SC Johnson Publishes Restricted Use Ingredients

SC Johnson has, for the first time, published its “restricted-use” ingredients — chemicals and other materials the company limits or has banned in its products to protect human health and the environment.

Eliminated ingredients include bisphenol A (BPA), mercury and mercury-containing compounds, diethyl phthalate (DEP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

The restricted-use list is part of the SC Johnson Greenlist process, which classifies ingredients considered for use in SC Johnson’s products by their impact on the environment and human health.

The company’s 2014 sustainability report details additional information about SC Johnson’s Greenlist process and includes a full list of restricted use ingredients.

The Greenlist process uses a four-point scale to rate ingredients: 3 for “Best,” 2 for “Better,” 1 for “Good” and 0-rated materials whose use is restricted. When a new product or reformulation is created, SC Johnson works to select raw materials rated Better or Best. When existing products are reformulated, the new formula must have a rating equal to or higher than the original formula. SC Johnson’s goal is to increase, year-on-year, the percentage of its ingredients that has a lower impact on the environment and human health.

The company started with 18 percent Better/Best ingredients in 2001. Today, it is at 47 percent and its goal is 58 percent by 2016.

The 2014 sustainability report also includes a section on SC Johnson’s Scenario Planning Tool, which enables the company’s product formulators and engineers to more easily determine and utilize the safest and most environmentally friendly materials for SC Johnson products.

In October SC Johnson said it will expand its ingredient disclosure efforts by providing product-specific fragrance ingredient information.

The company says this move makes it the first major US consumer goods company to disclose fragrance ingredients. Beginning in the spring of 2015, consumers will have access to the main ingredients used to create the fragrances in SC Johnson products.