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Partner Profile

SC Johnson
LocationRacine, WI
GoalSC Johnson pledges to reduce total U.S. GHG emissions by 8 percent from 2005 to 2010. SC Johnson achieved its initial goal by reducing total U.S. GHG emissions by 17 percent from 2000 to 2005.
Environmental Web Site exit EPA
Company Description
Founded in 1886, SC Johnson is one of the leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care, and insect control. Throughout its 120-year history, SC Johnson has been family owned and managed. The company's product mix continually evolves to bring value to consumers by aiming to make consumers' lives cleaner, easier, and healthier. With more than $6.5 billion in sales, SC Johnson employs approximately 12,000 people globally, has operations in 70 countries, and markets products in more than 110 countries.
Reasons for Joining Climate Leaders
Throughout its history, SC Johnson has been steadfast in its environmental commitment and spirit of innovation. For SC Johnson, creating sustainable environmental value means protecting resources and the planet for future generations. That goal influences how the company powers its operations, develops its formulas, and manufactures and packages its products. The company recognizes the potential positive impact the business community can have on global climate change. Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson, has stated, "As a company, SC Johnson is committed to investing in technology and programs that help preserve the Earth's resources. In the end, this is about doing what's right for business and the environment."

SC Johnson's dedication to the environment and to the communities in which it operates underlie the decision to participate in Climate Leaders. In 2002, SC Johnson became the first consumer products company to be a charter member of Climate Leaders. "Climate Leaders is a win-win partnership in which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and concerned, knowledgeable companies work together to develop greenhouse gas (GHG)reduction efforts that will benefit the environment and sustain the economy. This is the kind of solution SC Johnson wants to be a part of," says Scott Johnson, Vice President Global Environmental and Safety Actions.
GHG Reductions Before Joining Climate Leaders
SC Johnson has enjoyed a long history of environmental firsts, placing the company among the most-recognized and awarded environmental leaders in the United States. 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 has continually looked for innovative ways to safeguard the environment.

In 1990, SC Johnson was one of the first companies to set specific, measurable goals to reduce pollution and waste from products and processes and a leader in issuing an annual corporate environmental report in 1991. Throughout the 1990s, the corporation achieved a reduction of 420 million pounds of waste in its operations worldwide.

As founding member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the U.S. President's Council on Sustainable Development, and participant on the HRH Prince Charles' Business and Environment Council, SC Johnson has been a pioneer in multi-stakeholder alliances, in addition to a variety of other environmental and environmental education initiatives.

In 2000, SC Johnson set an internal baseline of GHG emissions for their five largest global factories (two additional factories have since voluntarily joined this corporate program) and set an internal target to reduce global GHG emissions by 5 percent per year. SC Johnson also set internal goals to reduce air, water and waste emissions by 15 percent and reduce fossil-fuel usage by 10 percent over baseline rates by 2005. By the end of 2005, the company had substantially exceeded its 2005 Climate Leaders goals. SC Johnson had reduced its U.S. GHG emissions by 24 percent per pound of product and doubled the company's commitment of an 8 percent absolute reduction of CO2 emissions by reaching 17 percent. In addition, by the end of 2005 SC Johnson has made progress against the baseline year of 2000 as follows:

- A 33 percent reduction in worldwide waste and emissions.

- A 33 percent reduction in fossil fuel usage by the company's top seven global factories.

- A 42 percent reduction in GHG emissions by the company's top seven global factories.

In 2001, as a member of the Climate Leaders Pilot Program, SC Johnson achieved a 1,900 metric ton reduction in GHG emissions through several small conservation and reduction projects. This was a 6 percent reduction from 2000 levels and exceeded their goal of a 5 percent reduction.

In 2003, SC Johnson was honored by EPA with the first-ever Lifetime Atmospheric Achievement Award for its longstanding commitment to protecting both the ozone layer and climate.
Approach to GHG Management
SC Johnson identified GHG emissions from direct sources, primarily the onsite generation of process steam using natural gas, and indirect sources, primarily purchased energy. The company's strategy, therefore, focused on energy conservation and finding cleaner sources of energy.
Progress Towards Goal Completion
SC Johnson focused on energy efficiency and alternative energy technology to make progress toward their Climate Leaders goal. In 2002, as a charter member of Climate Leaders, SC Johnson developed a comprehensive U.S. inventory and identified its largest manufacturing facility, Waxdale—-in Racine, Wisconsin—-as the most significant source of emissions and therefore the best place to focus on reduction opportunities.

In an effort to reduce overall energy consumption at the Waxdale facility, the company installed energy monitoring systems to track the amount of energy being used in real-time, giving the production staff the ability to make appropriate adjustments to conserve. Some manufacturing lines also now have a special instrument that tracks kilowatts of energy used, creating a benchmark for use and a way to track total kilowatts whenever the line is stopped. A second energy monitoring system focuses on interior lighting control within the production area with a customized system that turns off lights whenever designated lines are not running. SC Johnson has also reduced the volume and temperatures of aerosol water baths, which helped to reduce water bath energy use by 50 percent with no decrease in production quality at its Waxdale aerosol production facility.

In 2003, SC Johnson embarked on an electricity cogeneration plan to provide electricity to the Waxdale facility with a turbine that is powered solely by waste methane generated at a local landfill. After the turbine's first year of operation, Waxdale's emissions of CO2 and other GHGs dropped 47 percent and fossil fuel energy use was cut by 50 percent.

With the construction of a second cogeneration turbine, completed in fall of 2005 and fueled by natural gas and waste methane, SC Johnson reduced its total GHG emissions by an additional 20,000 tons per year. In total, the two turbines remove 52,000 tons of GHGs annually. Together, the two turbines meet the daily base-load electrical demand for the entire facility and somewhere between half and all of the steam needed for operations, depending on the season. This makes Waxdale the first consumer packaged goods manufacturing facility in the Midwest to produce a significant portion of its own energy through clean-burning technologies. SC Johnson also benefits financially since the system reduces the company's use of heavily coal-dependent electricity and saves millions of dollars per year. Both systems will have paybacks of less than seven years.

SC Johnson achieved its goal to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 24 percent per pound of product from 2000 to 2005 and reduced their absolute U.S. GHG emissions by 17 percent. The company looks forward to working with Climate Leaders to set a new GHG reduction goal.

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