SC Johnson Celebrates 15 Years of Preserving Brazil's Natural Resources

RACINE, Wis., May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Last month, SC Johnson celebrated 15 years of commitment to preserving the Brazilian Caatinga Region, the ecoregion located in northeast Brazil. The family company's long history with Brazil, and the region, dates back to 1935, when third generation leader H.F. Johnson Jr. traveled to Fortaleza, Brazil in pursuit of a permanent reserve of Carnauba wax; an ingredient used in the company's Johnson paste wax at the time and still used today in some cleaning products.

"The Caatinga Region and people of Brazil are an important part of SC Johnson's history—past and present," said Kelly M. Semrau, Senior Vice President, Global Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at SC Johnson. "As a family company, we strive to protect and preserve the environment for future generations, in all corners of the globe. Our support of Brazil's Caatinga Region demonstrates that commitment, and also honors our long-standing legacy with Brazil."

This year also marked the tenth annual National Caatinga Day in Brazil on April 28, which was started by the Brazilian government to help raise awareness and encourage preservation of the region.

SC Johnson and Brazil: A Long Legacy
The Caatinga Region has been inextricably linked to SC Johnson and its household products since 1935 when the grandson of the company founder, H.F. Johnson Jr., left the United States on an amphibious aircraft called "Carnauba," bound for northeastern Brazil. The historical journey marked the beginning of the family's relationship with Brazil.

Upon arriving in Brazil, H.F. Johnson Jr. identified permanent reserves of carnauba palm, a key raw material in the production of waxes. He also worked to study the wax palm trees, which grow only in certain parts of the coast and the center of the country. Two years after the trip, SC Johnson opened its factory in Brazil and became the first company to refine carnauba wax—and also the first manufacturing company in Brazil to fund and encourage research on the carnauba palm.  

In 1998, members of the Johnson family, led by fourth generation leader Sam Johnson, re-traced H.F. Johnson Jr.'s 1935 Carnauba Trip. The expedition was documented in the film, Carnauba: A Son's Memoir, and shares his journey to reconnect with the memory of his father and reinvigorate the company's spirit of adventure. This film can be viewed at The Golden Rondelle Theater on the SC Johnson campus in Racine, Wis., and is free to all visitors.

The Caatinga Association
Following the 1998 trip, SC Johnson established The Caatinga Association to study and protect the region, which plays a vital role in the ecosphere. The Caatinga Association's initial $1.5 million funding has contributed to the preservation and cataloging of more than 2,240 plant and animal species to date; 340 of which are species unique and exclusive to the Caatinga Region. In addition, SC Johnson donated 18,000 acres of Caatinga land to the largest organization for the environmental conservation in the world, The Nature Conservancy.

Today, the Caatinga Association is still considered the leading authority on the region. One of its primary roles is to maintain the Serra das Almas Nature Reserve located in Crateus, at Ceara state, now recognized by UNESCO as Outpost Biosphere Reserve.

To mark 15 years of The Caatinga Association and the good work that's been achieved, SC Johnson funded a cultural and educational exhibition about the Caatinga region at the headquarters of Federation of Industries of the State of Ceara (FIEC), in Fortaleza, Brazil, April 22-28.

To learn more about SC Johnson and their efforts to preserve the Brazilian Caatinga Region, visit SCJohnson.com or schedule a tour of the SC Johnson campus and view Carnauba: A Son's Memoirby calling (262) 260-2154, emailing [email protected], or using the online scheduling tool at www.scjohnson.com/visit

About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR. MUSCLE®, and RIDSECT®. The 127-year-old company, that generates $9 billion in sales, employs nearly 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world.

SOURCE SC Johnson