AKRON, OH — (Marketwire) — 04/20/12 — GOJO Industries, Inc. today released a new annual . It marks progress made in 2011 against goals and initiatives the family business set following its first Sustainability Summit in 2009.
As GOJO Vice Chair Marcella Kanfer Rolnick explains, “This very important communication is a major milestone for GOJO. It shares metrics that illustrate our progress against 2015 goals to increase hand hygiene practices and to reduce water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions. But, just as important, it tells the stories behind the numbers through the voices of our valued team members whose contributions are essential to our efforts.”
The GOJO is available online at in a multimedia brochure format that features videos of GOJO employees sharing their accomplishments and their reflections on social, environmental and economic sustainability at work and in their own lives.
At GOJO, the principles of sustainability are part of the company legacy. Jerry and Goldie Lippman founded GOJO more than 60 years ago to provide workers in rubber factories with a hand cleaner that was safer and gentler than the harsh, carcinogenic chemicals commonly used in the 1940s. A few years later, they invented and patented the world–s first portion-controlled dispenser, cutting down on product waste while using reused parts.
In 1983, GOJO developed liquid soap dispensing systems using GOJO SANITARY SEALED refills, a more hygienic and healthier alternative to bar soap and bulk soap dispensers. Today, the company is expanding its global portfolio of industry-leading 3rd party certified products, including the world–s first green certified hand soaps and sanitizers.
“Our green products improve health and well-being around the world and help our customers demonstrate their own commitment to sustainability,” says Nicole Koharik, global sustainability marketing director at GOJO. “Products are an important and visible sign of our commitment, but our sustainability report shows everyone whom our business touches that sustainability truly is a way of life at GOJO.”
Our drive to advance sustainability has only grown since our first-ever Sustainability Summit in 2009. “We gathered hundreds of employees and external stakeholders to help shape our sustainability strategies together,” recalls GOJO Chairman and CEO Joe Kanfer. “We voiced our desire to be the sustainability leader in our industry, and adopted an approach of leading and learning to reach our goals. We dedicated ourselves to leading the industry in sustainable practices and solutions, while continuously learning about and applying new ways to improve.”
The Summit also helped define initiatives to promote Sustainable Ways of Working (SWOW(SM)), our approach to embedding sustainability into how we do our daily work. “SWOW creates value for GOJO, our employees, customers, suppliers, partners and the ecosystem,” says Kanfer.
Kanfer stresses that sustainability is an ongoing journey at GOJO. “We–re proud of our progress and the passionate people who have made it happen. We are also humbled and motivated by the work that remains to be done to honor our commitment.”
GOJO Industries, Inc., inventors of PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer, distributes PURELL in consumer and away-from-home markets throughout the world. In addition, GOJO manufactures and distributes a full line of products under GOJO® and PROVON® brand names. GOJO has a 64-year history of leadership in improving well-being through hand hygiene and healthy skin. GOJO products and programs kill germs on hands and solve skin care-related problems in a variety of markets, including healthcare, foodservice, food processing, manufacturing, automotive, education, government and military. GOJO is a privately held corporation headquartered in Akron, Ohio, with offices in the United Kingdom, France, Australasia, Japan and Brazil.
CONTACT:
Joe Drenik
GOJO Industries, Inc.
Office: 330-255-6357
Email: