The Simple Green® story began over twenty-five years ago, long before "environmentally friendly" products were mandated by law or considered the new trend. Bruce FaBrizio and his father developed a safer alternative to the toxic cleaners originally designed to remove tannic acid, a by-product of coffee roasting, from roasting machinery. It took three years to perfect the biodegradable, not-toxic, non-flammable, non-abrasive formula. After its initial success, Bruce began selling Simple Green to industrial customers in 55-gallon drums; which he delivered in his van, for use as a cleaner on equipment and floors.

In 1979, just as initial retail marketing efforts were beginning to pay off, Bruce's father died. Bruce managed to keep the business alive and in 1981 gave his company the name it continues to carry - Sunshine Makers, Inc. Simple Green was then introduced nationally into several new markets including hardware/Do It Yourself, consumer grocery & drug, GSA (government) and industrial classes of trade. In the early 1990s, Bruce introduced the Environmental Technology Division, in an effort to define the cutting edge of today's cleaning solutions and high standards for environmental responsibility.