What Procter & Gamble’s New Announcement Reveals About Its Sustainability Efforts

Procter & Gamble is serious about practicing sustainability, as recent announcements indicate. The most recent announcement concerned greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. The company behind popular brands such as Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Febreze and Gillette announced its new goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at its facilities by 30 percent by 2020.

P&G developed the goal with World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The company is also joining the WWF sponsored program, called the Climate Savers Program, which helps companies with their efforts to address climate change.

“Climate change is a global issue and we believe everyone – companies, governments, and individuals – all have a role to play,” said Len Sauers, vice president, global sustainability for P&G, in a statement. “We felt it was important to come forward with an ambitious, science-based goal to help do our part to address the challenges that climate change poses.”

Back in April, P&G announced it is taking climate change seriously, stating that it “recognizes the scientific consensus linking GHG emissions and climate change.” To do so, the company is focusing on certain areas:

• Reducing the intensity of GHG emissions from its operations through energy efficiency measures in its facilities, transitioning to cleaner fuel sources, and driving more energy-efficient modes of transporting its products to customers.


• Helping consumers reduce their own GHG emissions by using its products through more efficient consumer product and packaging use and consumption, and educating consumers about reducing their GHG emissions.


• Partnering with external stakeholders to reduce GHG emissions in its supply chain by ensuring its sourcing of renewable commodities does not contribute to deforestation and developing renewable material replacements for petroleum-derived raw materials.

P&G sets goals to deliver clean drinking water to communities in need

P&G’s second most recent announcement concerns clean drinking water, an issue of high importance throughout the developing world. Clean drinking water can save lives in developing countries. P&G set a goal for its Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to deliver 15 billion liters of clean drinking water to reduce water borne illnesses. P&G and its global partners have delivered nine billion liters of clean water since the program began over a decade ago.

Over the next five years, P&G will launch over 25 projects to get clean drinking water to the most vulnerable groups in developing countries, including families living in rural areas lacking access to it and malnourished children. Over 840,000 people die each year from water-related disease, according Water.org. That is a population greater than the city of San Francisco.

Image credit: P&G