Green Biz: Sustainability Saves Money!

By Dan Estabrook - September 30, 2008 The World Wildlife Fund has welcomed JohnsonDiversey, a $3 billion a year business-to-business cleaning product company, into it's Climate Savers Program.  The goal of the Climate Savers Program is to cut 14 million tons of carbon emissions annually by 2010 -- the equivalent of getting 3 million cars off the road per year.  This collective goal is one shared between JohnsonDiversey and other member companies. Why is this good news here at Tonic News? Because in the U.S., over 100 million children are breathing in and exposed to harmful cleaning products and the chemical and natural elements used to make them.  JohnsonDiversey is a leading supplier of these products to schools as well as hospitals, stadiums, event halls, restaurants, public gathering locations, amusement parks, youth playing fields, offices and large chain stores (including WalMart).  In a nutshell, large cleaning product companies like JohnsonDiversey have an opportunity to make a huge impact on greening and making these gathering spots safer and less toxic places. I recently spoke with John Matthews, Senior VP for Corporate Affairs at JohnsonDiversy. He told me that "sustainability goes beyond the company strategy - it is at our core."  He added that the company's customers are demanding green and safer cleaning products. JohnsonDiversey is involved with World Wildlife Fund in two areas.  As mentioned earlier, the company is now a member of WWF's Climate Savers Program, a rigorous program where 3rd parties provide guidance and review of a business' plan and process to reduce emissions to specified targets.  The company is attempting to lower its carbon footprint not only to protect the environment but because it makes perfect business sense. "This investment makes sense for our business," Matthews says.  "We have seen operational efficiencies improve as well as helping the environment." Matthews told me that the company has made a $19 million investment to hit an 8% baseline reduction in emissions.  As a result, it expects to have operational savings of $31 million.  This savings comes from reduced fuel consumption, reduced energy use in factories and offices and more use of renewable energy.  It's corporate headquarters is also LEED-certified. The second project where JohnsonDiversey and WWF are working together is to assist the WWF scientists with their work around freshwater conservation.  WWF is creating water basin maps, charting water flows and how they affect communities (human and natural) and biodiversity. JohnsonDiversey's goal of sustainability also helps the business plans of its customers.  It's new greener approach will reduce water use, energy costs, save labor exposure and reduce on-the-job injuries. I asked Matthews what the key element is for a company to pursue sustainability. "An essential attitude for a company that is on a sustainability path to posess is humility -- it's about saying honestly where are we and where do we want to go?"  Matthew's most helpful advice? "Sustainability is a journey you have to stay on -- it's a mistake to say 'we've arrived.'" Food for thought for all of us going green.