Leading Cleaning Products Company Method Commits Majority of its Product Lineup to Cradle to Cradle Product Certification

SAN FRANCISCO, March 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Method Products PBC and the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute announced today that 16 new Method cleaning product lines are now Cradle to Cradle Certified™ GOLD. Today's announcement means 75% of Method's naturally-derived, biodegradable products lines are certified GOLD, the second highest rating in the Cradle to Cradle Certified program for guiding and certifying product innovation. The newly certified products include household cleaners, laundry care and personal care.

"Beautiful design and environmental responsibility are equally important when creating a product, and we shouldn't have to trade functionality for sustainability," said Adam Lowry, Method co-founder and chief greenskeeper. "We are constantly evaluating and improving our products, which has resulted in Cradle to Cradle GOLD certification of the majority of our portfolio. We will continue to use these standards as part of our development process in offering a radically better product experience." 

The Cradle to Cradle Certified program, which is administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, takes a holistic approach to evaluating product design and manufacturing practices by assessing material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social fairness. Earning Cradle to Cradle GOLD means all the ingredients of these products have been tested to assure they pose no risk to human health or the environment. To satisfy the renewable energy and carbon management requirement, Method purchases wind power and provides additional financial incentives for suppliers to directly reduce the carbon intensity of creating Method products. The product lines received high marks for water stewardship because of the biodegradability of their formulas. To meet the social fairness standards, the company has been reincorporated as a benefit corporation and grants all employees three volunteer days per year.

The products were assessed using the Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Product Standard by the product design and optimization firm McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), one of 13 companies around the world authorized to conduct product analysis.

"It's great to see Method placing such a company-wide commitment to the Cradle to Cradle way of innovating healthier and better products for people and the environment" said Bridgett Luther, president of the Institute. "They are now the leading company when it comes to percent of products to have gone through our rigorous third party scrutiny, and we applaud their industry leadership and hope others follow suit."

About Method
Founded in 2000, Method is the pioneer of premium planet-friendly and design-driven home, fabric and personal care products. Formulated with naturally derived, biodegradable ingredients, Method cleaners put the hurt on dirt without doing harm to people, creatures or the planet.  Method can be found in more than 40,000 retail locations throughout North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. Method is a privately held company headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit methodhome.com.

About the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
The Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute is a non-profit organization whose mission is to turn the making of things into a positive force for people, the economy, and the planet. Their rigorous standard is a way for leading brands to assess and continuously improve their products. In 2013, Cradle to Cradle Certified products became eligible for LEEDv4 credits. The Institute has 13 accredited assessment bodies worldwide that assist companies in readying their products for certification. For more information, visit http://www.c2ccertified.org/

SOURCE Method products