Reckitt Benckiser Reduces Total Carbon Footprint by 11 Percent in 2010

Reckitt Benckiser (RB) plc, parent of Clearasil, Lysol, Woolite and other iconic brands, announces that the expulsion of over 3 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) was avoided last year by an 11 percent reduction per unit dose in the carbon impact across its products' lifecycle -- the same impact as taking nearly 1 million cars off the road. This key milestone is a crucial part of RB's "Carbon20" program, which aims to reduce its products' impact on climate change by 20 percent by 2020.

 

"Focusing on climate change is right for our business, right for our industry, and right for society," says Bart Becht, chief executive officer of Reckitt Benckiser plc. "Our Carbon20 program establishes ambitious targets for RB, and I'm pleased that we are on track to exceed them. However, much remains to be done in the realm of combating climate change, and RB will not rest in our quest to drive progress."

 

This cut in carbon emissions per unit dose of 11 percent means the company has already achieved half of the program's goal in only its second year. Launched in 2007, Carbon20 goes beyond targeting the easy wins of energy reduction in factories and travel. It targets reductions of the much larger carbon emissions embedded in raw and packaging materials from suppliers, and in consumers' use and disposal of the company's products. Carbon20 also targets the climate change impact of the overall lifecycle of RB products. RB globally manufactures and sells approximately 6 billion consumer products a year, equivalent to over 16 million products a day.

 

Working with external consultants over several years, RB has established an independently-assured methodology to analyze the total carbon lifecycle of its products, and has been targeting activities (both within its own supply chain and manufacturing), as well as engaging consumers to change their behavior and adopt lower-carbon routines.