P&G's philosophy is that environmental safety is not a marketing gimmick. We do not offer a separate green line of products because we hold all our products to high human and environmental standards. A green line of products indicates a compromise in performance, suggesting that non-green products compromise on safety. P&G delivers both through continuous innovation.

The company has and can demonstrate product safety and sustainability. Products and packages are safe for consumers and the environment when used as intended. The company applies the same standards around the world and complies with legal requirements in every market including appropriate use and precautionary first aid information.

P&G is often the benchmark for environmental procedures and the company credentials speak for themselves. We strive for continual improvement and true environmental progress not simply meeting stagnant guidelines so our products can be marketed as green.

P&G believes in innovation and the company is constantly looking at new ways to make products its customers need and want while also addressing the latest developments in environmental science. The company has ongoing assessments and improvements of systems performance including an external advisory board, an annual audit to assess performance and set improvement priorities, and internal and external development and training for leaders and scientists.

P&G scientists formulate to maximize product efficacy without compromising human, environmental or material safety. The company uses pre-market, science-based assessments of product safety that evaluate human and environmental risk, ensures the safety in use and safety/compatibility with the environment and consider hazard and exposure for every product ingredient and package through its lifecycle. P&G has used risk assessment and scientific knowledge as the basis of its safety evaluations for many years. Science in the Box, a comprehensive Web site, was created to provide detailed information about the science behind our brands.

Beyond the scientific aspect of products, the company rigorously controls production - from raw material specifications to formulation management to process and quality control. We use safe operations that protect the life, health and environment of employees and the surrounding community and are open in communicating the safety and sustainability information of our products with Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), proper labeling, poison control network information, product Web sites, publications and presentations and our annual sustainability report.

P&G's policy on chemical use was established to ensure its products meet the high standards the company has established for environmental and human safety. The company steers clear of non-biodegradable surfactants, extremes of pH in detergent, phosphorous/phosphates, alkyl phenol ethoxylates, butyl cellosolve and continues to look for ways to improve products and processes.

In addition, P&G has 1-800 lines for consumer comments and concerns, 24/7 support and expertise to assist poison control centers, tracking and analysis of health events and product quality concerns by medical and toxicology staff to investigate and address issues and participates in environmental monitoring.