As we approach 2020, we have made significant progress against the goals we set in 2010 around climate, water and waste. As we are well on our way to achieving these goals and closing out 2020, we are raising the bar with even bolder commitments called Ambition 2030.
P&G sustainability goals for 2030
In 2018, we released new sustainability goals called Ambition 2030. These broad-reaching goals have one purpose in mind: to enable and inspire positive impact on our environment and society while creating value for us as a company and you as a consumer.
In an effort to address two of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges—finite resources and growing consumption—we’ve focused our ambitious goals in these specific areas.
In a world where sustainable lifestyles have become more important than ever, we need brands to meet performance expectations while also helping to solve some of the most complex challenges facing our world. That’s why we’re working to make social and environmental responsibility an integral component of every brand in our portfolio. Here’s how.
Goal: 100% of leadership brands will enable and inspire responsible consumption
We want all our leadership brands to constantly grow and create value while also having a measurable positive impact on society and our environment.
The Ariel Ambition is to re-invent a better clean to consume 50% less resources in key impact areas such as energy and water.
Herbal Essences commits to enable everyone to experience the positive power of nature, supporting biodiversity for the benefit of people and the planet.
Pampers is progressing towards using 30% less diapering materials, and is leading recycling for all diapers and wipes, committing to launch recycling facilities in 3 cities by 2021.
Goal: Reduce our use of virgin petroleum plastic in packaging by 50%
The 3 R's - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - all play a role in our packaging strategy. Reducing the amount of virgin plastic by half by 2030 is an ambitious goal we plan to achieve via light weighting, increasing recycled content (PCR), driving conversion to more concentrated product forms, and when it makes sense, using alternative materials. We estimate this will avoid the use of over 300,000 tons of virgin plastic.
We are also committed to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2030.
Making our packages with a next life in mind, continuously innovating with recycled plastic (PCR), and innovating with refillable and reusable packages will help to reduce our environmental footprint.
But the unique challenge lies in the remaining fraction of our packaging, because they use materials and formats in much smaller amounts. By 2030, we’ll come up with solutions through both technical and commercial innovation.
2020 goal: Ensure 90% of product packaging is recyclable.
As of 2019, 88% of P&G packages are considered recyclable.
In partnership with TerraCycle and SUEZ, we produced the world’s 1st recyclable shampoo bottle made with up to 25% recycled beach plastic.
Lenor will introduce 50% post-consumer resin into all transparent sizes in Europe enabling the use of more than 2,700 tons of recycled plastic next year.
Goal: Build even greater trust through transparency
We know consumers want to know as much as they can about our products & the ingredients that go in them. That’s why we’re continuing to provide transparency around our ingredient innovation and safety science.
Tide purclean™ is certified 65% bio-based, with 100% recyclable packaging, and is produced at a plant that sends zero manufacturing waste to landfill.
In 2019 we joined test programs in New York and Paris with TerraCycle’s groundbreaking Loop platform, a new circular shopping model that offers a variety of house-hold favorite products in durable, refillable packaging. Once the containers are empty, Loop collects and cleans the packaging that can then be put back in the circulation loop for reuse.
Saving Energy at Home
About 80% of a washing machine’s energy consumption comes from heating the water. By delivering a superior performance in quick, cold cycles, Ariel and Tide have been at the forefront of driving change, helping people get the clean they need while saving time, money and energy.
In 2010 we set a goal to turn 70% of all washing machine loads globally into energy efficient cycles by 2020. We’re pleased to report that we’ve reached our goal one year ahead of schedule.
Across our global operations, we are making intentional choices to reduce the footprint of our suppliers, buyers and manufacturing sites - sourcing sustainable materials and exploring new business models to drive circular solutions.
Goal: Reduce our footprint and aim for circular solutions based on regeneration and restoration
100% renewable electricity and cut GHG emissions in half at P&G sites.
Our sites will deliver a 35% increase in water efficiency and source at least five billion liters of water from circular sources.
Advance at least 10 significant supply chain partnerships to drive circularity on climate, water, or waste.
We are now purchasing 100% renewable electricity in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe.
92% of our manufacturing sites are Zero Manufacturing Waste To Landfill.
Goal: Protect and enhance the forests we depend upon
We use wood pulp in some of our products, and we have rigorous policies in place to make sure we’re sourcing responsibly from forests certified to the highest standards. But as we look to the future, we want to Increase our use of Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certified fiber to 75% across all Family Care brands by 2025.
Collaborate with numerous organizations to increase the global area of certified forests, while strengthening certification systems.
Lead the charge in efforts to develop products with a Forest Positive approach. Inspired by the World Wildlife Fund, this practice will deliver health benefits that will sustain the forests we depend on.
Each Bounty sheet is 2X more absorbent than the next leading custom-size-it brand. 100% of the wood fiber used to make our paper is from responsibly managed forests.
Puffs are made from softwood and hardwood fibers that were produced to meet international standards for responsible forestry.
People can use 4X less Charmin Ultra Soft and Ultra Strong than the leading bargain brand—helping to reduce paper waste.
Goal: Improve livelihoods of palm farmers
As members of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, we’re committed to sourcing our palm and palm derivatives responsibly. In areas like Malaysia and Indonesia—which houses our largest supply chain and has a high density of small farmers—we’re implementing local programs to build responsible agricultural practices. This will help small farmers increase their yield while maintaining P&G sustainability standards.
We’ve put more environmental sustainability goals in place to protect our water and find ways to repurpose waste. But we also know we can’t do it alone. Solving the biggest challenges we face will require collaboration, which is why we are focused on creating partnerships that will enable people, the planet, and our business to thrive.
Goal: Create solutions so no packaging finds its way to the ocean
We’re saddened by what’s happening to the world’s oceans. That’s why we’ve included a plastics pledge in our 2030 goals. Internally, we’re figuring out holistic solutions so that no P&G packaging finds its way to the ocean. We’re also partnering with organizations that have the same goal in mind, and are already finding ways to stem the flow of plastic to the world’s oceans—like the Trash Free Seas Alliance in Southeast Asia.
Goal: Protect water for people and nature
Being responsible with the water we depend on is critical to the future of our planet. There's a diverse mix of landscapes, cultures, economies, and climates that make water issues complex and require solutions unique to each river basin.
We clearly defined our priority basins, the partners we'll work with, and the actions needed to address the water challenges specific to each basin. We'll continue to advance the solutions to increase their resiliency.
Cascade Platinum Action Pacs clean stuck-on food so well you can save more than 20 gallons of water per load.*
Households using Swiffer Wet or WetJet can save more than 70 gallons of water per year compared to the standard mop and bucket.
Tide HE Turbo saves an estimated 260 gallons a year per household by helping high-efficiency washing machines rinse to spin easily.
Dry shampoos let consumers go longer between washes, saving them time in the shower. 50 million people have access to this product in countries like China, Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom.
The 50 Liter Home Concept
Spearheaded by P&G, brings together companies, policy makers, influencers and communities to develop and scale innovations for the home that help solve the urban water crisis and at the same time address household energy consumption and associated GHG emissions.
Goal: Advance recycling solutions for Absorbent Hygiene Products
Who would’ve thought you could recycle used diapers? Invented by our joint venture Fater in Italy, we found out a way. The breakthrough technology recycles used absorbent hygiene products to create new products and materials of added value. Partnering with cities, waste operators, and other partners, we plan to have this recycling practice operational in 10 cities across the globe by 2030.
Pampers used this technology to recycle used diapers into bottle caps and viscose, a semi-synthetic fiber.
Ambition 2030: Integrate sustainability in our workplace
Our organization has made tremendous progress against our goals and that's driven largely in part by the passion and ingenuity of our employees. If we want any chance of reaching our 2030 goals, we know how important it is to keep our people engaged and equipped.
Integrate social and environmental sustainability as a key strategy in our business plans.
Educate employees across all levels.
Reward progress and integrate recognition in employee performance assessments.
See the latest in our environmental sustainability efforts
January 9, 2018
German Sustainability Partner to Launch First Head & Shoulders Shampoo Bottle with 20% Beach Plastic
Our Head & Shoulders brand kicked off 2018 with a new collaboration with an industry partner.
P&Gers Team Up with Living Lands & Waters to Beautify Cincinnati
For the second year in a row, nearly 100 P&Gers rolled up their sleeves and joined Living Lands & Waters to help clean up trash along Cincinnati's picturesque Ohio Riverbank.
Last year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation challenged the world to drive greater recovery and reuse of plastics. In her remarks, she revealed a striking statistic: At the rate things are going, there could be more plastics than fish in the ocean by 2050.P&G's Lisa Jennings, Global Hair Care Sustainability Leader and Head & Shoulders Brand Franchise Leader, couldn't believe what she had heard.
To get a deeper look at the details of our P&G sustainability efforts, download our 2019 Citizenship report. For more information on our 2030 goals, download our Ambition 2030 plan. This is just the start of our journey to advance progress against our environmental sustainability goals. And as we work, we’ll continue identifying partners and actions we plan to take, and share our progress with you each year.
P&G achieved a significant 2020 sustainability goal ahead of schedule. We are proud to share that we are purchasing 100% renewable electricity in the U.S. and Canada, and extended it to Western Europe.
Just this week, P&G’s Family Care brands set new industry-leading commitments for their paper products to protect, grow, and restore forests globally. These new commitments span all P&G Family Care brands, including Charmin,
All goal numbers are representative of progress since 2010. * Pre-rinsing dishes prior to loading the dishwasher uses up to 20 gallons of water. (Source: Energy Star energystar.gov)
