By developing the groundbreaking Greenlist™ process in 2001, SC Johnson has been able to classify raw materials considered for use in the company’s products according to their impact on the environment and human health.

Our goal when we began the Greenlist™ process was that beyond meeting legal and regulatory requirements, we could increase year-on-year the percent of our raw materials that have the least impact on the environment and human health. We started at 12 percent in 2001 and today we are at more than 34 percent.

The Greenlist™ process has helped SC Johnson achieve a 400 percent increase in the percentage of our raw materials that are “Best” rated.

While the Greenlist™ process is key to developing new products that are environmentally responsible, it also plays a vital role in the continual improvement of existing product formulas. Here are a few examples:

• Reformulated Pledge^® aerosols in Europe to use compressed air as the propellant, reducing the VOC content by more than 25 percent.
• Reformulated Raid^® ant powder worldwide with a new active ingredient to eliminate the use of the 0-rated insecticide propoxur.
• Phased out chlorine-based external packaging worldwide, including bleached paperboard containers and bottles made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
• Reformulated the European product Mr. Muscle^® Shower Shine^® bathroom cleaner with a new cleaning ingredient that provides increased biodegradability — 98 percent in standard tests.
• Reformulated the North American product Windex^® glass cleaner to replace a 0-rated solvent, removing 1.8 million pounds of VOCs and increasing cleaning power by 30 percent.
• Reformulated Pledge^® Multi Surface cleaner globally to increase biodegradability and reduce VOCs, while at the same time increasing cleaning power by 30 percent.

Here are a few other recent examples.

• In 1993, we eliminated paradichlorobenzene (PDCB) in toilet products because it affects ozone in the upper atmosphere and is also a water contaminant that may accumulate in the food chain.

• In 2002 we eliminated polyvinyl chloride (PVC) from our packaging because it is not biodegradable and has been linked to cancer, reproductive disorders and other issues.

• Also in 2002, we eliminated chlorine-bleached paperboard packaging, because the chlorine can cause contamination of air and water.

• In 2004, we eliminated the organophosphate insecticide DDVP because of links to human health and environmental risk.

• In 2006, we eliminated propoxur because of its high toxicity and persistence in the environment.