Kimberly-Clark has published its 2018 Global Sustainability Report, highlighting the ways in which the company is impacting the world through its Sustainability 2022 strategy.

“We are three years into our ambitious Sustainability 2022 program, and I’m inspired by the impact we’ve made,” Mike Hsu, Kimberly-Clark CEO, said.

“Through our brand-led programs like Toilets Change Lives and No Baby Unhugged, and our leadership in creating the Alliance for Period Supplies, we’re taking action on critical issues around the world.

“We’ve achieved some big goals, but we know that new challenges to the environment are emerging and consumers’ expectations are shifting. We must continue to leverage our legacy of innovation to come up with new solutions to meet these needs,” added Hsu.

Kimberly-Clark’s Sustainability 2022 strategy tracks its progress against five strategic sustainability pillars – Social Impact, Forests & Fiber, Waste & Recycling, Energy & Climate and Supply Chain.

According to the report highlights of the past year include:

• Co-founded the Alliance for Period Supplies to help women and girls in need access period supplies;
• Met absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals four years early, down 27 per cent (vs. 2005 baseline);
• Reduced use of fiber from natural forest landscapes by 30 per cent since 2011;
• Diverted more than 21,000 metric tons of material to higher value alternatives;
• Reduced our water use at our facilities in high-stress regions by 24 per cent; and
• Introduction of alternative energy sources across six manufacturing sites, including wind, solar and cogeneration projects.

Lisa Morden, vice president for safety and sustainability, said the company has met key goals this year around energy and climate ahead of schedule, accelerated by a combination of LEAN energy, conservation, and alternative energy projects.

Over the past three years, Kimberly-Clark has executed more than 400 energy conservation projects and deployed LEAN energy at 37 sites.

The company implemented six alternative energy projects around biomass boilers, lower GHG emitting fuels and cogeneration.

The electricity produced because of the company’s virtual power purchase agreements with two wind farms offset 99 per cent of the electricity purchased by its Kimberly-Clark Professional manufacturing sites in the United States.

“In response to meeting our energy and climate goals early, Kimberly-Clark will double our GHG reduction target from 20 per cent to 40 per cent reduction by 2022,” said Morden.

Partnerships also played an important role in the company’s 2018 results. Kimberly-Clark’s consumer and professional businesses signed on to Wrap UK’s Plastics Pact, and the company joined Ocean Conservancy’sTrash Free Seas Alliance as members of the steering committee.

In addition, the company continued its partnerships with WWF and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

“This year proved once again that strong partnerships yield long-lasting results for the environment,” Morden said

“While great progress has been made, there is still work to be done. We will continue to challenge our teams to drive social and environmental impact while bringing value to our consumers at the same time.”

The company’s 2018 Global Sustainability Report is organized and presented in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards.

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