SC Johnson family plan journey to find plane wreckage

On June 27, SC Johnson chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson announced "Finding Carnauba," a journey he and several family members will embark upon. The Johnsons are hoping to find the wreckage of the original Carnauba airplane that was lost in the Pacific Ocean.

Johnson's late grandfather H.F. Johnson Jr. flew the legendary amphibious plane 15,000 miles to Brazil in 1935, searching for a sustainable source of wax - the Carnauba palm tree. In 1998, Johnson, his father and brother retraced the expedition in a replica of the Carnauba plane, completing a historic family journey chronicled in the film "Carnauba, A Son's Memoir."

"My father always felt that the spirit of adventure embodied by my grandfather's expedition reflected the spirit, culture and history of the company - and there is no better symbol of that spirit than the aircraft itself," said Johnson. "The Carnauba plane represents the spirit of family, the spirit of adventure, and the spirit of leadership - all values that are part of who we are as a company."

This summer's Finding Carnauba journey was inspired by underwater video footage recently captured off the coast of Indonesia. The footage offers a glimpse of the skeleton of an aircraft that resembles the Carnauba's unique shape. Noted Johnson, "The Carnauba expedition started with that remarkable plane. Ultimately, both the 1935 and 1998 journeys were tremendously important to me, my family and the company. We are thrilled to know that the Carnauba plane may be found."

Johnson also announced the continuation of Project Honor, the plan to construct a new building honoring the late chairman emeritus Sam Johnson. The building, which will be on the company's campus in Racine, Wis., will display the replica Carnauba aircraft from the 1998 expedition, along with hopes to feature photos or part of the original Carnauba plane. It will also convey the extraordinary and inspirational story of the Carnauba adventure, while offering an educational, informative experience for the community and visitors.

"I could not be more excited about being one step closer to making this dream a reality," said Johnson. "Sharing the Carnauba and all it stands for with the people of SC Johnson, the other Johnson companies as well as the residents of Racine will be a fitting tribute to my father."

Along with celebrating the Carnauba, Project Honor is the impetus for other changes on the headquarters campus. Most notably, the new building will anchor an area envisioned as a "town square" within the company. It will encompass the company's cafeteria, and other services. Noted Johnson, "I see this as a gathering place, a location where the people of SC Johnson will take time out of their day, and spend time together."

SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, personal care and insect control. The 120-year old company, with nearly $7 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries.