SC Johnson's 30 Green Days Challenge Concludes, Inspires Long-Term Change

RACINE, Wis., May 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- To encourage families to make green-minded choices every day, SC Johnson recently partnered with four families from across the world to take the 30 Green Days Challenge. The families agreed to make one simple, green-minded change every day for 30 days and document their experience on SC Johnson's Green Choices website, as well as their own social media channels.

Inspiring Results
More than 130 tips were shared from the sponsored families, ranging from energy and water conservation to reducing waste and recycling. Through the campaign hashtag, #30GreenDays, more than 120 tweets were captured and 24 blogs were posted to an audience of more than 250,000. Additionally, after completing the 30-day challenge, each family selected a local charity to receive $10,000 from SC Johnson to put towards a green-focused initiative.  

"We congratulate those who took the #30GreenDays Challenge and encourage all families to make small changes that could lead to a big difference for their family and our world," said Kelly M. Semrau, Chief Sustainability Officer, SC Johnson.

Simple Changes, Big Impact
While each of the families had a different experience, everyone agreed that the Challenge inspired new behaviors.

"My attitude towards sustainability is that even one small change can make a big impact, so naturally I was completely on board with SC Johnson's 30 Green Days Challenge," said Katie Goodman of Good Life Eats Etc. "The Challenge was a great reminder to pay attention to our everyday actions, and by the end of the 30 days, we did notice a shift in our behavior. For example, my kids were better about turning the lights off and I finally fixed a sprinkler head leak from last season."

"Since starting SC Johnson's 30 Days Challenge, we have become more aware of how we dispose of everyday products," said Sheena Tatum of Sophistishe, "Recycling is something we had started, but then life happened, and our efforts dwindled. Now we are making better efforts to set recyclables to the side instead of tossing them in the trash."

Creating a Green Source
To help others make their own green-minded decisions, the Green Choices website now includes a "Green Source" section with blog posts and tip sheets, highlighting many of the sponsored families' favorite tips. Throughout the 30 Green Days Challenge, the most shared tips included:

• Unplug chargers when they are not charging.
• Encourage kids to turn off lights by creating a game or making it part of their daily routine.
• Replace the seal on the fridge door so that the door properly closes.
• Use the oven's convection setting.
• Wear more sweaters and blankets to avoid turning up the heat.
• Shut down the computer when it's not in use.
• Put a towel under shorter doors to prevent heat from escaping. 
• Learn how to utilize the microwave instead of the stove for some of the family's favorite meals, like scrambled eggs.

In addition to tips, the site also features products that support marketing choices in Green Choices Marketplace, such as concentrated cleaner refills and Ziploc® Brand Compostable Bags for those who live in communities that offer curbside commercial composting.

Giving Back to Green
For each of the #30GreenDays sponsored families, the Challenge was about more than just their individual worlds, it was about their communities as well. The families, with SC Johnson as a partner, selected local charities to receive $10,000 for a green-focused initiative. Selected organizations include:

• Valpo Parks Foundation, nominated by Sheena Tatum of Sophistishe, supports the Valpo Parks System of facilities and programs. The foundation has recently helped fund five parks and two projects, creating common areas and programs for the local community to enjoy the outdoors.
• High Plains Library District, nominated by Katie Goodman of Good Life Eats Etc, is a highly-valued community resource. In addition to serving as an accessible resource, the library participates in sustainability projects to reduce energy usage and educate the community. 
• David Suzuki Foundation, nominated by Jill Amery of Savvy Mom, works to conserve the environment and find solutions that will create a sustainable Canada through science-based research, education and policy work.
• Food Cycle, nominated by Liz Jarvis of The Mum Blog, runs volunteer-powered community projects across the UK, working to reduce food poverty and social isolation by serving nutritious meals to the underprivileged. As food waste becomes an increasingly important issue in the UK, this organization addresses the problem and educates the communities about how to be more economically and sustainably conscious every day.

To learn more about the 30 Green Days challenge or SC Johnson's ongoing commitment to sustainability, visit www.scjohnson.com, follow @SCJGreenChoices or #30GreenDays, or access the 2013 Sustainability Report.

CONTACT
Jam Stewart
262.260.6654
[email protected]

Kristina McPherson
312.240.2961
[email protected]

WEB ADDRESSES
www.scjohnson.com
www.scjohnson.com/30greendays
www.twitter.com/scjgreenchoices  

ABOUT SC JOHNSON
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE®, and RIDSECT®. The 128-year-old company, that generates $9 billion in sales, employs nearly 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com

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SOURCE SC Johnson