Organizational Governance

SC Johnson Expands Sustainable Product Portfolio, Acquires Method, Ecover

SC Johnson, a manufacturer of products such as Windex, Glade, Shout, Raid and Pledge, has signed an agreement to acquire Method and Ecover, two consumer brands from People Against Dirty, a B-Corp and pioneer in ‘planet-friendly’ home, fabric and personal care products. Method and Ecover are well known for their use of naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients and responsible packaging.

By Sustainable Brands | Published 8 years ago | About a 2 minute read

SC Johnson, a manufacturer of products such as Windex, Glade, Shout, Raid and Pledge, has signed an agreement to acquire Method and Ecover, two consumer brands from People Against Dirty, a B-Corp and pioneer in ‘planet-friendly’ home, fabric and personal care products. Method and Ecover are well known for their use of naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients and responsible packaging.

“Method and Ecover have a strong tradition of innovation and delivering on consumers’ needs. They are a great complement to SC Johnson’s trusted lineup of iconic brands,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson.

Method has established itself as a leader in sustainable packaging, with nearly all of its packaging made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic. In 2012, Method launched the world’s first product packaging made from ocean plastic. What’s more, three-quarters of Method’s products are Cradle-to-Cradle certified Gold.

Ecover has also been active in its pursuit of sustainable packaging for its non-toxic, plant-based products. Ecover’s bottles are made of 75 percent Plantplastic® — plastic derived from sugarcane rather than petroleum — and 25 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, all of which are 100 percent reusable and recyclable.

The acquisition builds on the company’s promise to deliver better products with more transparency and offers significant opportunities for growth and improvement. In 2001, SC Johnson formally launched the SC Johnson Greenlist with the goal of removing ‘bad’ ingredients and instead focusing on choosing better option and continuously improving formulas based on information about ingredients’ impact on the environment and human health. The company intends to increase year-on-year the percentage of ingredients with a lower impact on the environment and human health. In 2015, SC Johnson also become the first major consumer packaged goods company to offer product-specific fragrance disclosure to consumers.

SC Johnson also recently made headlines for its work to advance film and flexible packaging recycling in partnership with the Closed Loop Foundation, the details of which are highlighted in a new study.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals in the US, UK and Germany and other customary closing conditions. As a private company, SC Johnson does not disclose details regarding financial or business transactions.