Seventh Generation Inc.

Infobox Company
name = Seventh Generation Inc.

type = private
genre =
foundation = 1988
founder =
location_city = Burlington, Vermont
location_country = USA
location =
locations =
area_served =
key_people = Jeffrey Hollender CEO
industry = Natural household products
products =
services =
market c

revenue =
operating_income =
net_income =
assets =
equity =
owner =
num_employees =
parent =
divisions =
subsid =
homepage = http://www.seventhgeneration.com
footnotes =
intl =

Seventh Generation, Inc. is a company that sells non-toxic, hypoallergeniccleaning, paper and personal care products. The company was founded in 1988 and is based in Burlington, Vermont. The name "Seventh Generation" comes from the Great Law of the Iroquois; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_generation_sustainability] "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." The company focuses on sustainability and the conservation of natural resources. Seventh Generation uses recycled and post-consumer materials in its packaging and biodegradable, phosphate and chlorine free ingredients in its products.

History

In 1988, Jeffrey Hollender (an entrepreneur who sold his books on tape business to Time Warner) contacted Renew America, a mail order catalogue that sold energy conservation products to raise funds for an environmental organization, asking to purchase an equity stake. Having doen so the catalogue was then renamed Seventh Generation (the name was chosen in an employee contest).Fact|date=August 2008 In 1989, the company had $1 million in sales.Fact|date=August 2008 Sales went on to increase to and leveled of at $6 million mark by 1991.Fact|date=August 2008

In 1992 Seventh Generation went public and the company began to develop products for wholesale.Fact|date=August 2008 By 1993, there were 27 branded products, sold at natural food stores across the nation. The compmany later sold its catalogue business to Gaiam and concentrated solely on the wholesale business.Fact|date=August 2008

In 1999, the company went private and launched its website.Fact|date=August 2008 By 2002, the company was profitableFact|date=August 2008 and in 2006, Seventh Generation moved to LEED-certified offices on Lake Street in Burlington, Vermont.Fact|date=August 2008

Awards

Seventh Generation has received multiple awards that recognize their efforts to preserve the environment, including:

* 2002 Socially Responsible Business Award, "whose purpose is to recognize companies that have excelled in socially responsible business practices." [ [http://www.functionalingredientsmag.com/fimag/articleDisplay.asp?strArticleId=18&strSite=FFNSite Company News - Functional Ingredients Magazine ] ]

* 2004 Corporate Stewardship Award for Small Business from the United States Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship. Award recipients were selected based on "a demonstration of ethical leadership and corporate stewardship, making a difference in their communities, and contributions to the advancement of important economic and social goals." [http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/media/2004/dec/default.htm]

* Fastest Growing Company in Vermont - 5x5x5 Award from Vermont Business Magazine and KeyBank for "achievements in keeping true to its mission to create healthy products that preserve the environment, every year since 2004." [ [http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-vermont/895528-1.html The 5x5x5 Growth Awards: Service/Retail - Seventh Generation | North America > United States from AllBusiness.com ] ]

* 2004 Annual Sustainability Award, Minnesota-based Alliance for Sustainability - "demonstrated the market for a wide variety of natural household products from toilet paper to dishwasher detergent." [ [http://www.afs.nonprofitoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BFDEDDF8E-6505-48AD-941D-84D11A150DDF%7D&DE=%7B1792ACCA-1058-44AC-BA56-2CE0EC50E547%7D Alliance for Sustainability - Previous Events: First Annual Sustainability Awards ] ]

* 2004 Terry Ehrich Award - Jeffrey Hollender won the award from the Board of Directors of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility for "having created a business model that encompasses a healthy and productive workplace, welcomes and promotes flexibility for employees, and has a key focus on the importance of life-friendly policies. His business practices are a model for others to emulate, and he does an extraordinary job of "walking the walk."" [ [http://vbsr.org/index.php/pages/member_award_detail/award_2004_terry_ehrich_award/ VBSR & Research and Education Fund • 2004 Terry Ehrich Award ] ]

* Fast Company Fast 50 - Jeffrey Hollender was selected as "one of the doers and the dreamers, the truth tellers and the trendsetters." [ [http://www.fastcompany.com/fast50_04/winners Fast 50 2004 | Fast Company ] ]

* Top 10 Responsible Brands in America 2004 – voted the 7th most responsible brand in America by the College Explorer study sponsored by Alloy Media & Marketing. The study utilized only write-in answers as opposed to multiple choices. [ [http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NEWS/newsletters/clientnews/2006_Alloy.pdf A Very Convenient Truth: College Students "Tuned in" to Social Responsibility and the Brands Who They Believe are Making a Difference ] ]

* "Pioneer of Precaution" Award 2006 - from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), Environmental Research Foundation (ERF) and Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN). [ [http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/ppconfawards.htm The First National Conference on Precaution ] ]

* Best Bosses Award 2006 - Winning Workplaces selected Jeffrey Hollender, President of Seventh Generation, as one of this year's Best Bosses. The Award is sponsored by FORTUNE [ [http://www.winningworkplaces.org/bestbossesaward/index.php Winning Workplaces | Best Bosses Award ] ]

* Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Sustainability Reporting - Best Small or Medium Enterprise Corporate Responsibility Report, April 2006 - the international competition was sponsored by Ceres (organization), a national network of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to advance environmental stewardship on the part of businesses, in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and CoVeris, an independent corporate verification firm. Ceres called Seventh Generation’s report "a pioneering effort in transparency for a privately owned company." [ [http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2006/04/06/nike-hp-win-top-honors-ceresacca-sustainability-reporting-awards Nike, HP Win Top Honors in Ceres/ACCA Sustainability Reporting Awards | GreenBiz.com ] ]

* In 2007, Seventh Generation was recognized as being the second fastest growing company in Vermont over the past 10 years [ [http://www.reformer.com/ci_8051027 Old vs. new - Brattleboro Reformer ] ] .

* Fast Company Social Capitalist Award 2007 – Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group [ [http://www.fastcompany.com/social/2008/index.html The 2008 Social Capitalist Awards | Fast Company ] ]

* The Microsoft Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award 2008 - Seventh Generation was recognized as a customer who is "using their business management system in an innovative way to track their initiatives around becoming more environmental sustainable." [ [http://www.microsoft.com/Dynamics/convergence/orlando/customer_excellence.aspx Convergence 2008 - Orlando - Customer Excellence ] ]

People

In 2003, the company employed 23 people. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200306/ai_n9290425 Profiles in Business] ]

*CEO: Jeffrey Hollender

Products

*Paper Towels (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled)
*Toilet Paper (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled)
*Facial Tissue (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled)
*Napkins (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled)
*liquid Hand Dish Detergent (chlorine and phosphate-free)
*Liquid Auto Dish Detergent (cholrine and phosphate-free)
*Powder Auto Dish Detergent (chlorine and phosphate-free)
*Trash Bags (made from recycled plastic)
*Baby Diapers (chlorine-free)
*Training Pants (chlorine-free)
*Baby Wipes (chlorine-free)
*Tampons (organic cotton, chlorine-free)
*Pantiliners (chlorine-free)
*Maxi-pads (chlorine-Free)
*House Hold Cleaning Products (chlorine and phosphate-free)

References

* [http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-vermont/989951-1.html Profiles in Business: Jeffrey Hollender and Seventh Generation]
* [http://worldbenefit.case.edu/innovation/bankInnovationView.cfm?idArchive=640 Seventh Generation- Preserving the Planet for Next Seven Generations and Beyond]
* [http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/06/03/consumers-tap-whole-foods-burt%E2%80%99s-bees-trader-joe%E2%80%99s-as-top-green-brands/ Consumers Tap Whole Foods, Burt’s Bees, Trader Joe’s As Top Green Brands]
* [http://www.nbc4.com/consumer/15403552/detail.html Green Clean Challenge]
* [http://www.csrwire.com/News/12289.html/ The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire]

External links

* [http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation official website]
* [http://www.inspiredprotagonist.com/ The Inspired Protagonist - official blog of Seventh Generation]
* [http://www.changeit07.org/ Change It - Seventh Generation's activist training program with Greenpeace]
* [http://www.fastcompany.com/social/2008/profiles/seventh-generation.html Fast Company: Profits with Purpose: Seventh Generation]