Submitted by:S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
Categories:Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment
Posted: Mar 21, 2007 – 07:00 AM EST
Goal in Partnership with U.S. EPA Climate Leaders Program
RACINE, WI - March 21, 2007 – As part of its ongoing partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Climate Leaders program, SC Johnson announced today an aggressive new greenhouse gas reduction goal. The company, a charter member of the program in 2002, has made a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from its U.S. operations by 8 percent from 2005 by the end of 2010.
"Environmental responsibility is a legacy for SC Johnson, and so we continue to set goals to achieve measurable reductions in our environmental impact," said Scott Johnson, vice president of global environmental and safety actions for SC Johnson. "Our efforts are about conserving the planet's critical resources. The aggressive targets we've set for 2010 further our commitment to improving the world we live in."
The Climate Leaders program is a voluntary industry-government partnership that works with companies to develop and report on long-term comprehensive climate change strategies that are both good for business and for the environment.
SC Johnson was one of the first consumer products manufacturers to join Climate Leaders. In 2005, the EPA recognized SC Johnson as one of the first corporations to achieve its initial voluntary greenhouse gas reduction goals. SC Johnson made the aggressive commitment to reduce its GHG emissions on an absolute basis by 8 percent from 2000 to 2005. By 2005 the company achieved a GHG reduction of 17.4 percent.
"SC Johnson's partnership with Climate Leaders underscores the company's resolve to make a positive difference for the environment," said Bill Wehrum, EPA's Acting Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation. "By setting aggressive goals, SC Johnson demonstrates that a company can be a business leader as well as an environmental leader."
Today's announcement highlights SC Johnson's steadfast commitment to reducing its environmental footprint worldwide. By the end of 2010, the company has also pledged to reduce GHG emissions by 12 percent from worldwide manufacturing operations (2000 baseline year); reduce solid waste, air and water emissions by 50 percent (2000 baseline); and source 40 percent of its global electricity from green energy.
Since 2000, SC Johnson has reduced its GHG emissions from the company's top factories by 42 percent. The results were driven by the construction of two green energy cogeneration turbines which power SC Johnson's largest global manufacturing plant in Racine, Wis. Since 2005, the 2.2 million-square-foot facility has been powered by waste methane and natural gas, generating the daily base load of electricity and generating between half and all the steam needed for the plant’s operations. Through this process, SC Johnson has reduced the company’s reliance on coal-fired electricity and is removing 52,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually.
Environmental commitment is nothing new for SC Johnson. For 121 years, the company has held steadfast to its environmental commitment and spirit of innovation. From being a pioneer in the introduction of water-based aerosols in 1955 to its leadership as the first company to remove chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from all aerosol products – three years ahead of the 1978 U.S. mandate. SC Johnson continues to look for innovative ways to safeguard our shared environment.
In 2001, SC Johnson devised Greenlist™, a patented raw material rating system, to transform the way the company measures, tracks and advances its products to further the company's longstanding commitment to environmentally responsible products. Through Greenlist™, SC Johnson continues to lead the way with responsible raw material choices. In 2006, Greenlist™ was recognized with two presidential honors – the Ron Brown Award for Corporate Leadership and the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award. Recently, SC Johnson announced it will share the Greenlist™ process royalty-free with companies, including competitors. Five Winds International is the company's third-party administrator to license the Greenlist™ process.
More information on SC Johnson's history of environmental responsibility can be found in the company's public report at www.scjohnson.com or at www.dowhatsright.com.
SC Johnson is a family-owned and -managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as EDGE®, GLADE®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, ECHO®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, and MR. MUSCLE®. The 121-year old company, with $7 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.
For more information, please visit www.scjohnson.com
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