Kimberly-Clark Australia named sustainability leader for diaper recycling program

Kimberly-Clark Australia has been named a Sustainability Leader in the Australian Financial Review’s National Sustainability Leaders Awards for 2023.

The awards highlight the commitment of leading companies and not-for-profit organizations to sustainability in Australia, with a focus on programs and initiatives that impact environmental and/or social change while serving business outcomes.

The award for Kimberly-Clark Australia recognizes its Diaper Recycling Program, a first Australian initiative launched in July 2022 that could be the answer to serious environmental problem: diaper disposal. Annually, 1.5 billion used diapers go to landfills in the country, from all industry players.

The pilot program was launched by K-C in partnership with its diaper brand Huggies, national science agency CSIRO, Peats Soils and Garden Supplies – one of South Australia’s largest composters – early childhood education and care provider G8 Education and APR Plastics.

“As Huggies is the most popular nappy brand in Australia, we not only set the standards in baby care, our goal is to set the standards for our industry in sustainability too. By using anaerobic digestion, we are turning used Huggies nappies into nutrient-rich compost and bioenergy which has not been done before in Australia. We’re incredibly proud of the project and excited to see it being awarded a national sustainability honour,” comments Kimberly-Clark ANZ Managing Director Belinda Driscoll.