Seventh Generation
Issues FY04 Corporate Responsibility Report
11/10/2005
Source: LOHAS Weekly Newsletter
Author: Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation, the nation's leading brand of
non-toxic and environmentally safe household and personal care
products, today announced the release of its third corporate
responsibility (CR) report. Based on Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, the CR report details the impact
of Seventh Generation's economic, environmental, and social
performance on all of its stakeholders.
The
52-page report, titled Widening the Lens, emphasizes transparency in
its comprehensive look at the Vermont-based company's values and
efforts to behave responsibly in its relationships with suppliers,
distributors, employees and the community.
"We view
our engagement with corporate responsibility as a never-ending
journey, one that plays out in the everyday decisions and struggles we
face in running our business," said Jeffrey Hollender, company
president and Corporate Responsibility Officer in his opening letter
in the report. "That path, for all companies that follow it, is full
of mistakes, confusion, and compromise. Sometimes the journey is about
making things worse before they get better. Other times, it's about
walking down trails we've never followed and winding up lost.
But it
is also about the wonderful, passionate efforts of millions of people
at thousands of businesses accomplishing amazing things. Setbacks and
progress are not mutually exclusive. But unless we remember and
celebrate the good, the bad, and the ugly, we will fail."
For the
first time, the report includes external stakeholders and employees in
the process, and interviews with them provide an expanded and
authentic picture of the company. For advice in preparing the report,
Seventh Generation consulted with two environmental NGOs, a local
community poverty relief organization, an association representing
emerging corporate responsibility leaders, and a panel of corporate
responsibility experts organized by Ceres, a coalition of investment
funds, environmental organizations and public interest groups. To
access a copy of the report, please go to
http://www.seventhgeneration.com/corporateresponsibility
The
report includes in-depth analysis of the company's progress toward
meeting established goals pertaining to the environment, supply chain,
social and economic arenas. Significant developments include the
following:
--
Seventh Generation made improvements in products and packaging in 2004,
replacing petrochemical based surfactants and
fragrances with vegetable ones in several products, and moving to 25%
post consumer recycled content (PCR) in all HDPE
packaging, 50% PCR PET in spray bottles. That said, some of the
materials used in Seventh Generation products don't yet meet the
company's high standards, an issue that the company
continues to address.
--
Changes made in product transportation reduced Seventh
Generation's environmental impacts per ton of product shipped by 10%
to 20%. Despite a 22% increase in the weight of products
shipped in 2004 compared to 2003, the company's
greenhouse gas emissions decreased by 2%.
--
Seventh Generation offset their 38.5 tons of CO2 emissions in 2004,
accounting for all of their electricity emissions and 42% of
emissions for heating their Burlington, Vermont offices.
--
Seventh Generation conducted their first supply chain survey with
five of six of their largest suppliers on social and
environmental issues. However, the supplier that did not complete
the survey is one of their largest. The company intends
to ensure that key trading partners are committed to at least
a minimal agreed-upon level of corporate
responsibility, and is in the process of defining what that level
is.
--
There's work to be done in terms of diversity and inclusion at Seventh
Generation, where the number of women in senior
management positions decreased in 2004, and the workforce is
decidedly less diverse than the surrounding community.
The
report also outlines the company's 2005 priorities, including building
a larger office facility embodying advanced environmental principles,
redoubling their supply chain and product evaluation efforts and
developing a detailed long-range sustainability plan.
Jeffrey
Hollender invites readers to send direct feedback on the company's CR
report via email at
responsibility@seventhgeneration.com .
Additionally, those interested in receiving the company's free monthly
electronic newsletter, The Non-Toxic Times, are invited to register on
the site.
To subscribe or visit go to:
http://www.lohas.com/
© copyright 2005 - DataJoe LLC
|