P&G executive provides keynote at Net Impact annual event

Published: 2013-03-12

Claiming one of the world’s largest “environmental footprints,” a Procter & Gamble executive said the multinational’s sustainability strategy is two-fold:  responsibility and opportunity.

“In our very wide supply chain, we picked the place where we can make the most impact—on the consumer-use side,” said Len Sauers to a group of Fisher students, faculty and business leaders attending the Net Impact Green Supply Chain Symposium (GSCS).

The symposium, now in its fourth year, is the signature event of the student organization Net Impact, which has achieved Gold Chapter status since its founding four years ago at Fisher.

“The GSCS is an important event for Net Impact because it brings the Fisher community together with senior leaders from the corporate world to discuss how they use innovation and sustainability to not only add to their bottom line, but to also make the world a better place,” said Amber D. Scott, a Fisher MBA student and president of Net Impact. “This is the future of business and we are fortunate to be able to discuss these concepts with experienced leaders who are executing them in the real world."

P&G’s Sauers, vice president of Global Sustainability, was a keynote speaker, along with John Kennedy, assistant vice president of risk management for Nationwide. The half-day event included panel discussions with executives from Glatfelter, Exel and J.B. Hunt Transport.

Operating in 75 countries with more than 50 leading brands worldwide, P&G’s focus on sustainability drives both business practices and the bottom line, said Sauers, during his presentation.

With corporate responsibility comes product safety, regulatory compliance and environmental protection, he said.  “But we see our commitment to sustainability as opportunity, because it drives innovation, operations and eco-efficiency,” Sauers explained.

Company research indicated that most consumers did not want a trade-off of product effectiveness. There are three segments of consumers: the one that claims to be green is a small niche, but they are highly engaged, and a larger one who are people in the sustainable mainstream who are aware, but don't want any trade-offs and higher prices. "Then there are the ones we call never-green. They are actually consumers who are hostile to the concept of green,” Sauers said.

Despite that, Sauers said commitment to sustainability extends to every unit in the company, particularly its research and development. Tide Coldwater laundry detergent was developed as a company response to be more “green” and to change customer behavior by offering cost-effective, eco-friendly products.

Other topics at the event included a presentation on Nationwide’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) GOLD certifications and sustainability strategies in the transportation and distribution industry.