Goal For The Green

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.

When a major company does something great for the environment it makes me want to stand up and cheer. I received this notice from Collen Goepfert,  Account Research Manager at Swirl in San Francisco, CA.  It is a great pleasure and honor to share this outstanding information with you.

I thought that it might be of interest to you and your Goal For The Green readers, the World Wildlife Fund has welcomed in my client JohnsonDiversey into the Climate Savers Program. Here is the press release, pictures and part of the video.

Here’s the YouTube link

The 3 video minute clip features: (1) Curt Johnson, Chairman, JohnsonDiversey; (2) Matt Banks, Senior Program Officer, Business and Industry, World Wildlife Fund; and (3) Ed Lonergan, President/CEO, JohnsonDiversey.

I think that it’s pretty amazing that a $3B a year B2B cleaning product company is striving for sustainability.

“WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts said the actions being taken by JohnsonDiversey to address climate change will set a new standard for the cleaning industry and serve as a model for other companies seeking to transform the way they do business to help preserve the environment.”

JohnsonDiversey’s cleaning, sanitation and hygiene products, which are used throughout the country and Europe, at schools, hospitals, stadiums, event halls, restaurants, public gathering locations, amusement parks, youth playing fields, offices, directly effect the health and well being of every American. In our country, on every school day, over 100 million children are breathing in and exposed to these cleaning products and the chemical and natural elements used to make them. A scientific study has shown that a sanitary school and work place has decreased the number of kids and workers who get sick, as well as helping to increase the mental and physical performance of these students, teachers, administrators and professionals

(Validation)

Having a more environmentally and human friendly cleaning product company strive to be more sustainable and green in their products and practices will improve the health, quality and vitality of our lives. They will also provide the long term benefits such of giving our children a better foundation from which to learn and grow. Such measures will also save parents money on their doctor bills come cold season.

It was 1984, when we had this dome home built. We were very happy and proud of our first home.  We thought we would always be there, but in ’84 interest rates were 13.5%. We struggled for 4 1/2 years and due to things out of our control we became upside down in the loan. We did get it sold, but like many people are going through now, we took a loss.

I can’t think of any drawbacks to living in a dome home.  It was easy to heat, and fit well into the northwest lifestyle.  We especially liked the acoustics on Saturday mornings when the kids got up to watch cartoons. From our master suite in the loft, they always wondered how we knew what they were into without actually seeing them.  It was great.  There are still plans available for this type of dome home, and many varying designs to choose from, including ones with riser walls.

The first Biohome was created by NASA, with the idea of supporting one person in a fully functional habitat.  You might recall the 1973 Skylab project, in which NASA did studies on indoor air quality, and did research involving closed ecological life support systems.

The folks at biohome.net feel the future is now.  They have adapted Buckminster Fuller’s original design of the geodesic dome (which ours was modeled after) and came up with the foam version.  They boast having the best “Bio home Foam” on the planet.  The polyurethane foam is the same stuff used by NASA.  It will not sag or shrink, and is mold and bacteria resistant.

The goal at biohome, is to allow you to live totally “off the grid.”  They provide a unique design, that allows you to be the owner and builder.  This frees you from contractor fees ( a big money saver), and power and water bills.  You can obtain a kit that shows you how to build your own solar toilet.  It requires no plumbing, water, or moving parts.  You can also learn how to make drinking water, no matter where you are on the planet.

While the closed system housing idea will not appeal to everyone, it can free up many resources.  Most importantly, it can free up personal time, of which there never seems to be enough of.  With the recent focus being on our energy dependence, this could be the answer for those willing to pursue it.  Just imagine if humans and our dwellings could be the solution to sustainable living.