Everyone deserves to live in a healthy and safe environment. That environment includes where you live, work, play, and pray. We reject and actively push back against racist rhetoric, actions, policies and institutional oppression that leads to state-sanctioned brutality, gun violence, and harm that again and again assaults communities, particularly communities of color. We are committed to working for justice and equity, and are in solidarity with social, racial, and environmental justice organizations to build community, understanding and honest dialogue to address the root causes of violence, harm and hate.

Toxic Fragrance Chemical: Galaxolide

Galaxolide: A Threat to the Environment and Human Health

Galaxolide is a synthetic musk, and is a commonly used fragrance ingredient in household products. This chemical is highly toxic to aquatic life. Galaxolide pollution is a growing problem to the Great Lakes region. Scientists have found it in several of the Great Lakes including Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan as well as in Great Lakes tributaries.

In addition, studies show this fragrance chemical may interfere with hormones and other chemical signals in our bodies, which can result in developmental, reproductive, metabolic, brain, and behavior problems.

SC Johnson & Son — makers of such brands like Glade®, Scrubbing Bubbles®, Pledge®, Windex® and Shout!® — is one of just six manufacturers in the United States named by the EPA that is importing and using this high production volume (HPV) chemical.
 

Victory UPDATE:

In 2017, thanks to all of you raising your voices, SC Johnson committed to phasing out toxic fragrance chemical Galaxolide from its products. So where is SCJ at with their progress? 
Learn more

 

Great Lakes - NASA picture

GreenScreen® Assessment of Galaxolide

A recent GreenScreen® analysis reveals that this chemical is highly toxic to aquatic life and persistent, meaning is does not break down easily in the environment. Read more.

Chemical in SCJ products Galaxolide

Galaxolide and SC Johnson

SC Johnson, a company headquartered on the shores of Lake Michigan, has said publicly it is committed to improving the safety of the ingredients they use. If that’s true, they should not allow Galaxolide to be their legacy contribution to the Great Lakes. Read more.

Why does SC Johnson still use Galaxolide

Key Questions on Galaxolide and SC Johnson

Galaxolide pollution isn’t only a problem in the Great Lakes – it is detected in our environment nearly everywhere testing has been conducted. Learn more about the problems with Galaxolide, and find answers to why SC Johnson chooses to keep using this toxic chemical in its products, while other companies have eliminated it from their fragrance palettes. Learn more.

SCJ Products with Galaxolide

SC Johnson Products that Contain Galaxolide

SC Johnson is one of just six manufacturers in the US importing and using this high production volume (HPV) chemical. The company uses it in over 80 different products. See products.

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