History
1988–1990
In 1988, Alan Newman (entrepreneur), Alan Newman acquired Renew America, a mail-order catalog that sells energy-, water- and resource-saving products. After giving the catalog a new look, an enhanced mix of products, and a new name, Seventh Generation, Newman embarked on a campaign to raise funding for the venture. The next year, entrepreneur and author of How to Make the World a Better Place, Jeffrey Hollender joined Newman and helps secure much-needed capital, and a mention in the New York Times increased orders seven-fold within a year.1991–2000
Newman left Seventh Generation in 1992 to start Magic Hat Brewing Company. Seventh Generation went public the next year on 8 November, raising $7 million. In 1994, Seventh Generation entered the mass retail market with three products: dishwasher detergent, non-chlorine bleach, and liquid laundry detergent. And in 1995, the company's mail-order catalog business sold to Gaiam, Inc. and Seventh Generation began focusing solely on its wholesale products business.2001–2021
Former PepsiCo division president, Chuck Maniscalco joined company as CEO in 2009. In September 2016, Unilever, Unilever Plc. purchased Seventh Generation for an estimated $700 million. In July 2021, Alison Whritenour became Seventh Generation's first female chief executive officer.Awards
Seventh Generation has received multiple awards. * 2004 Corporate Stewardship Award for Small Business from the United States Chamber of Commerce Center for Corporate Citizenship. Award recipients were selected based on "a demonstration of ethical leadership and corporate stewardship, making a difference in their communities, and contributions to the advancement of important economic and social goals." * Fastest Growing Company in Vermont - 5x5x5 Award from ''Vermont Business Magazine'' and KeyBank for "achievements in keeping true to its mission to create healthy products that preserve the environment, every year since 2004." * Ceres-ACCA North American Awards for Sustainability Reporting - Best Small or Medium Enterprise Corporate Responsibility Report, April 2006 - the international competition was sponsored by Ceres (organization), a national network of investment funds, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working to advance environmental stewardship on the part of businesses, in partnership with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, and CoVeris, an independent corporate verification firm. Ceres called Seventh Generation's report "a pioneering effort in transparency for a privately owned company." * In 2007, Seventh Generation was named the second fastest growing company in Vermont over the past 10 years. * Fast Company Social Capitalist Award 2007 – Fast Company (magazine), Fast Company magazine and Monitor Group. * The Microsoft Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Award 2008 - Seventh Generation was recognized as a customer who is "using their business management system in an innovative way to track their initiatives around becoming more environmentally sustainable." *In 2009, the IT department at Seventh Generation was named number eight in Computerworld's "Top Green-IT Organizations." C *In 2018, Seventh Generation was recognized as one of "the 50 most sustainable companies in the world" at the SEAL Business Sustainability Awards.People
* Former CEO: John Replogle took over as president and CEO in February 2011, taking over from Chuck Maniscalco, who had served in that position since June 2009 when Jeffrey Hollender stepped aside to become Executive Chairperson. Hollender left the company in November 2010. Joey Bergstein took over as CEO in 2017 as John Replogle stepped into the role of Chairman of the Seventh Generation Social Mission Board.References
External links
* {{Burlington, Vermont Unilever Chemical companies of the United States Cleaning products Chemical companies established in 1988 Manufacturing companies based in Vermont Benefit corporations