Organizational Governance Organizational Governance
Kimberly-Clark Concludes Successful 5-Year Program, Sets New Goals for 2022

With the release of its latest sustainability report on June 30th, Kimberly-Clark proudly announced that it had achieved or surpassed all of its 5-year sustainability goals. In anticipation of the company’s 150th anniversary, Kimberly-Clark introduced a new set of sustainability priorities and goals through 2022.

By Sustainable Brands | Published 8 years ago | About a 3 minute read

With the release of its latest sustainability report on June 30th, Kimberly-Clark proudly announced that it had achieved or surpassed all of its 5-year sustainability goals. In anticipation of the company’s 150th anniversary, Kimberly-Clark introduced a new set of sustainability priorities and goals through 2022.

“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in finding ways to grow Kimberly-Clark sustainably,” said Sandra MacQuillan, Chief Supply Chain Officer. “As technology evolves and as we learn more about what we can do, it is possible that we could have a footprint that gives back, rather than takes – an aspiration we are all excited by.”

The highlights of the 2015 report include:

Social Impact – Increased the amount of Kimberly-Clark communities with socially-focused programs such as Toilets Change Lives and Mothers Against Malaria from 62 percent in 2011 to 97 percent in 2015. Kimberly-Clark’s total global donations and community investments in 2015 amounted to $29 million, or roughly 2.9 percent of the company’s net income.
Forests & Fiber – Increased the amount of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified virgin fiber in Kimberly-Clark tissue products from 7 percent in 2006 to more than 75 percent in 2015, and collaborated with FSC to support ending deforestation and safeguarding ecosystems.
Waste & Recycling – Diverted 95.6 percent of manufacturing waste from landfills as of December 2015.
Energy & Climate – Reduced absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 7.2 percent since 2010, exceeding the company’s 5 percent target. Kimberly-Clark was also awarded a 2016 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leadership award for excellence in GHG management.
Supply Chain – Exceeded the 25 percent water use reduction goal with a 27 percent reduction rate from a 2010 baseline, up from just 2 percent in 2011, in addition to recording zero fatalities and achieving 100 percent key supplier participation in social compliance programs.

“Five years ago, when we first set out to achieve our 2015 sustainability program, we knew it marked a shift in our thinking. We pushed ourselves to look beyond the responsibility of our operational footprint into other areas throughout the value chain,” said Lisa Morden, senior director of global sustainability for Kimberly-Clark. “As we embark on the next leg of our journey with our Sustainability 2022 strategy, we do so backed by the full commitment of our teams around the world.”

Communicating complex, unfamiliar sustainability claims on CPG packaging

Join us as Applegate and HowGood share insights into marketing lessons, consumer response and understanding, and marketplace data on the expression and communication of new categories of sustainability claims on CPG packaging - as well as tips for avoiding consumer and industry backlash and controversy - Wed, Oct. 16, at SB'24 San Diego.

Tell me more!

The Sustainability 2022 strategy establishes the following five priorities:

Social Impact – Improve the well-being of 25 million people in need through social and community investments that increase access to sanitation, help children thrive and empower women and girls.
Forests & Fiber – Innovate Kimberly-Clark's tissue products to reduce their natural forest footprint by 50 percent, while increasing our use of environmentally-preferred fiber.
Waste & Recycling – Extend Kimberly-Clark's zero waste mindset to all solid wastes and deliver innovation to help keep product and packaging material out of landfills.
Energy & Climate – Achieve a 20 percent reduction in absolute GHGs versus a 2005 baseline.
Supply Chain – Uphold Kimberly-Clark's values through proactive environmental and social programs that address material risks and sustain our commitment to human rights, worker safety, anti-corruption and environmental protection.

“Our vision is to lead the world in essentials for a better life. From the products we make to help moms care for their families to having the proper regard for the environment, this vision inspires us to care for the communities where we live and work,” said Tom Falk, Kimberly-Clark Chairman of the Board and CEO, adding that the company “will continue to set aggressive goals for ourselves to make a positive impact in the world around us.”