WASHINGTON, D.C., February 3, 2003 -- Members of The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) unveiled a new strategic plan that defines its purpose as one shared with the industry it serves: "Enhancing health and the quality of life through cleaning products and practices."

SDA members also elected its 2003 Board of Directors during the Association's 77th Annual Meeting and Industry Convention held in Boca Raton, Florida. The Board also re-elected the Association's slate of officers for 2003.

The Strategic Plan was developed after a several-month long effort by members of SDA's Board and standing committees, as well as SDA staff.

The Strategic Plan includes a new twofold mission statement:

• Effectively represent the industry in a responsible, progressive and science-based manner.
• Be the preferred source of useful and credible information related to cleaning products and practices.

"This plan reflects the input of every facet of SDA's membership: soap makers, cleaning product formulators, ingredient and finished packaging suppliers, and oleochemical producers," said Robert A. McDonald, SDA Board Chair and President - Global Fabric & Home Care, The Procter & Gamble Company.

"Our newly defined purpose and missions sets us on a positive, forward-looking, results-oriented path for the foreseeable future," said SDA President and CEO Ernie Rosenberg.

The plan lays out several specific objectives for SDA to reach for, including:

• Enable members to innovate and market cleaning products and oleochemicals.
• Facilitate business-to-business industry relationships.
• Maintain and expand a technical forum to address industry research and data.
• Continue to employ experts who deliver high quality service and results for its members.

JOHNSONDIVERSEY, ASTARIS EXECS JOIN SDA BOARD

During its Annual Meeting, SDA members elected its 2003 Board of Directors, which includes two new members: Paul Howes, President and CEO, Astaris LLC, and Gregory Clark, Senior Vice President, Product Portfolio and Innovation, JohnsonDiversey.

In addition to Mr. McDonald, returning Board members include: Vice Chair Stanley Silverman, The PQ Corporation; Francis X. Sherman, Akzo Nobel Chemicals, Inc.; George D. Calvert, Alticor Inc. (Access Business Group); Deana M. Sabatino, Church & Dwight Co., Inc.; Catherine Ehrenberger, Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation; Larry S. Peiros, The Clorox Company; Michael E. Miller, Cognis Corporation; Ian M. Cook, Colgate-Palmolive Company; James L. Jackson, Desoto L.L.C.; Stephen L. Tooker, The Dial Corporation; Julie Fasone Holder, The Dow Chemical Company.

Also Allan L. Schuman, Ecolab Inc.; Reinhold Brand, Goldschmidt Chemical Corporation; Jane M. Hutterly, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.; Kenneth R. Stokes, Reckitt Benckiser; Herman C. Mihalich, Rhodia Inc.; Charles F. Putnik, Sasol North America, Inc.; David G. Naugle, Shell Chemical LP; June A. Stahl, Stahl Soap Corporation; F. Quinn Stepan, Jr., Stepan Company; Alan C. Jope, Unilever; James A. Breazeale, Valley Products Co.

The new Board re-elected the slate of SDA officers at its first meeting of the year: Robert A. McDonald, The Procter & Gamble Company, Chair; Stanley W. Silverman, The PQ Corporation, Vice Chair; Ernie Rosenberg, SDA President and CEO; Robert Bartlett, The Hewitt Soap Company, Inc., Treasurer; and Beth Olson, SDA Vice President of Administration and General Counsel, Secretary.

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The Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com) is the non-profit trade association representing over 100 manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; and finished packaging. SDA members produce more than 90% of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.