Seventh Generation Earns Rockstar of the New Economy Lifetime Achievement Award
Recognized for Durability and Resilience

On February 07, 2013, in BURLINGTON, VT- Seventh Generation was recognized as a ‘Rockstar of the New Economy’ earning the Lifetime Achievement Award for its durability, resilience, and ability to not just survive, but thrive in an ever-changing marketplace and economy.

In the Fast Company article credited for announcing the honor, Seventh Generation product sales in 2011 alone helped save 77,000 trees, 28 million gallons of water, and enough energy to heat 1,700 U.S. homes for a year. The company also prevented 35,000 pounds of chlorine and 52,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from being released into the environment. Between 2010 and 2011 Seventh Generation decreased normalized greenhouse gas emissions by 8%, a change whose impact is equivalent to the removal of 283 cars from the road for a year. All told, since 1999, the company’s product sales have saved nearly 523,000 trees or 1.8 million barrels of petroleum.

Three businesses nationally were recognized as Rockstars

Three businesses nationally were recognized and honored. Solar company Sun Light & Power and America’s oldest flour company, King Arthur Flour, shared the honor with Seventh Generation. Operating from 25 to nearly 225 years, these companies have maintained their commitment to pioneer their mission through up and down business cycles. They continued to persevere and create high quality jobs and to improve the quality of life in their communities.

“Rockstars inspire us; they make us think, ‘That’s awesome! I want to do that,'” says Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, the nonprofit that honored these ‘Rockstars of the New Economy.’ “These Rockstars paved the way for a growing community of green, responsible, and sustainable businesses who define their success not just by their financial growth, but also by their social impact.”

“This is a tremendous way to kick-off our twenty-fifth year in business,” said John Replogle, CEO of Seventh Generation. “We only hope that we can continue to inspire a consumer revolution to nurture the health of the next seven generations, so we can see the environmental impacts of our products on an even larger scale.”

Seventh Generation and other Rockstars are highlighted by Fast Company in their “Rockstars” series, a partnership with the nonprofit B Lab which certifies B Corporations as having met rigorous, transparent standards of social and environmental performance. In past months, B Lab has recognized other Rockstars like Revolution Foods, Better World Books, Happy Family, Guayaki, DIRTT, and Sungevity for their high growth and high impact.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. They drive systemic change through several interrelated initiatives by building a community of Certified B Corporations that make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing. Then by promoting benefit corporation legislation to create a new corporate form that meets higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency, they drive capital to high impact investments through use of their Ratings and Analytics platform. This in turn helps companies measure what matters most through use of the B Impact Assessment, and B Lab’s free confidential management tool for measuring a company’s impact on its workers, community, and the environment.

More about Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal care products for your living home.  Their products offer solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home — and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” Every time you use a Seventh Generation product you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations. For information on Seven Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, or to find store locations, and explore the company’s website visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans Are Concerned With Toxins Found in Common Household Products?
Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Joined Together recently, to Discuss the Importance of Removing Toxins From Our Lives. This post, is a continuation of the recent study and it’s findings.

Seventh Generation INC (Photo credit: stan)

Education Needed and Transparency Demanded on Ingredients in Common Products

The study indicates that half of all Americans (50%) are unaware that many personal care, household cleaning, laundry and baby care products contain petroleum-based ingredients otherwise known as petro-chemicals. When provided with a list of chemicals in these products, 61% reported that they are “likely” or “very likely” to seek bio-based products the next time they shop.

In addition, 58% of respondents indicated that they “feel personally responsible to change their daily habits and purchase practices to positively impact the environment.” In fact, 58% of the respondents reported that they are “actively searching for greener (more energy-efficient, natural, and sustainable, etc.) products these days.”

“It’s time that the consumer products companies lift the veil that has shrouded most ingredients in mystery, allaying unwarranted concern for some, and providing a sound basis for stronger consumer action on others,” said Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle. “There’s no reason they can’t. Seventh Generation has been providing products that supply peace of mind for 25 years.”

Focus on ingredients in everyday household cleaners and personal care products, has increased significantly in recent years. In fact, just last month (September), Johnson and Johnson announced plans to remove carcinogens and other toxic chemicals from its personal care products by 2015.

Just recently, the American Cleaning Institute(R) launched a Cleaning Product Ingredient Inventory, that catalogs 900+ ingredients used in the U.S. cleaning products market (including soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings).

The study has a margin of error of 3%.

On September 19th,  Green-living guru Sara Snow, moderated a session on Livestream with Deepak Chopra, Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Individuals interested in learning more about this topic.

These experts  discussed the findings of the new study, and explored the significance of the USDA Certified Bio-based label, as a credible way for consumers to make conscious choices about the products they bring into their homes.

About Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation, is committed to being the most trusted brand of household and personal care products for your living home. Our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home — and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation, also offers baby products that are safe for your children and the planet. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, “In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.” Every time you use a Seventh Generation product, you are making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution, and making the world a better place for this and the next seven generations.

For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products,  or to find store locations that carry their products, and explore the company’s website visit www.seventhgeneration.com.

Did you know that 2 out of 3 Americans Are Concerned With Toxins Found in Common Household Products?
Seventh Generation and Breast Cancer Fund Joined Together to Discuss the Importance of Removing Toxins From Our Lives.  I want to share this news in light of the fact that October is Brest Cancer Awareness Month, and this is news you should know.

I'm getting plants - yah to less toxins and bad EMF! (Photo credit: Tricia Wang 王圣捷)

According to a recent study, with findings released in BURLINGTON, VT by Marketwire – on September 19, 2012 – Nearly two-thirds of all Americans (64%) say they are “concerned” or “very concerned” about potentially harmful chemicals and petroleum-based ingredients found in everyday personal care, household cleaning, laundry and baby care products, according to the study.

Top concerns of petroleum-based products are “long term health effects” (75%) and “absorption through the skin” (71%). Concerns were similar across age, gender and other demographic categories.
Commissioned by Seventh Generation, a leading maker of renewable household and personal  care products, the study questioned 1,000 Americans to gauge awareness, attitudes and concerns about ingredients found in products they use daily, for themselves and for children.

“The level of concern voiced by the American public represents a mandate for immediate, sweeping systemic change,” said Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle. “It’s a big issue with consumers. And, it’s getting bigger.”

Full results of the study were unveiled recently during a news conference and panel discussion featuring Deepak Chopra, Seventh Generation CEO John Replogle, and Breast Cancer Fund CEO, Jeanne Rizzo.

According to Deepak Chopra, M.D., a recognized expert in the field of wellness and sustainability, the study suggests Americans are undermining their wellness through daily exposure to toxins, found in products that we use daily. “The elimination of toxins awakens the capacity for renewal,” said Chopra.

So, how do we go about eliminating toxins from our lives?

Study Findings Show Toxic Concerns are High,and Biobased Awareness is Low.
The Study questioned respondents on an array of issues, including awareness of “biobased” products. These products are defined as “products made with renewable agricultural content such as plant, animal, marine or forestry materials.” The respondents were questioned about their attitudes toward the use of petroleum-based products, and petro-chemicals, found in many common consumer products.

According to the study, Americans are concerned about potentially harmful chemicals in their household cleaning (66%) and personal care products (65%), as well as laundry (63%) and baby care products (60%).  In this study, it is noted that percentages combine “concerned” and “very concerned” responses. Notice by the percentages, that more than half of the people questioned are quite concerned.

When asked specifically about petro-chemicals in personal care, home cleaning, laundry and baby care products, top concerns of “long-term health risks” (75%) and “absorption through the skin” (71%) were followed by “potential skin irritation” (69%), “inhaling toxins” and “negative impact on the environment” (both 60%). This also poses  health concerns that can no longer be overlooked.

In fact, more than half (54%) went so far as to agree that “brands should be required to post warning labels on their packages if their products contain petro-chemicals.” Nearly two-thirds (60%) reported that they are “likely” or “very likely” to seek bio-based products the next time they shop.

“This study shows that people understand what science is telling us — that exposure to toxic chemicals in our everyday products increases risk for many diseases, including breast cancer,” said Jeanne Rizzo, president and CEO, The Breast Cancer Fund. “As more and more people begin to connect the dots between toxic exposures and disease, they say, ‘Enough! No more toxic trespass! We want safer products!'”

This has become a critical issue, that many of us have not been aware of.  So, begin reading the labels on your soaps, shampoos and laundry detergents. It’s a matter of our health, our children’s health, and the health of our environment, for generations to come. Together we are working toward a better, safer and “greener” future for us all.