There are two main ways that P&G's environmental performance can continue to improve in the future.

The first is that P&G can continue to improve the efficiency of its operations so that its business has less of an environmental impact. The second is by creating environmentally more efficient products that can help save energy and reduce carbon emissions.

P&G's operations

In 2006, P&G achieved its 2012 global climate change goal of an 18 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions per unit of product. Following this, P&G's corporate sustainability goals were renewed at the end of 2007. By 2012, P&G is committed to an additional reduction of CO₂ emissions, energy and water consumption, and disposed waste (per unit of production) contributing to a 40% reduction for the decade. To read more, click here.

So P&G believes it makes sound business sense to continue to strive for greater environmental performance.

P&G products

P&G is also aware that the biggest impact its business can have on the environment is in the way consumers use its products. This is where the second point comes in.

P&G has already introduced products such as Ariel Active in Cold Water in the UK, France, Germany and several other European countries, and Tide Cold Water in North America, which allow consumers to get a superior wash at low temperatures, saving money and helping the planet by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

And it is a significant amount of help: washing clothes at reduced wash temperatures in Europe could save around three per cent of a household's electricity use. In the US, the savings could be up to 10 per cent.

To drive this point home, P&G is working with a range of organisations to promote cold-water washing. In the UK, for example, P&G has teamed up with The Energy Savings Trust. In the USA, P&G is associated with the Alliance to Save Energy.

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