11.02.2004 ET

(CSRwire) BURLINGTON - With a steadfast belief that transparency on companies' social and environmental activities matter as much as financial results to stakeholders, Seventh Generation announced publication of its first comprehensive Corporate Responsibility Report based on CERES reporting guidelines.

"We firmly believe that the corporate responsibility reporting process should be an imperative for all businesses," said Jeffery Hollender, President & Chief Responsibility Officer of Seventh Generation, the leading brand of non-toxic, environmentally preferable household products in the US. "Consumers, employees, community members investors and other stakeholders should demand this information from all the companies with whom they do business."

The 52-page report covers the company's History, Vision, Mission, Values and Operating Principles and key Environmental, Economic and Social Impacts. The report analyzes Seventh Generation's performance on these measures, and cites changes the company is making to address weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. An independent, third party audited the report.

In the course of preparing the document, Seventh Generation has uncovered a number of surprising revelations about its own company. One came from a life cycle analysis of its laundry detergent; studying the ways the detergent helps or harms the environment during every phase of its manufacturing, use, and disposal. The analysis revealed that just over 96% of Seventh Generation's liquid laundry detergent's contributions to global warming occur not in manufacturing or shipping, but when consumers actually use it: the detergent works best in warm or hot water, and, load-for-load, heating this water accounts for nearly all of the greenhouse gas emissions linked to the product itself.

As a result, instead of focusing on reducing manufacturing pollution, which represents a negligible impact, Seventh Generation plans to develop a new cold-water formula that can significantly reduce this product's global warming impact.

"Seventh Generation has been committed to corporate responsibility since we started the company in 1988," Mr. Hollender said. "An ethical, values-based business must report on its progress. This reporting is perhaps the most important foundational element in the transformation of business to become a positive force on the planet."

Seventh Generation's Corporate Responsibility Report is based on the CERES principles, a ten point code of environmental conduct (list their web site). CERES also initiated the development of Global Reporting Initiative, the worlds leading standard for reporting by large, multinational companies. These guidelines are used today by over 400 companies that include - Ford, Chiquita, Baxter International and Novo Nordisk.

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation, located in Burlington, Vermont, is the nation's leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally preferable household products. With distribution in thousands of natural product and grocery stores nationwide, Seventh Generation is a trusted source for products that protect people's health and the planet. They derive their name from the Great Law of the Iroquois that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

Seventh Generation brand name products include: paper towels, bathroom and facial tissue, and napkins and paper plates made from 100% recycled fiber and manufactured without the use of chlorine; cleaning and laundry products that are vegetable based, phosphate free and biodegradable; non-chlorine bleached, natural lotion baby wipes and chlorine free diapers; plastic trash bags made from recycled plastic; and natural-spectrum light bulbs. Seventh Generation markets and distributes through natural food stores, supermarkets, on-line and in mail-order catalogs in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.seventhgeneration.com

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