Former EPA executive joins P&G's U.S. sustainability expert advisory panel
CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble has announced that former EPA assistant administrator Steve Owens is the newest member of the company's U.S. sustainability expert advisory panel.
Owens, who joined his first SEAP meeting earlier this month in Cincinnati, brings a strong background in environmental, safety and health issues to the panel, P&G said.
The U.S. panel includes national sustainability thinkers who have consulted extensively on sustainability initiatives as well as on product supply and brand innovations globally. The panel’s mission is to provide external perspective into U.S. P&G environmental sustainability practices by evaluating specific initiatives, collaborating with P&G brand representatives and exploring opportunities to facilitate communications with customers, consumers and key stakeholder groups.
“As P&G continues to make progress against its long term environmental vision and goals, Steve brings a wealth of both strategic insight and functional expertise to help guide the company’s approach,” said Rick Hackman, associate director of technical external relations for P&G. “We welcome the new perspective he brings to our discussions.”
Owens served as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s assistant administrator in charge of its Office of Chemical Safety & Pollution Prevention from 2009 until Nov. 30 last year, where he was responsible for managing U.S. regulatory and scientific programs under several statutes, including the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. As assistant administrator, he was also responsible for many of the EPA’s collaborative pollution prevention programs and the implementation of the federal Pollution Prevention Act. Owens is currently in private law practice with the Squire Sanders law firm.
The announcement follows several P&G environmental sustainability milestones, which include:
Making its environmental sustainability supplier scorecard analysis tool freely available for use by any company. The Excel-based tool enables companies to measure and interpret key environmental sustainability metrics across their supply chains and identify progress as well as opportunities for improvement.
Launching the “Take a Load Off” campaign featuring Tide Coldwater in honor of Earth Day 2012. This program educates and empowers consumers nationwide to switch to cold water laundry washing.