Seventh Generation Inc. 1927959 224622466 2008-07-09T18:20:44Z Vermontgirl57 7449501 {{Infobox Company | name = Seventh Generation Inc. | logo = [[Image:Seventh_Generation_Logo-.jpg‎|160px]] | type = private | genre = | foundation = [[1988]] | founder = | location_city = [[Burlington, Vermont]] | location_country = [[United States|USA]] | location = | locations = | area_served = | key_people = [[Jeffrey Hollender]] <small>[[Chief executive officer|CEO]]</small> | industry = Natural household products | products = | services = | market cap = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | homepage = http://www.seventhgeneration.com | footnotes = | intl = }} '''Seventh Generation, Inc.''' is a company that sells [[non-toxic]], [[hypoallergenic]] cleaning, paper and personal care products. The company was founded in [[1988]] and is based in [[Burlington, Vermont]]. The name "Seventh Generation" comes from the Great Law of the [[Iroquois]]; <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_generation_sustainability</ref> "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." The company focuses on [[sustainability]] and the [[conservation of natural resources]]. Seventh Generation uses recycled and post-consumer materials in its packaging and [[biodegradable]], phosphate and chlorine free ingredients in its products. ==History Of Seventh Generation== '''1988'''- Renew America was a mail order catalogue that sold energy conservation products to raise funds for an environmental organization. Jeffrey Hollender, an entrepreneur who sold his books on tape business to Time Warner, contacted Renew America about purchasing an equity stake. '''1989'''- The catalogue was renamed Seventh Generation (The name was chosen in an employee contest. It comes from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy, which stats that,"In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." In 1989, the company had $1 million in sales. '''1990'''- This year marked the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, and Seventh Generation’s sales jumped to $6 million.In November, Hollender and the company had a four-page spread in People magazine. '''1991'''- Sales leveled off at the $6 million mark. '''1992'''- Needing to raise capital, Seventh Generation went public. The company began to develop products for wholesale. '''1993'''- Seventh Generation sells 27 branded products at natural food stores across the nation. '''1995'''- Seventh Generation sells the catalogue operation to Gaiam and concentrates solely on the wholesale business. '''1998'''- Hollender and co-authors publish the “Seventh Generation Guide to a Non-Toxic Home.” '''1999'''- The company goes private. Website www.seventhgeneration.com is launched. '''2001'''- Diaper line is launched. '''2002'''- The company turns its first profit. '''2005'''- Diaper line is manufactured in the United States. '''2006'''- Seventh Generation moves to LEED-certified offices on Lake Street in Burlington, Vermont and launches non-applicator tampons. '''2008'''- Applicator tampons are launched. ==Awards== Seventh Generation has received multiple awards that recognize their efforts to preserve the environment, including: * 2002 Socially Responsible Business Award, "whose purpose is to recognize companies that have excelled in socially responsible business practices."<ref>http://www.functionalingredientsmag.com/fimag/articleDisplay.asp?strArticleId=18&strSite=FFNSite</ref> * 2004 Corporate Stewardship Award for Small Business from the [[United States Chamber of Commerce]] Center for Corporate Citizenship. Award recipients were selected based on "a demonstration of ethical leadership and corporate stewardship, making a difference in their communities, and contributions to the advancement of important economic and social goals."<ref>http://www.uschamber.com/bclc/media/2004/dec/default.htm</ref> * Fastest Growing Company in Vermont - 5x5x5 Award from Vermont Business Magazine and KeyBank for "achievements in keeping true to its mission to create healthy products that preserve the environment, every year since 2004."<ref>http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-vermont/895528-1.html</ref> * 2004 Annual Sustainability Award, Minnesota-based Alliance for Sustainability - "demonstrated the market for a wide variety of natural household products from toilet paper to dishwasher detergent."<ref>http://www.afs.nonprofitoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BFDEDDF8E-6505-48AD-941D-84D11A150DDF%7D&DE=%7B1792ACCA-1058-44AC-BA56-2CE0EC50E547%7D</ref> * 2004 Terry Ehrich Award - [[Jeffrey Hollender]] won the award from the Board of Directors of Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility for "having created a business model that encompasses a healthy and productive workplace, welcomes and promotes flexibility for employees, and has a key focus on the importance of life-friendly policies. His business practices are a model for others to emulate, and he does an extraordinary job of "walking the walk.""<ref>http://vbsr.org/index.php/pages/member_award_detail/award_2004_terry_ehrich_award/</ref> * [[Fast Company]] Fast 50 - [[Jeffrey Hollender]] was selected as "one of the doers and the dreamers, the truth tellers and the trendsetters."<ref>http://www.fastcompany.com/fast50_04/winners</ref> * Top 10 Responsible Brands in America 2004 – voted the 7th most responsible brand in America by the College Explorer study sponsored by Alloy Media & Marketing. The study utilized only write-in answers as opposed to multiple choices.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/NEWS/newsletters/clientnews/2006_Alloy.pdf</ref> * "Pioneer of Precaution" Award 2006 - from the Center for Health, Environment & Justice (CHEJ), Environmental Research Foundation (ERF) and Science and Environmental Health Network (SEHN).<ref>http://www.chej.org/BESAFE/ppconfawards.htm</ref> * Best Bosses Award 2006 - Winning Workplaces selected [[Jeffrey Hollender]], President of Seventh Generation, as one of this year's Best Bosses. The Award is sponsored by [[FORTUNE]]<ref>http://www.winningworkplaces.org/bestbossesaward/index.php</ref> * Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Sustainability Reporting - Best Small or Medium Enterprise Corporate Responsibility Report, April 2006 - the international competition was sponsored by [[Ceres (organization)]], a national network of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to advance environmental stewardship on the part of businesses, in partnership with the [[Association of Chartered Certified Accountants]], and CoVeris, an independent corporate verification firm. Ceres called Seventh Generation’s report "a pioneering effort in transparency for a privately owned company."<ref>http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2006/04/06/nike-hp-win-top-honors-ceresacca-sustainability-reporting-awards</ref> * In [[2007]], Seventh Generation was recognized as being the second fastest growing company in [[Vermont]] over the past 10 years<ref>[http://www.reformer.com/ci_8051027 Old vs. new - Brattleboro Reformer<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. * Fast Company Social Capitalist Award 2007 – [[Fast Company]] magazine and [[Monitor Group]]<ref>http://www.fastcompany.com/social/2008/index.html</ref> * The [[Microsoft]] Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award 2008 - Seventh Generation was recognized as a customer who is "using their business management system in an innovative way to track their initiatives around becoming more environmental sustainable."<ref>http://www.microsoft.com/Dynamics/convergence/orlando/customer_excellence.aspx</ref> ==People== In 2003, the company employed 23 people.<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3675/is_200306/ai_n9290425 Profiles in Business]</ref> *CEO: [[Jeffrey Hollender]] ==Products== *Paper Towels (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled) *Toilet Paper (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled) *Facial Tissue (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled) *Napkins (non-chlorine bleached, 100% recycled) *liquid Hand Dish Detergent (chlorine and phosphate-free) *Liquid Auto Dish Detergent (cholrine and phosphate-free) *Powder Auto Dish Detergent (chlorine and phosphate-free) *Trash Bags (made from recycled plastic) *Baby Diapers (chlorine-free) *Training Pants (chlorine-free) *Baby Wipes (chlorine-free) *Tampons (organic cotton, chlorine-free) *Pantiliners (chlorine-free) *Maxi-pads (chlorine-Free) *House Hold Cleaning Products (chlorine and phosphate-free) ==References== {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} * [http://www.allbusiness.com/north-america/united-states-vermont/989951-1.html Profiles in Business: Jeffrey Hollender and Seventh Generation] * [http://worldbenefit.case.edu/innovation/bankInnovationView.cfm?idArchive=640 Seventh Generation- Preserving the Planet for Next Seven Generations and Beyond] * [http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/06/03/consumers-tap-whole-foods-burt%E2%80%99s-bees-trader-joe%E2%80%99s-as-top-green-brands/ Consumers Tap Whole Foods, Burt’s Bees, Trader Joe’s As Top Green Brands] * [http://www.nbc4.com/consumer/15403552/detail.html Green Clean Challenge] * [http://www.csrwire.com/News/12289.html/ The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire] {{refend}} ==External links== * [http://www.seventhgeneration.com/ Seventh Generation official website] * [http://www.inspiredprotagonist.com/ The Inspired Protagonist - official blog of Seventh Generation] * [http://www.changeit07.org/ Change It - Seventh Generation's activist training program with Greenpeace] * [http://www.fastcompany.com/social/2008/profiles/seventh-generation.html Fast Company: Profits with Purpose: Seventh Generation] [[Category:Manufacturing companies of the United States]] [[Category:Chemical companies]] {{US-manufacturing-company-stub}}