Citing SC Johnson’s comprehensive, company-wide focus on sustainability and transparency initiatives, capped off by its rigorous “Greenlist process” to improve product ingredients, the World Environment Center (WEC) has awarded the household products manufacturer its 31st Annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development.
In acknowledging receipt of the longest standing and most prestigious global sustainability award, SC Johnson Chairman and CEO H. Fisk Johnson commented that “at SC Johnson, we have long believed that sustainability and helping consumers make the best product choices go hand-in-hand. It is especially rewarding to be recognized for our Greenlist process. In addition to driving ongoing product improvements, it has fueled a far-reaching ingredient disclosure effort. These transparency initiatives are fundamental for the company and help us earn the trust of families buying our products.”
The SC Johnson Greenlist ingredient management process focuses on continuously improving chemicals in the company’s products. When creating a new product or reformulation, the company aims to select raw materials rated “better” or “best,” and when existing products are reformulated, the formulator must include ingredients that have ratings equal to or higher than the original formula. Developed in 2001, the SC Johnson Greenlist process also includes a robust reporting system that tracks scores at the product, division and corporate level. The company’s goal is to increase, year-on-year, the percentage of ingredients that has a lower impact on the environment and human health.
In conjunction with its Greenlist process, the company recently published its restricted use materials list, which is used by product formulators. It also announced plans to expand its industry-leading ingredient disclosure program by providing product-specific fragrance ingredients and plans to launch the program in Europe next year.
The World Environment Center's Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development was established in 1985 to recognize significant industry initiatives in global environmental excellence and sustainable development. Recent recipients of the WEC Gold Medal Award are: Volkswagen (2014), Unilever (2013), IBM (2012), Nestle (2011), Wal-Mart Stores (2010), The Coca-Cola Company (2009), and Marks & Spencer (2008). This is the second time that SC Johnson has been awarded WEC's Gold Medal, having previously received it in 1994.