May 22, 2008
P&G VP Of Sustainability Discusses Green Initiatives
Procter & Gamble’s sustainability initiatives include plans to cut its carbon footprint by as much as 40 percent by 2012, in part by cutting the size of its packaging, BrandWeek reports. The company recently announced plans to generate at least $20 billion in cumulative sales of products with reduced environmental impact over the next five years.
Len Sauers, P&G’s VP of sustainability, says the company can make the greatest contribution to environmental sustainability by developing “sustainable innovation products,” the environmental profiles of which have been improved with no trade-offs.
An example of such a P&G is Tide Cold Water, Sauer says. Consumers see the same performance in cold water as they do in hot and warm water, but there are no trade-offs, he says, adding that if everyone in the U.S. switched from hot and warm water to cold water for machine laundering, we would eliminate the release of up to 34 million tons of carbon dioxide — nearly 8 percent of the U.S.’ Kyoto target.
But efficiency could cost the company. Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiative to downsize packaging, for example, could cost P&G $200 million by one estimate.
And getting consumers to adopt new products and packaging is not easy. “How do you convince consumers that small is beautiful in laundry?” P&G’s global product supply officer, Keith Harrison, said at a conference last year. “Everyone has managed to do that in cell phones and iPods, but how you get consumers to understand that small is beautiful in laundry will be an interesting challenge.”
While P&G’s initiatives to go green have been criticized, it is in talks to run a plant on wind power and recently committed to phase out all trade in wood from unknown, illegal, and controversial sources.
Advertisers
Make sustainability part of your strategy.
Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>
EFFECTIVELY MANAGE WATER COMPLIANCE
Understand how increased enforcement may affect your company. Find out more >>
EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st
CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>
Recent Daily News [ see all ]
- 11/06/2009
- 11/05/2009
- 11/04/2009
- Emissions Intensity Falling Globally
- JohnsonDiversey Ups GHG Reduction Target to 25%
- Sainsbury’s Offers Free London Electric Car Charging
- Carbon Trading Could Trigger a ‘Sub-prime Style’ Economic Crash
- Peabody, Exxon Accused of Undermining Climate Talks
- BMW, Toyota, Ford Tout Eco-cars
- In ‘Apathy Gap,’ Energy Efficiency at Home Ranks Low
- China Pushes for CO2 Storage, Not Emissions Reductions
- Clean Tech VC Funding On Rebound, Up 50% Since 2nd Quarter
- IECC Building Code Recommendations Add Up to 30% in Energy Efficiency Gains
- Disney Buys $7M in Reforestation Offsets, a Corporate Record
- McKesson to Save $300K Via Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
- Sprint to Save $2.1M With Eco-Friendly Packaging
- U.S. Export-Import Bank Adopts Carbon Policy to Support Renewable Energy
- Greening the Automotive Supply Chain
- Yokohama Rubber Cuts GHG Emissions 13.4% in 2008
- Electronics Industry Lawsuit Called ‘Attack on States’ Rights’
- Wal-Mart Adding LEDs to 650 Stores
- One Committee Down for Senate Climate Bill, Five More to Go
- EU Poised to Give Heavy Industry Free Carbon Permits
- ResponsibleTravel.com Scuttles Carbon Offsetting Option
- U.S. Cap-and-Trade Creates Winners and Losers among Largest Emitters
- DOE Awards $155M to Make Industrial Sector More Energy Efficient
- System Upgrades Power Up Energy Savings for Hotels
- Xerox Cuts GHG Emissions by 20% from 2002
- Waste Management Landfill Gas Project Complete
- Intel, Pepsi, Kohl’s Stay Atop Green Power Partnership list
- Wal-Mart Thinks Big With Smaller Stores
- Despite Critics, Gore ‘Proud’ to Invest in Green Firms
- Metal Recyclers Spar Over Ship Recycling Site
Industry Voices [ see all ]
A Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Partnership
Brad Cashaw
Vice President
Quaker Foods and Snacks Supply Chain and Sustainability
Forest Carbon Core to Climate Change Deal
Chris Elliott
Forest Carbon Initiative Lead
World Wildlife Fund
VCS and CarbonFix Tops in Review of Forestry Carbon Standards
Paulo Lopes
Carbon Management Consultant
Carbon Clear







Join the Discussion