Shaklee’s environmental heritage

Shaklee difference

One of the many reasons I love Shaklee is their commitment to be leaders in the environment. This post showcases Shaklee’s environmental heritage.

Founded in 1956, Shaklee is the first company in the world to be Climate NeutralTM certified to totally offset its greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment. For more than 50 years, Shaklee has quietly led the way in environmental stewardship and support of social causes.

Milestones

1956: Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founds a company based on Living in Harmony with Nature® that is committed to developing products to improve the health of people and the planet.

1960s: Shaklee introduces Basic-H® Concentrated Organic Cleaner, one of the first nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners. 1970s Shaklee introduces one of the first biodegradable laundry detergents that contains no phosphates, nitrates, or borates.

1980s
1985: Shaklee is selected by the Wild Dolphin Project to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessel, Stenella. The Wild Dolphin Project is dedicated to studying the habitat of dolphins; the organization’s relationship with Shaklee continues today.
1986: Shaklee provides financial support and products for the first recorded, unsupported expedition by dog sled to the North Pole, led by National Geographic® award-winning polar explorer, author, and educator Will Steger.
1987: Shaklee is selected by Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessels, the Calypso and Alcyone.
1989: Shaklee helps build schools and health clinics and plants more than 1 million trees in Asia through a partnership with the American Himalayan Foundation, an organization chaired by Sir Edmund Hillary.
1989-90: Shaklee provides financial and product support for a trans-Antarctica expedition led by Will Steger, the first crossing of Antarctica on foot, covering 3,700 miles. Following this expedition, Steger testified before Congress on polar and environmental issues and co-founded the Center for Environmental Education.

1990s
1990: Nontoxic and biodegradable Basic-H® from Shaklee is chosen as one of the first official Earth Day products. 1991 Shaklee household cleaners and personal care products are selected to be used in the Biosphere 2 Project in Arizona.
1991: Shaklee introduces Basic-D®, one of the first phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergents.
1992: Shaklee Cares®, a nonprofit organization, is established and dedicated to providing relief from natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes whose severity has been compounded by climate change.
1995: Shaklee provides financial and product support for the third International Arctic Project led by Will Steger, the first surface-crossing of the 2,500-mile-wide Arctic Ocean. The expedition brings information about environmental issues and changes to the polar landscape to millions of schoolchildren worldwide.
1996: Shaklee environmentally friendly cleaning products are selected by Ocean Alliance and the Whale Conservation Institute to be used onboard the Odyssey, a research vessel that gathers data on contaminants throughout the world’s oceans. This relationship continues today.
1996: Shaklee partners with Kids for Saving Earth Worldwide to produce Earth Works Central, an environmental resource kit for schools, parents, and community organizations.
1998: Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Wise Program, which set aggressive corporate- wide greenhouse gas reduction goals.

2000s
2000: Shaklee becomes the first company in the world to be Climate NeutralTM certified to totally offset its greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment.
2000: Shaklee opens its World Headquarters, one of the first green, energy-saving, award-winning buildings designed using sustainable materials, including certified sustainable wood, recycled carpets, and recycled plastics. In 2001, Shaklee received the Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award from the American Institute of Architects.
2005: Shaklee becomes a major partner of the Green Belt Movement, founded by Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace laureate.
2006: Dr. Wangari Maathai becomes the Global Ambassador for A Million Trees. A Million DreamsTM, a Shaklee environmental campaign that raises awareness of global climate change and initiates efforts to plant trees in North America and Africa.
2006: Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders program and pledges to maintain a net- zero impact on climate change and offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through 2009.
2006: Shaklee is commended by President Bill Clinton and recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative for its leadership in becoming carbon neutral and creating renewable energy in Africa.
2007: Shaklee becomes a founding member of the Business Council on Climate Change, an organization of businesses that serves as an inspiration and model of global climate stewardship by implementing effective and economically sound solutions to climate change.
2007: Shaklee partners with Millennium Promise to facilitate direct emissions reductions by providing sustainable solar energy to electrify villages in Malawi, a democratic country in southeastern Africa. Millennium Promise is an organization established by Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs that prototypes ways to implement the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.
2007: Shaklee provides financial and product support for polar explorer Will Steger and his GlobalWarming101.com expedition. This expedition includes an extensive educational outreach campaign to students throughout America to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change on five Inuit communities in the Arctic.
2007: Shaklee is the first consumer products company to offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through the U.S. EPA Climate Leaders program and use 100% green power.
2007: Shaklee is selected by the nation’s leading child advocacy group, Healthy Child Healthy World, to be the exclusive partner for a new video, Creating Healthy Environments for Children.
2007: Shaklee is selected by the producers of The 11th Hour, a feature-length documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, as a partner for its exemplary environmental leadership.
2008: Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power.
2009: Shaklee achieves EPA Climate Leaders goal of net-zero US greenhouse gas emissions from 2006-2009.
2009: Shaklee commemorates the planting of the 1 millionth tree, a culmination of a three-year campaign, “A Million Trees. A Million Dreams, with program Ambassador and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects

Offset projects:

  • Shaklee converts boilers in the Portland School District from oil to natural gas.
  • Shaklee sponsors a rural electrification project in Sri Lanka and India to replace kerosene lamps and diesel generators with solar photovoltaics that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health for rural-dwelling families.
  • Shaklee supports the construction of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Wind Turbine Project, the first large-scale Native American owned and operated wind turbine.
  • Shaklee supports a project to convert San Bernardino County school buses from petroleum-based diesel fuel to biodiesel fuel formulated from recycled cooking oil.Awards Bestowed on Shaklee
  • 1990 Family Circle® Green-Chip Award as one of the 10 most environmentally conscious companies.
  • 2001 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards—Certificate of Recognition—from theCalifornia Environmental Protection Agency.
  • 2001 The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award from the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance.
  • 2001 Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award, co-sponsored by the American Institute of Architects and California Council.
  • 2001 Vision for Tomorrow Award from the Direct Selling Association.
  • 2002 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Award.
  • 2002 Environmental Stewardship Award from Social Accountability International.
  • 2003 Gold Medal Award for Environment & Sustainability from the Nutrition Business Journal®.
  • 2003 National Environmental Excellence Award from National Association of Environmental Professionals.
  • 2006 The U.S. EPA recognizes the Shaklee pledge as a Climate Leaders partner to maintain net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 to 2009.
  • 2007 Shaklee is honored with a Global Green USA Organizational Design Award for its outstanding leadershipveffecting positive environmental change.
  • 2007 Shaklee is designated a Green Power Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
  • 2008 Shaklee Corporation is honored with a Stevie Award at the Sixth Annual American Business Awards for Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program.
  • 2008 Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power.
  • 2009 Roger Barnett is honored with a Clean Air Award by Breathe California in recognition of ShakleeCorporation’s contributions to reducing global warming and improving air quality.
  • 2009 Shaklee is honored with the Business Environmental Award for Sustainability from Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet.
  • 2009 Shaklee is honored with a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,in recognition of its commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntarygreen power market.
  • 2010 Shaklee is honored as an Industry Innovator by Climate Counts for the company’s leadership in taking voluntary action to address climate change.

Testimonials

“I don’t know a company that’s doing more to make environmental stewardship part of its core business practice and its commitment to the public than Shaklee. I have to say it’s really quite impressive to see a company that committed to go carbon neutral before it became fashionable. You know it’s a big deal in 2007 to do it, but here’s a company that thought of it seven years ago. That really deserves credit and what a leadership position it provides for Shaklee.”

Dan Esty, professor at Yale, director of the Center for Business and Environment at Yale, and co-author of Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage

“Your efforts to make your operations carbon neutral and ensure that Shaklee products leave a light footprint on the earth are pioneering. Your support means a lot to me and the Green Belt Movement. Of the 4.6 million trees Green Belt groups—mostly poor, rural women—planted in Kenya in 2006, 100,000 were Shaklee-supported. These seedlings are helping restore some of Kenya’s critical landscapes where deforestation, soil erosion, and erratic rainfall threaten ecosystems.”

Dr. Wangari Maathai, 2004 Nobel Peace laureate and founder of the Green Belt Movement

“We’re delighted to partner with the Shaklee Corporation. Partnerships with private companies are crucial to the overall mission to end poverty in the poorest places of the world. Promoting solar energy in African villages will not only provide much needed electricity, but also encourage renewable energy sources as a sustainable model.”

Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, president and co-founder of Millennium Promise, a nonprofit organization working to support the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals to end extreme poverty in Africa by 2015

“This is a commitment I love. Roger Barnett, the president of Shaklee Corporation, has made a commitment for his company to become net fully carbon neutral, 100% carbon neutral. Shaklee intends to oversee the purchasing and installation of solar energy to provide decentralized electrification to the Millennium Villages that Dr. Jeff Sachs is doing so much to develop. This is a great deal. Thank you very much, Roger, and thank you, Shaklee.”

President Bill Clinton, closing address of Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 22, 2006

“Shaklee’s interest in protecting the environment makes the company a perfect partner. For the past 20 years, we couldn’t have been successful without the support of the Shaklee community. The high quality of Shaklee products is essential for us in what we do because failure is not much of an option when it comes to survival.”

Will Steger, National Geographic® award-winning polar explorer

“We are proud to partner with Shaklee, a company that we admire for its commitment to protect the environment.”

Leila Conners Petersen and Nadia Conners, co-directors and producers; Stephan McGuire, associate producer, of

The 11th Hour

“My many compliments to Shaklee’s historical commitment to health, wellness, and environmental stewardship for over 50 years. They have demonstrated time and time again that creating healthy environments for families, especially children, is a driving focus in their product development and a core principle in operations and business practices.”

Christopher Gavigan, executive director and CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World

“Our nation is shifting to a ‘green culture,’ with more and more Americans understanding that environmental responsibility is everyone’s responsibility. EPA commends Shaklee Corporation for making a long-term commitment to protecting the environment by purchasing green power.”

Stephen L. Johnson, EPA administrator

“By using renewable energy, Shaklee Corporation is helping our environment by leading our national transition to clean energy; they are a model for others to follow.”

Kathleen Hogan, Director of EPA’s Climate Protection Partnerships Division

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