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SC Johnson is Working for Solutions to the Global Plastic Crisis

Since announcing in 2018 its commitments to further reduce its plastic footprint, SC Johnson has made steady progress.
SC Johnson has a legacy of making bold decisions to protect people and the planet.

SC Johnson has a long-standing commitment to doing what’s right for people and the planet. Beyond our innovative product ingredient selection program and our ongoing efforts to minimize our footprint, in 2018 we publicly shared our commitments to further reduce our plastic footprint. 

As our Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson has said, plastic pollution is a complex problem with no single solution. It’s going to take industry, government, NGOs and individuals working together to solve it. 

Here’s a look at what SC Johnson is doing and the progress we’ve made.

Commitment: Make 100% of SC Johnson plastic packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025.
From 55%* in 2018, we progressed during the 2018/19 fiscal year to 62%* of our plastic packaging being designed to be recyclable, reusable or compostable. 

Commitment: Triple the amount of post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic content in SC Johnson packaging by 2025.
Through 2018/19, PCR made up 14%* of our total packaging. In terms of plastic bottles, we had an average of 11% PCR across all our bottles globally. We aim to increase PCR plastic in our North American and European bottles to 40 percent by 2025.

Commitment: Expand the number of concentrated refill options for SC Johnson products by 2025.
Our trigger bottles are designed to deliver 10,000 sprays, so they can be refilled and reused dozens of times. In 2019, we launched our concentrated refills on Amazon.com and other online retailers to make them accessible to more people. They’re now rolling out internationally to Canada, Mexico, the U.K, China and Japan. Refilling a full-size bottle instead of buying a new one cuts plastic waste by nearly 80 percent.

*Data updated in October 2020

VIDEO
Combatting Plastic Waste Crisis: SC Johnson Expands Offerings of Concentrate Products
 
VIDEO
Combatting Plastic Waste Crisis: SC Johnson Concentrate Products to Launch in the U.K.
 

Commitment: Work with industry and other organizations to support circular plastic economy models.
We’re partnering with groups like the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Plastic Bank and Conservation International. In 2019, SC Johnson became the tenth Global Partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. With Plastic Bank in 2018/19 we opened nine recycling centers in Indonesian communities, helping increase recycling infrastructure while also creating economic opportunities for local waste collectors.

Commitment: Continue to remove excess plastic from products.
We’ve been relentlessly focused on designing out unnecessary packaging. In 2018/19, we removed more than 1.7 million kg of plastic from our primary packaging.

Commitment: Champion curbside recycling of plastic film.
We are continuing our efforts to make curbside recycling of flexible plastic film such as Ziploc® brand bags a reality in the United States, with a pilot coming soon. 

Plus, we’re shining a light on the global plastic crisis. Our Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson has been working to raise awareness of plastic pollution and the need for solutions through social media and speaking engagements. See what he’s shared here.

Follow Fisk on Twitter at @HFiskJohnson to see more of the sites and solutions he’s visited, including the innovative solution for collecting river plastic that’s pictured at the top of this article.  
VIDEO
The Rising Tide of Corporate Action Against Ocean Plastic
 
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Press Release
SC Johnson, Plastic Bank Take Action to Solve Ocean Plastic Pollution at GreenBiz 2019
 

Sustainability ReportAn Innovative Partnership between SC Johnson and Plastic Bank Reduces Plastic Pollution, Addresses Poverty

Sustainability ReportSC Johnson and Ellen MacArthur Foundation: A Groundbreaking Global Partnership

Sustainability ReportDriving a Circular Economy with Post-Consumer Recycled Materials

Sustainability ReportFisk Johnson is Shining a Spotlight on the Global Plastic Crisis

Sustainability ReportSC Johnson Makes the Case for Reuse: A Big Reduction in Plastic Waste

Sustainability ReportIt’s Time to Turn the Tide on Plastic Pollution: A Letter from SC Johnson’s Chairman and CEO

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