S.C. Johnson & Son

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S.C. Johnson & Son Sustainability Profile

S.C. Johnson & Son is a long-running household products company with a mixed sustainability picture. It has public climate targets, has been linked to renewable electricity use in the US, and has been recognised by some third-party trackers for palm oil sourcing and plastic packaging work. At the same time, several independent benchmarks and consumer review sites show weak results on climate transition, social issues, and product trust. Public criticism also includes animal testing, a past deceptive marketing settlement, and low Trustpilot scores. Overall, the company appears active on some environmental topics, but outside ratings suggest its ESG performance is uneven and often questioned.

Positive Sentiment Found
Independent sources show some positive sustainability signals. DitchCarbon says the company has near-term Science Based Targets initiative commitments and a 2030 emissions-cut target, while the EPA Green Power Partnership listing says it used renewable energy for 62% of its US electricity. Third-party ratings also point to some progress: CDP gave it a B for climate change and a B- for water security, and As You Sow gave it a B in its 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard. The palm oil rating from WAZA was “Excellent,” which suggests stronger sourcing practices in that area. Together, these sources show that the company has made visible moves on energy, climate, packaging, and palm oil.

Common Criticisms:
The negative picture is stronger than the positive one in the third-party material. Trustpilot shows very low consumer scores, with SC Johnson at 1.6 out of 5 from 45 reviews and another related page at 1.9 out of 5 from 13 reviews. Independent benchmarks are also weak: the World Benchmarking Alliance gave the company 0/100 for Just Transition, 1.4/100 for the Social Benchmark, 1.3/100 for the Nature Benchmark, 3.1/100 for the Ocean Benchmark, and 10/100 for the Gender Benchmark. It also received a G grade in ACT Core, which means its climate transition plan was judged uncommitted. Other criticism includes a 2021 settlement over misleading “non-toxic” claims for Method products, a PETA listing for animal testing, and an EWG product safety range where over 87% of products scored D or F. This points to weak trust and mixed ESG performance overall.

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S.C. Johnson & Son Sustainability Actions

Renewable electricity use in the US

The company has been listed by the US EPA Green Power Partnership as using renewable energy for 62% of its organisation-wide electricity use in the United States. This means a large share of its power came from cleaner electricity sources rather than fossil fuels. The listing is a third-party recognition, not just a self-claim, and it suggests the company has already made progress on operational energy use.

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Palm oil sourcing rated excellent

A palm oil tracking tool run by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums rated the company “Excellent” for palm oil. That rating looks at whether a company uses certified sustainable palm oil, commits to buying it, takes action on the ground, and belongs to the RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, a group that sets rules for more responsible palm oil). This points to active work on a major deforestation risk.

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Plastic packaging score of B

As You Sow gave the company a B in its 2024 Plastic Promises Scorecard. That scorecard checks six areas: recyclability, reduction, recycled content, recovery, reuse, and producer responsibility. A B suggests the company has made some progress on plastic packaging, but still has room to improve across the full packaging system.

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CDP climate and water scores

The company received a B for climate change and a B- for water security from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project, a nonprofit that scores companies on environmental disclosure and management). These scores suggest it reports some data and has some systems in place for emissions and water, but it is not among the strongest performers in either area.

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Public climate targets in place

DitchCarbon says the company has near-term Science Based Targets initiative commitments and lists a 2030 target to cut total greenhouse gas emissions by 62% from a 2019 baseline, plus a 2040 target to cut Scope 3 intensity by 50%. Scope 3 means emissions from the wider supply chain, such as bought goods and transport. These are future goals, but they show the company has already set formal climate plans.

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S.C. Johnson & Son Sustainability Commitments

2030

Cut total emissions by 62%

The company has a near-term Science Based Targets initiative commitment to cut total greenhouse gas emissions by 62% by 2030 from a 2019 baseline. Science Based Targets are climate goals checked against what scientists say is needed to limit warming. This target covers the company’s full emissions footprint, not just its own buildings and factories.

2040

Reduce Scope 3 intensity

The company has a 2040 target to cut Scope 3 emissions intensity by 50%. Scope 3 means emissions from the wider value chain, such as suppliers, transport, and product use. Because this is intensity-based, the target is about emissions per unit of activity rather than a simple total cut.

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Sustainable Development Goals

S.C. Johnson & Son is committed to advancing these Global Goals to promote prosperity for people & planet.

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This information references https://www.scjohnson.com/ and was sourced on 02/05/2024. Is this your business? Suggest an edit

Frequently Asked Questions

Has S.C. Johnson & Son published a sustainability report?

Confidence: Low. As of September 2026, no sustainability report was clearly provided in the material here. Some third-party sources mention climate targets, renewable electricity use, and benchmark scores, but that is not the same as a full public sustainability report. Consumers looking for the latest company-wide disclosure should check S.C. Johnson’s own sustainability pages and annual reporting directly.. Sources: Sustainability Tracker, DitchCarbon - https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/, https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/sc-johnson

What is S.C. Johnson & Son's sustainability rating?

Confidence: High. As of September 2026, there is no single overall sustainability rating shown in the material. Instead, different third-party bodies give different results: CDP gave the company a B for climate change and a B- for water security, As You Sow gave it a B in its Plastic Promises Scorecard, and the World Benchmarking Alliance gave very low scores in several areas such as social, nature, ocean, and just transition. Trustpilot also shows a 1.6 out of 5 consumer rating on the main SC Johnson page. The picture is mixed, but the overall third-party signal is weak.. Sources: DitchCarbon, Shop Ethical, Trustpilot, Sustainability Tracker - https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/sc-johnson, https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.scjohnson.com, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/

What sustainability certifications does S.C. Johnson & Son have?

Confidence: Moderate. As of September 2026, the material shows a few third-party recognitions, but not many formal certifications. The company was listed as “Excellent” for palm oil by WAZA’s PalmOil Scan, which looks at certified sustainable palm oil use and related sourcing action. It was also listed in the EPA Green Power Partnership for using renewable electricity in the US. However, a B Corp certification is not shown here, and no GOTS or ISO 14001 certification was provided in the material. Consumers who want proof of certification should ask the company for current documentation.. Sources: Shop Ethical, B Corp, Sustainability Tracker - https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://www.bcorporation.net/, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/

What is S.C. Johnson & Son's carbon footprint?

Confidence: Moderate. As of September 2026, the company’s full carbon footprint was not publicly disclosed in the material provided. DitchCarbon says no reported emissions data is available there yet, but it also lists a near-term Science Based Targets initiative commitment, including a 2030 target to cut total greenhouse gas emissions by 62% from a 2019 baseline. That gives a direction of travel, but not a full current footprint. Consumers who want the latest emissions numbers should look for the company’s own climate disclosure or ask for a current emissions inventory.. Sources: DitchCarbon, Sustainability Tracker - https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/sc-johnson, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/

Is S.C. Johnson & Son's packaging sustainable?

Confidence: Moderate. As of September 2026, the material suggests some packaging progress but not a full answer. As You Sow gave the company a B in its Plastic Promises Scorecard, which checks recyclability, reduction, recycled content, recovery, reuse, and producer responsibility. That means the company has taken some steps, but it is not a top performer. The material does not show a full packaging report or a clear claim that all packaging is sustainable. Consumers who care about this should check product-by-product packaging details before buying.. Sources: As You Sow / Shop Ethical, Sustainability Tracker - https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/

Is S.C. Johnson & Son ethical on labour and supply chain issues?

Confidence: High. As of September 2026, the third-party picture is mixed to negative. The World Benchmarking Alliance gave the company 1.4/100 in its Social Benchmark and 0/100 in Just Transition, which points to weak performance on human rights, decent work, and worker fairness in the climate transition. The company also appears in criticism related to animal testing and a past misleading marketing settlement. On the positive side, it scored 100% on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index, which measures LGBTQ+ workplace policies in the US. Overall, the evidence does not show a strong ethical supply chain record.. Sources: Shop Ethical, Human Rights Campaign via Shop Ethical, Sustainability Tracker - https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/

What is S.C. Johnson & Son doing about sustainability?

Confidence: High. As of September 2026, the company appears to be working on several sustainability areas at once. Third-party sources say it has Science Based Targets initiative commitments, used renewable electricity for 62% of its US power, and received a B from CDP for climate change. It also earned an “Excellent” palm oil rating from WAZA and a B from As You Sow on plastic packaging. At the same time, outside benchmarks and consumer reviews remain weak, so the company’s sustainability work is real but still viewed as uneven by independent assessors.. Sources: DitchCarbon, Shop Ethical, Trustpilot, Sustainability Tracker - https://ditchcarbon.com/organizations/sc-johnson, https://ethical.org.au/companies/586, https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.scjohnson.com, https://sustainabilitytracker.com/brand/sc-johnson/