Kimberly-Clark redefines responsible fiber sourcing leadership for the coming decade

A decade ago, Kimberly-Clark launched a leading fiber acquisition policy in order to minimize the impact on global forests. For this, they focused on two strategies.

The first aimed at increasing the use of environmentally preferred fibers, such as recycled and alternative fibers and virgin fibers certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The second intended to reduce the use of natural fibers from the forest, which, for Kimberly-Clark, are mainly fibers from northern boreal and temperate forests.

According to the company, they have made significant progress in both areas, but recognize the challenges posed by the climate and biodiversity crises. They recognize that the fiber supply footprint overlaps with communities that will be disproportionately impacted by climate change, such as indigenous peoples and other communities that depend on forests for survival, and the loss of biodiversity and that is why they are aligning their ambitions for 2030 to address these issues as well.

Kimberly-Clark believes that FSC certification applies the most stringent criteria for the conservation of biodiversity and the protection of the rights of indigenous communities. For these reasons, the company considers FSC certified virgin fiber to be the only environmentally preferred fiber and that they allow it to count towards its 2025 goal.

They say they will continue to look beyond the commitment to FSC to find other ways that can support the well-being and land tenure rights of indigenous communities and other forest dependent communities, while offering benefits for the climate and biodiversity.

The company notes that their continued efforts to reduce the use of natural fiber from high-carbon forests and increase our use of environmentally preferred fibers such as alternative and recycled fibers will continue to be important levers to reduce the forest’s carbon footprint. Kimberly-Clark.