Over the past four years, this process, called Greenlist™, has helped us continue to phase in more and more materials considered to be environmentally “better” and “best.” It also has helped increase awareness among our scientists about the impact of their raw material choices.

SC Johnson’s Greenlist™ process formalizes the classification of raw materials used in our products according to their impact on the environment and human health. The result is a process that gives SC Johnson scientists instant access to a rating of ingredients in any new product or reformulation.

How Greenlist™ Works
Each ingredient receives a rating from 3 to 0. An ingredient with a 3 rating is considered “Best;” 2 is “Better;” 1 is “Acceptable;” and 0 is “Unacceptable.” The criteria include biodegradability, aquatic toxicity, human toxicity, EU Environment Classification, source/supply, vapor pressure and octanol/water coefficient.

The criteria for each raw material are selected based on applicability to the ingredient. For example, vapor pressure is an appropriate criterion for organic solvents but not for surfactants; biodegradability, in turn, is appropriate for surfactants, which typically are disposed in wastewater.

Greenlist™ originally focused on five key categories of ingredients: surfactants, propellants, home storage resins, insecticides and solvents.

Today, in keeping with our commitment to continuous improvement, it covers 15 categories of materials, including: packaging, chelants and sequestering agents, antimicrobials/preservatives, fragrance, candle waxes/fuel, non-woven/fabrics and organic/inorganic acids and bases. Future categories already under study include thickeners, colorants, dyes and inks.

Over the years, SC Johnson has aimed to improve our products beyond regulatory requirements to meet SC Johnson’s own high standards. We aim to avoid using materials that while legal to use, have been deemed by SC Johnson to have a 0 rating. We consider these “Restricted Use Materials,” or RUMs, and continuously work to find better replacements.

When SC Johnson scientists formulate a new product, they try to choose raw materials rated “Better” or “Best.” When existing products are reformulated, the scientist must include ingredients that have ratings equal to or higher than the original formula.

Scientists are discouraged from using RUMs unless there are no viable alternatives. In that case, using a RUM in any SC Johnson product requires direct approval from top management – a consequence managers try to avoid since authorization is limited due to the company’s high standards.

The Greenlist™ process was designed to allow flexibility that contributes to improved choices not only inside SC Johnson, but also in our supply chain. The source/supply criteria in particular allows consideration of more sustainable resources, including renewable materials. It also recognizes the value of suppliers that demonstrate a higher level of environmental responsibility such as that confirmed by ISO 14001 certification.

Sharing Greenlist™ to Create Change
In an effort to help drive change through transparency and shared learnings, SC Johnson has shared the Greenlist™ process with numerous stakeholders including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environment Canada, the Chinese EPA, industry associations, universities, corporations and others.

Equally important, we have been able to use insights from Greenlist™ to partner with our suppliers and identify and develop ingredients that are more environmentally sustainable.