TREAD LIGHTLY
JEFFREY HOLLENDER
Jeffrey Hollender witnessed the effects of an unhealthy environment when his son was hospitalized after suffering an asthma attack in their home. An asthma specialist confirmed the cause was 100% environmental and part of the cure included using non-toxic cleaners.
Hollender knew something needed to be done. He took action by beginning a mail order catalog business selling environmental solutions. "As we grew and explored issues," he says, "we saw that toxic chemicals and the products that use them were hugely important yet were things that few people knew about."
"The vision behind our idea is a world where people don’t carry hazardous chemicals in their bodies, the environment is free of toxic pollutants, and the economy diligently conserves its natural resources for consumers and future generations."
JEFFREY HOLLENDER |
Now the nation's leading brand of non-toxic and environmentally safe household products, Seventh Generation is making a difference by saving natural resources, reducing pollution and keeping toxic chemicals out of the environment. "Every consumer who buys a Seventh Generation product is making sure that the world their children are growing up in will be that much less contaminated," Hollender says.
"SVN has connected us to a big storehouse of wisdom as we explore a brave new business territory that’s largely uncharted," Hollender says. "The vision behind our idea is a world where people don’t carry hazardous chemicals in their bodies, the environment is free of toxic pollutants, and the economy diligently conserves its natural resources for consumers and future generations. We want to make it easier for consumers to create this world through their purchasing decisions and everyday activities."
Other SVN member companies like Clif Bar and New Leaf Paper are revolutionizing their sector by serving as examples of how companies can tread lightly. Since launching a dedicated environmental program in 2001, Clif Bar is 
working to reduce its ecological footprint in everything it does, from purchasing carbon offsets to sustainable manufacturing and shipping. Similarly, New Leaf Paper is driving the entire paper industry to higher environmental standards.
The recent focus on treading lightly has also resulted in the creation of companies focused on reducing carbon footprint. SVN member organizations like Ecologic and Carbonfund.org are dedicated to educating consumers about the dangers of climate change and making it simple for individuals and organizations to reduce their climate impact.
Idea 7: SPIRIT IN BUSINESS →
