This We Believe
Since our founding in 1886, SC Johnson has been guided by our commitment to keep earning the goodwill of the people around us. It matters to us that we do right by employees, consumers, the public, our communities and the world at large.
The goodwill of people is the only enduring thing in any business. It is the sole substance. The rest is shadow.Herbert F. Johnson, Sr.
Second-generation company leader
Our core beliefs were first summarized by Herbert F. Johnson, Sr., the second-generation leader of our family company, in a 1927 speech to employees. He said, “The goodwill of people is the only enduring thing in any business. It is the sole substance. The rest is shadow.”
In 1976, our fourth-generation leader, Sam Johnson, formalized our principles in a document known as This We Believe. This was long before companies had values statements or even codes of conduct. Few were thinking about topics like the environment, safety, diversity or corporate social responsibility. But Sam believed that principles are powerful and should be formalized and celebrated.
Since then, This We Believe has been a guide for SC Johnson through both good and challenging times. It is a sounding board against which we can test ideas and consider options. As our Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson has explained “This We Believe calls on us to act with integrity, respect people, make responsible choices and pursue growth so we can keep doing good in the world.”
This We Believe has been translated and shared around the world, and everyone in the company is accountable for upholding its tenets.