Len Sauers, P&G's VP of sustainability had an email interview with Brandweek editor Todd Wasserman about Proctor & Gamble's green initiatives and future green goals. One of the most impressive goals put forth by P&G is the plan to cut  it's carbon footprint by 40% by 2012. The majority of the reduction will come from reducing the size of packaging. A perfect example is P&G's laundry detergent packaging which is now half the size it was two years ago but still provides the same number of loads. 

Sauers, says the company can make the greatest contribution to environmental sustainability by developing “sustainable innovation products,” the environmental profiles of which have been improved with no trade-offs. Examples of P&G's work is the Tide Cold Water detergent. Consumers will see the same performance from the detergent in cold water that they would have seen in hot water. By consumers making the switch to cold water, it is estimated that it would reduce up to 34 million tons of carbon dioxide. 

When Sauers was asked which company impressed him with their green initiatives, he pointed out the work of General Electric and Wal-Mart. Both of the companies see green initiatives as not only a business opportunity but also their responsibility. 

Read the full interview at Brandweek.com

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