Published:
JohnsonDiversey Announces Commitment to Triple Its Absolute Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2013 under WWF's Climate Savers Program
STURTEVANT, Wis. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - JohnsonDiversey today announced a commitment to triple its reduction of
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF)
Climate Savers program.
The company's original industry leading pledge of an 8 percent
reduction, made in 2008 when it joined the Climate Savers program, is
now 25 percent and will be achieved in the originally committed
timeframe ending in 2013. This makes JohnsonDiversey one of the first
Climate Savers partners to substantially increase its commitment to
reduce GHG emissions. The company will invest an estimated $14 million
to achieve the emissions reduction and will capture cost savings of
approximately $32 million.
The achievement of this goal will come from operating efficiencies and
targeted actions across every aspect of the company - manufacturing,
distribution and general commercial operations. It will not be achieved
through the purchase of green energy, utilization of another source's
offsets or the sole reliance on installation of the latest technologies.
JohnsonDiversey Chairman S. Curtis Johnson said the company's
involvement in Climate Savers and its revised target of 25 percent
reflects how seriously the company takes its heritage of environmental
leadership.
"Our commitment to further reduce our GHG emissions and go beyond the
initial pledge we made when becoming a Climate Savers member
demonstrates our company's passion for providing a cleaner, healthier
future for the world," Johnson said.
In announcing the new commitment during a Web-based forum jointly
sponsored by Greener World Media, JohnsonDiversey President and CEO Ed
Lonergan said, "We're taking an important leadership role in addressing
climate change. Our customers want to know how their suppliers are
reducing emissions and how we can work with them to improve their
environmental performance."
WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts said the increased commitment from
JohnsonDiversey serves as a strong example to other companies that it is
possible to achieve business growth while reducing carbon emissions.
"By tripling their emission reduction goals, JohnsonDiversey is showing
business leaders and political decision makers that addressing climate
change is also really good business," said Roberts. "JohnsonDiversey
and our other forward-thinking Climate Savers partners are leading the
charge toward a healthier, more sustainable economy."
JohnsonDiversey is one of 22 companies committed to Climate Savers. In
March, this alliance of companies announced an estimated 50 million tons
of voluntary emissions reductions after a decade of action. These
reductions are equivalent to taking over 11 million cars off the road or
the annual emissions of Switzerland. JohnsonDiversey has joined other
Climate Savers members in supporting the "Let the Clean Economy Begin"
campaign, which aims to persuade decision-makers at the UN Climate
Summit in Copenhagen in December to deliver an ambitious, fair and
effective agreement to cut global greenhouse gas emissions.
EDITORS NOTE: A replay of the Web-based forum featuring
JohnsonDiversey President and CEO Ed Lonergan's remarks related to the
new Climate Savers commitment can be found at the Greener Buildings
Web site at www.greenerbuildings.com.
ABOUT JOHNSONDIVERSEY
JohnsonDiversey Inc. is committed to a cleaner, healthier future. Its
products, systems and expertise make food, drink and facilities safer
and more hygienic for consumers and for building occupants. With sales
into more than 175 countries, JohnsonDiversey is a leading global
provider of commercial cleaning, sanitation and hygiene solutions. The
company serves customers in the lodging, food service, retail, health
care, and food and beverage sectors. JohnsonDiversey is one of four
separate companies controlled by the Johnson Family of Racine,
Wisconsin, USA. To learn more, visit www.johnsondiversey.com.
ABOUT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND
WWF is the world's largest conservation organization, working in 100
countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5
million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based
solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stop
the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org
to learn more.
The WWF Climate Savers program was established in 1999 as
a unique voluntary partnership. It has been a trend-setter in
demonstrating that absolute greenhouse gas emission reductions do not
impede business prosperity. Climate Savers companies are showing that
reducing corporate carbon emissions makes business sense and should be a
core element of business strategy.
The Let The Clean Economy Begin campaign unites the Climate
Savers companies with a common message that it is possible to grow
business while reducing carbon emissions. Through this campaign, Climate
Savers companies are calling on their peers and political decision
makers to make those changes necessary to move the world toward a clean
economy. Visit cleaneconomy.panda.org
to learn more.
Current list of Climate Savers companies: Catalyst, The Coca Cola
Company, The Collins Companies, Hewlett Packard, IBM, JohnsonDiversey,
Johnson & Johnson, Nike, Polaroid, Xanterra, National Geographic,
Elopak, Fairmont, Lafarge, Nokia, Nokia Siemens Networks, Novo Nordisk,
Sagawa, Sofidel, Sony, Spitsbergen Travel, and Tetra Pak.
JohnsonDiversey
Mark Goldman
Director, Global
External Communications
+1 (262) 631-2906
mark.goldman@johnsondiversey.com
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