setting of Flash cookies. You can do so by managing your Flash Player settings with Adobe. To delete or prevent placement of Flash cookies, you will need to visit the Adobe Flash Player Help site at http://www.adobe.com/support/documentation/en/flashplayer/help/, click on the hyperlink for "Website Privacy Settings panel" on the left hand side of the screen, and follow the instructions for preventing third party Flash content from storing data on your computer.

Tracking pixels: Because tracking pixels are included within the recipe for a web page or contained in emails, you cannot opt out or refuse them. However, where they are used in conjunction with cookies, they can be rendered ineffective by either opting out of cookies or by changing the cookie settings in your browser. In other instances, such as in the case of emails, tracking pixels are not used in conjunction with cookies and if you are unhappy with the use of tracking pixels in such manner, then you should not use the Sites or subscribe to receive emails.

Social media/network plug-ins: You have the right to object to the collection and storage of your Personal Data as described above. With regard to AddThis, you can do so by clicking on the opt-out button at http://www.addthis.com/privacy/opt-out. Moreover, you can prevent that the cookies are stored like you can with cookies (please see above). Also, you have the right to object to the creation of user profiles. To exercise this right you need to directly contact AddThis or the respective social media/network provider. Additional information on your rights is available at http://www.addthis.com/privacy, https://www.facebook.com/policy.php, https://help.instagram.com/155833707900388, https://policy.pinterest.com/en/privacy-policy, and https://twitter.com/en/privacy.

Internet-Based Advertising: You can opt-out of receiving interest-based advertising/targeted ads ("IBA") served by us or on our behalf by clicking on the blue triangle Ad Choices icon in the upper right corner of the ads we serve or by clicking to http://youradchoices.com. If you opt-out, you will still see ads, but they will not be personalized based on your browsing history. If you delete your cookies or upgrade your browser after opting out, you will need to opt-out again. Further, if you use multiple browsers or devices, you will need to execute this opt-out on each browser or device. If you come across one of our ads that you believe was delivered based on your browsing habits (on any of the Sites and/or Apps), and you have a problem with opting out of such targeted ads, please contact us via PPG Privacy Portal.

You can also opt-out of receiving IBA from certain third-party advertisers and ad networks who are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) by clicking here. We also comply with the Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising as managed by the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA). You may opt out of receiving IBA from other companies that perform targeted advertising services, including some that we may work with, via the DAA site http://www.aboutads.info/.

The industry opt-out tools described above only function for users of the Sites. If you use the Apps and would like to opt-out of receiving IBA while using the Apps, you must download and make choices through the DAA's free mobile application AppChoices for each device you use (more info available at https://youradchoices.com/appchoices). You may also consult the settings on your mobile device for further options regarding cross-app advertising.

Please note that when using the ad industry opt-out tools described above, you may need to execute the opt-out on each browser or device that you use, and that other companies' opt-outs may function differently than our opt-out.

Do Not Track and Similar Requests/Signals: Some browsers have a ”do not track” feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. At this time, we do not respond to browser ”do not track” signals, but to learn more about how to opt-out of certain kinds of targeted advertising, visit the Network Advertising Initiative website and the Digital Advertising Alliance website.