Reckitt Benckiser achieves 75% of target for Carbon20 programme; Publishes Sustainability Report 2010

Reckitt Benckiser plc, the global consumer products giant, has published its annual sustainability report (RB.com) which details how it has achieved major sustainability improvements in the year ending Dec 2010. The report and associated data is independently assured by PWC.

The company announced it has achieved 75% of its Carbon20 programme goal to reduce RB's carbon footprint by 20% by 2020. Launched in 2007, this "Carbon20" approach goes beyond just targeting the easy wins of energy reduction in factories and travel and includes carbon reductions in the entire portfolio's product lifecycle: So it targets reductions in the much larger carbon emissions embedded in raw and packaging materials from suppliers and in consumers' use and disposal of the company's products.

The report shows how RB has been able to achieve a 100% non-PVC packaging for all its household products which include Powerbrands such as Finish, Vanish, Lysol, Harpic and Air Wick. The report also mentions other steps being taken to reduce the use of more precious resources and eliminate waste.

The report also gives the details of how RB provides highly rewarding employment with responsible business conduct and conditions. This includes the company's health and safety performance, where the company announces that its accident rate has improved a further 3% from what was already a low level of accidents by industry standards.

The report outlines that RB by funding programmes with "Save the Children", the international charity, has enabled the charity to do enough work to save approximate 150,000 children's lives directly and helped numerous families in the process. Programmes have been funded in Brazil, Angola, Tanzania, India, as well as in deprived areas of developed countries such as USA and UK. Additionally, emergency funds and product donations have been provided to help children survive the weather-induced emergencies that have hit communities all round the world. In 2010 RB launched a new campaign "Million Brighter Futures' with the explicit target to create a million brighter futures for children around the world by 2015.

Rakesh Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt Benckiser plc, said "Focussing on sustainability is right for our business as it is right for society. Our strategy is to grow the business ' which benefits consumers, customers, employees, suppliers, communities and shareholders ' while reducing negative impacts, especially on the environment. I am proud of our performance to date, and know we will continue to improve."