On September 10, 2008, World Wildlife Fund announced that Johnson Diversey, which is one of the world’s largest providers of commercial cleaning products and services, had joined their Climate Savers Program.

Johnson Diversey announced their plan to invest $19 million over the next five years, to achieve their commitments, but they anticipate an operational savings of about $31 million over the same time period.  This proves that sustainability is the right approach for both the environment and the bottom line.

Recently, I was given the opportunity to speak with Jon Matthews, of Johnson Diversey.  Given the recent award by WWF, and all the accomplishments Johnson Diversey has achieved, I could only come up with these three questions.

1. Where do you go from here when,  you are already at the top?

2. What plans does Johnson Diversey have for further and future sustainability?

3. Did you know that you were being considered for such a prestigious award?

During the interview, Jon Matthews, stressed that ” Our objective has always extended beyond financial growth to promoting the health and well being of our planet and the people who share it. We are excited about helping customers and our clients to become more sustainable, by helping them provide a cleaner and healthier environment.  It is our goal and commitment to reduce our individual carbon footprint and CO2 emissions.  On the path of sustainability, we are never done.”

Johnson Diversey was called upon to help fight the MRSA scare last year, that showed up in several high school sports locker rooms.  There was a high demand for sustainable solutions to eradicate the viral and bacterial germs.  Johnson Diversey makes a solution that contains excellerated hydrogen peroxide. During this time they found that they could not keep the product on the shelf. They discovered that they needed to treat the schools like a health care facility. They took on the job, and were successful in treating the spread of MRSA in the affected schools.  It has also been proven that the use of toxic free solutions in a school environment, enhances student performance and over all health and well being.

Johnson Diversey, was one of 18 companies world wide, to be considered for the award from the WWF. The entire process was two years in the making.  WWF hired an analytical firm to review the applications, collect and validate data, set a baseline, and test emissions. The entire process required meeting certain criteria and third party approval.