Kimberly-Clark’s German facility to become its first global tissue plant powered by 100% renewable energy

Kimberly-Clark (K-C), a global leader in personal care and hygiene products, has taken a major step in its sustainability strategy. Its tissue manufacturing facility in Koblenz, Germany, will become the company’s first site worldwide to operate on 100% renewable energy. The transition, set for completion by 2029, includes electrifying heating systems and sourcing electricity through European wind and solar power purchase agreements (PPAs).

The shift was made possible by a Carbon Contract for Difference (CCFD) grant from the German government, combined with renewable energy PPAs signed by K-C in Italy and Spain. As a result, popular brands like Kleenex, Scottex, and Hakle, produced at the Koblenz plant, will have a significantly lower carbon footprint.

TECH UPGRADES AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY

The facility will replace natural gas boilers and heating systems with electric alternatives, achieving 99% energy efficiency and reducing 13,000 tons of CO₂ per year. Additionally, the European PPAs will supply enough renewable electricity to meet the plant’s full demand, cutting another 36,000 tons of CO₂ annually.

 

Lisa Morden, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kimberly-Clark, emphasized: “Announcing our first Kimberly-Clark tissue manufacturing site globally with a pathway to 100% renewable energy is an incredible milestone that demonstrates how we continue to progress on our decarbonization journey, through innovative cross-sector collaboration” said Lisa Morden, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kimberly-Clark. “We are proud to execute this decarbonization project that will unlock new technologies for Kimberly-Clark, enabling us to tackle the challenge of reducing direct greenhouse emissions, which represent 60% of our total emissions”.

Paul Sokol, Mill Manager at Koblenz, added: “We are very proud that Koblenz is setting a new standard for sustainable manufacturing at Kimberly-Clark globally. We always strive to offer more sustainable products to our consumers and to support our customers’ sustainability goals, and this is a great example of how we can do this”.

CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND OTHER GREEN INITIATIVES

The Koblenz plant also plays a key role in Kimberly-Clark Professional’s RightCycle™ Program, which recycles used paper towels from Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and Switzerland into new tissue products, diverting waste from landfills.

The announcement aligns with K-C’s global goal to halve its Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 2030 (vs. 2015 baseline). Recent milestones include:

• Installing one of Europe’s largest rooftop solar systems at its Salamanca, Spain, facility (6,500 MWh/year);
• Launching solar power at its Cape Town, South Africa, plant (3,700 MWh/year);
• Opening a £75 million onshore wind farm in Scotland, UK (160,000 MWh/year).