Even before Earth Day, there was Shaklee. And at Shaklee, every day is Earth Day.

It’s been nearly 60 years since Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founded a company based on Living in Harmony with Nature® that is committed to developing products to improve the health of people and the planet. And since our inception, we have worked quietly on groundbreaking environmental initiatives. In the 1960s Shaklee introduced Basic-H® Concentrated Organic Cleaner, one of the first nontoxic biodegradable cleaners. We became the first Climate Neutral™ certified company in the U.S. We also lead in environmental achievements, embracing climate change initiatives, and eco-alliances. Plus, we offer everyone the chance to make a healthier income while making the planet healthier.

Check out this GROWING list of Milestones in Shaklee’s Environmental Heritage:

Founded in 1956, Shaklee is the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified to totally offset its greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment. For more than 50 years, Shaklee has quietly led the way in environmental stewardship and support of social causes.

1956 Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee founds a company based on Living in Harmony with Nature® that is committed to developing products to improve the health of people and the planet.

1960s Shaklee introduces Basic-H® Concentrated Organic Cleaner, one of the first nontoxic, biodegradable cleaners.

1970s Shaklee introduces one of the first biodegradable laundry detergents that contains no phosphates, nitrates, or borates.

1985 Shaklee is selected by the Wild Dolphin Project to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessel, Stenella. The Wild Dolphin Project is dedicated to studying the habitat of dolphins; the organization’s relationship with Shaklee continues today.

1986 Shaklee provides financial support and products for the first recorded, unsupported expedition by dog sled to the North Pole, led by National Geographic® award-winning polar explorer, author, and educator Will Steger.

1987 Shaklee is selected by Jacques Cousteau and the Cousteau Society to provide environmentally friendly cleaning products for use onboard their research vessels, the Calypso and Alcyone.

1989 Shaklee helps build schools and health clinics and plants more than 1 million trees in Asia through a partnership with the American Himalayan Foundation, an organization chaired by Sir Edmund Hillary.

1989-90 Shaklee provides financial and product support for a trans-Antarctica expedition led by Will Steger, the first crossing of Antarctica on foot, covering 3,700 miles. Following this expedition, Steger testified before Congress on polar and environmental issues and co-founded the Center for Environmental Education.

1990 Nontoxic and biodegradable Basic-H® from Shaklee is chosen as one of the first official Earth Day products.

1991 Shaklee household cleaners and personal care products are selected to be used in the Biosphere 2 Project in Arizona.

1991 Shaklee introduces Basic-D® , one of the first phosphate-free automatic dishwashing detergents.

1992 Shaklee Cares® , a nonprofit organization, is established and dedicated to providing relief from natural disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes whose severity has been compounded by climate change.

1995 Shaklee provides financial and product support for the third International Arctic Project led by Will Steger, the first surface-crossing of the 2,500-mile-wide Arctic Ocean. The expedition brings information about environmental issues and changes to the polar landscape to millions of schoolchildren worldwide.

1996 Shaklee environmentally friendly cleaning products are selected by Ocean Alliance and the Whale Conservation Institute to be used onboard the Odyssey, a research vessel that gathers data on contaminants throughout the world’s oceans. This relationship continues today.

1996 Shaklee partners with Kids for Saving Earth Worldwide to produce Earth Works Central, an environmental resource kit for schools, parents, and community organizations.

1998 Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Wise Program, which set aggressive corporatewide greenhouse gas reduction goals.

2000 Shaklee becomes the first company in the world to be Climate Neutral™ certified to totally offset its greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a net-zero impact on the environment.

2000 Shaklee opens its World Headquarters, one of the first green, energy-saving, award-winning buildings designed using sustainable materials, including certified sustainable wood, recycled carpets, and recycled plastics.

In 2001, Shaklee received the Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award from the American Institute of Architects.

2005 Shaklee becomes a major partner of the Green Belt Movement, founded by Dr. Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace laureate.

2006 Dr. Wangari Maathai becomes the Global Ambassador for A Million Trees. A Million Dreams™, a Shaklee environmental campaign that raises awareness of global climate change and initiates efforts to plant trees in North America and Africa.

2006 Shaklee becomes a Charter Partner of the U.S. EPA’s Climate Leaders program and pledges to maintain a netzero impact on climate change and offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through 2009.

2006 Shaklee is commended by President Bill Clinton and recognized at the Clinton Global Initiative for its leadership in becoming carbon neutral and creating renewable energy in Africa.

2007 Shaklee becomes a founding member of the Business Council on Climate Change, an organization of businesses that serves as an inspiration and model of global climate stewardship by implementing effective and economically sound solutions to climate change.

2007 Shaklee partners with Millennium Promise to facilitate direct emissions reductions by providing sustainable solar energy to electrify villages in Malawi, a democratic country in southeastern Africa. Millennium Promise is an organization established by Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs that prototypes ways to implement the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

2007 Shaklee provides financial and product support for polar explorer Will Steger and his GlobalWarming101.com expedition. This expedition includes an extensive educational outreach campaign to students throughout America to raise awareness of the impact of global climate change on five Inuit communities in the Arctic.

2007 Shaklee is the first consumer products company to offset 100% of its greenhouse gas emissions through the U.S. EPA Climate Leaders program and use 100% green power.

2007 Shaklee is selected by the nation’s leading child advocacy group, Healthy Child Healthy World, to be the exclusive partner for a new video, Creating Healthy Environments for Children.

2007 Shaklee is selected by the producers of The 11th Hour, a feature-length documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, as a partner for its exemplary environmental leadership.

2008 Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power.

2009 Shaklee achieves EPA Climate Leaders goal of net-zero US greenhouse gas emissions from 2006-2009.

2009 Shaklee commemorates the planting of the 1 millionth tree, a culmination of a three year campaign, “A Million Trees. A Million Dreams, with program Ambassador and 2004 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Wangari Maathai and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Projects Offset projects: • Shaklee converts boilers in the Portland School District from oil to natural gas. • Shaklee sponsors a rural electrification project in Sri Lanka and India to replace kerosene lamps and diesel generators with solar photovoltaics that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health for rural-dwelling families. • Shaklee supports the construction of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Wind Turbine Project, the first large-scale Native American owned and operated wind turbine. • Shaklee supports a project to convert San Bernardino County school buses from petroleum-based diesel fuel to biodiesel fuel formulated from recycled cooking oil.

Awards Bestowed on Shaklee • 1990 Family Circle® Green-Chip Award as one of the 10 most environmentally conscious companies. • 2001 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards—Certificate of Recognition—from the California Environmental Protection Agency. • 2001 The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Award from the California Council for Environmental and Economic Balance. • 2001 Savings by Design Energy Efficiency Integration Award, co-sponsored by the American Institute of Architects and California Council. • 2001 Vision for Tomorrow Award from the Direct Selling Association. • 2002 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Protection Award. • 2002 Environmental Stewardship Award from Social Accountability International. • 2003 Gold Medal Award for Environment & Sustainability from the Nutrition Business Journal® . • 2003 National Environmental Excellence Award from National Association of Environmental Professionals. • 2006 The U.S. EPA recognizes the Shaklee pledge as a Climate Leaders partner to maintain net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from 2006 to 2009. • 2007 Shaklee is honored with a Global Green USA Organizational Design Award for its outstanding leadership effecting positive environmental change. • 2007 Shaklee is designated a Green Power Partner by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. • 2008 Shaklee Corporation is honored with a Stevie Award at the Sixth Annual American Business Awards for Best Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program. • 2008 Shaklee named to the Top 20 Retail Partner list by the EPA Green Power Partnership in recognition of being a top purchaser of green power. • 2009 Roger Barnett is honored with a Clean Air Award by Breathe California in recognition of Shaklee Corporation’s contributions to reducing global warming and improving air quality. • 2009 Shaklee is honored with the Business Environmental Award for Sustainability from Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet. • 2009 Shaklee is honored with a Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in recognition of its commitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s voluntary green power market. • 2010 Shaklee is honored as an Industry Innovator by Climate Counts for the company’s leadership in taking voluntary action to address climate change.