Clorox Releases Third Annual Integrated Report

The Clorox Company, a multinational manufacturer of consumer and professional products such as bleach, recently launched its third annual integrated report. The report titled Powerful, Purposeful, Proven, covers the company’s financial, environmental, social and governance performance. Although the section on environmental goals is a smaller part of the report, it shows that Clorox is committed to helping the environment. The goals for the year 2020 include:

• A 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy, solid waste to landfill and water use against a 2011 base
• Getting its top 100 suppliers to reduce their environmental impact
• Using only recycled or certified virgin fiber in packaging
• Having all palm oil either RSPO certified or Green Palm offset

“As we look forward to our next set of milestones, we’re leveraging the power of our brands, building on proven results and focused on a purposeful strategy,” Clorox Chairman and CEO Don Knauss said in a statement. “All the while, we’re remaining grounded in our strong principles of corporate responsibility.”

One section in particular stands out, and that is the one about developing a “triple bottom line view.” Clorox began to look at integrating corporate responsibility (CR) into its business during the Centennial Strategy period in 2007. In 2010, the company assembled a cross-functional team which developed a CR strategy that set goals for environmental, social and governance performance plus developed a framework to achieve those goals. One important area of focus has been transparency. For example, Clorox became the first major consumer packaged goods company to voluntarily disclose the ingredients in its cleaning and disinfecting products in the U.S. and Canada. Clorox is being recognized for its efforts. Corporate Secretary magazine recognized its 2011 integrated annual report, the first year it released one, for being the “most innovative disclosure policy.”

Philanthropy is woven into the fabric of the company

Philanthropy is very important to Clorox, as the report shows. The Clorox Company Foundation awarded $4.1 million in cash grants for fiscal year 2013, which brings its total support to $91 million since the program started in 1980. The foundation grants are mainly given in Oakland and the communities near its operations in Oakland. Almost 30,000 people were impacted by the foundation’s grants last year. The employees are an integral part of the company’s philanthropic efforts. The employee-led Getting Involved for Tomorrow (GIFT) campaign raised almost $4.6 million to support 2,500 nonprofits chosen by employees. More than half (57 percent) of American and Canadian employees participated. A total of $30,000 was donated to 89 organizations where employees volunteered over 24 hours of their time.

Clorox employees give more than just money, and several examples illustrate this fact:

• A team in Minnesota packed donated food items into 30 lb. boxes which were shipped across the area for Second Harvest Heartland food bank in Minneapolis. By the end of the event there were 10,500 lbs. of food boxed and put on pallets.
• Clorox volunteers built five homes for families in Columbia through a partnership with Un Techo Para Mi País — Colombia (A Roof For My Country — Colombia).
• West Coast employees packaged over 15,000 meals to be shipped to children in developing countries through the Stop Hunger Now organization.

When Hurricane Sandy slammed into the Eastern seaboard last year, Clorox stepped up and provided relief. The company donated 55 truckloads of Clorox bleach to the American Red Cross and Feeding America to help with cleanup efforts. In addition, Clorox sent three truckloads of Glad trash bags, and supported the KC Masterpiece Pit Wagon which partnered with the nonprofit organization Operation BBQ Relief to mobilize its truck in New Jersey. Every day 2,000 to 5,000 meals were cooked and served in New Jersey during the height of the hurricane’s aftermath.

Photo: Clorox Toilet Product