Kimberly-Clark unveils 2023 sustainability progress and ambitions

Kimberly-Clark has released its annual sustainability report, detailing strides made towards its 2030 sustainability targets and unveiling a new objective to become 100% natural forest free across its product portfolio beyond 2030.

Over the past ten years, Kimberly-Clark has heavily invested in sustainable product development, aligning with its innovation strategy to enhance consumer benefits while minimizing environmental impact. “Sustainability is woven into the fabric of our 152-year-old company’s innovation strategy and purpose, serving as a guiding principle across every facet of our operations”, stated Mike Hsu, chairman and CEO. “I am proud of our team’s commitment to our purpose of Better Care for a Better World, focusing on where we believe we can make the biggest impact”.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF 2023 PROGRESS

• Better Planet: Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to sustainable forest management includes its ambitious goal to become 100% natural forest free. This initiative is aimed at significantly reducing the company’s environmental footprint, recognizing the vital role forests play in biodiversity and climate change mitigation. The company anticipates achieving more than half of this goal by 2030. In 2023, Kimberly-Clark exceeded its 2030 water footprint target and increased the use of alternative energy sources, such as wind and solar power. Notable efforts include a new virtual purchase power agreement for an onshore wind farm in Scotland and several renewable power purchase agreements. The company also achieved a 40.9% reduction in operational GHG emissions (Scope 1 and 2) towards its 50% reduction goal by 2030, along with a 10.4% improvement in energy efficiency compared to its 2015 baseline;
• Better Products: Kimberly-Clark introduced more sustainable products in 2023, such as the first-ever Kotex® paper pouch and reusable menstrual and incontinence solutions. The company continues to prioritize sustainable fiber procurement and invests in alternative fiber solutions, reducing its plastics footprint by 16.4% towards a 50% reduction target by 2030, based on a 2019 baseline;
• Better Society: through its well-known brands like Huggies®, Kleenex®, Kotex®, and Cottonelle®, Kimberly-Clark have made significant societal impacts via social programs and partnerships with NGOs. In 2023, these initiatives impacted an estimated 101 million people globally, focusing on empowering women and girls, enhancing maternal and child health, and improving access to safe water and sanitation;
• Better Workplace: Kimberly-Clark emphasized fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture by engaging its global workforce. Executive leadership hosted sessions to promote performance-driven leadership, focusing on presence, courage, candor, and transparency. The company also strengthened its human rights due diligence and supplier engagement processes, including improved risk segmentation and supply chain mapping.

 

Additionally, Lisa Morden was appointed as chief sustainability officer. “We are proud of our progress and, in 2023, we continued to address challenges associated with single-use plastics, carbon emissions, and water use in our operations and value chain, while working to decrease forest reliance and increasing our use of renewable energy”, said Morden. “We recognize that there are still challenges and opportunities ahead and we remain dedicated to supporting a more sustainable future for all”.

PARTNERSHIPS AND GLOBAL IMPACT

Kimberly-Clark collaborated with various stakeholders and nonprofit organizations, such as UNICEF, to deliver innovative products and solutions aimed at improving the lives of babies and children. Since 2015, the company has donated over $24 million to UNICEF, impacting nearly 14 million lives across 26 countries by strengthening neonatal health systems, increasing access to safe water and sanitation, promoting menstrual health and hygiene, and supporting early childhood development. Additionally, over $4.6 million has been donated to UNICEF’s humanitarian responses during emergencies.

“Kimberly-Clark is a longstanding partner and with their continued commitment, UNICEF can reach vulnerable children and communities with the resources needed to survive and thrive”, said Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO of UNICEF USA. “Together, we can build a more equitable world for every child and change the lives of millions more with sustainable and scalable solutions”.