Kimberly-Clark Releases Annual Sustainability Report

 

Kimberly-Clark, Dallas, Tex., USA, published its annual report on sustainability this week, providing a comprehensive overview of the company's sustainability efforts, focusing on case studies that highlight social and environmental progress throughout the company's global operations.

"Our vision to lead the world in the essentials for a better life is not limited to the products we provide. It also calls us to deliver them in ways that prioritize clean air and water, healthy forests, and strong communities, while delivering shareholder value," said Kimberly-Clark Chairman and CEO Tom Falk. "More than ever, sustainability is part of how we operate to move our business forward."

The 2014 Sustainability Report highlights Kimberly-Clark's progress toward its multi-year Sustainability 2015 goals and introduces the framework for the company's new 2022 platform. The target year, 2022, will coincide with the celebration of the company's 150th anniversary.

Building on the Sustainability 2015 program, Sustainability 2022 is a commitment to:

• Invest in innovative social programs so that people who lack the basic essentials in life - sanitation, health, wellbeing - get the help they need
• Innovate to extend the life of product and packaging materials
• Reduce pressure on precious natural resources with the development of sustainable alternatives.

"In shaping our new Sustainability 2022 platform, we considered the global mega-trends that will impact our business as well as insights from a collaborative process involving our internal stakeholders, business, and brand leaders," said Lisa Morden, senior director of global sustainability for Kimberly-Clark. "We believe this new platform will continue to align with the interests of our stakeholders while furthering our mission to lead the world in essentials for a better life."

Along with stories of the successes and challenges shared in the report, Kimberly-Clark's new sustainability website will also serve as a platform through which the company will offer, on a regular basis, a glimpse into the sustainability focused activities and projects teams are pursuing and their results.

Some of the highlights from 2014 include:

People

• Reduced reportable incidents by 19% and achieved zero fatalities -- making 2014 Kimberly-Clark's safest year ever
• Implemented active social programs in 97% of all Kimberly-Clark communities
• Increased the key suppliers participating in the Supplier Social Compliance Standards program to 87% of in-scope suppliers.

Planet

• Achieved a 6.9% reduction in absolute greenhouse gas emissions, exceeding the company's Sustainability 2015 goal of 5%
• Diverted more than 88% of manufacturing waste from landfills at the end of 2014 and implemented several programs aimed at reducing waste at the end of the product lifecycle
• Achieved Sustainability 2015 goal of 25% reduction in water use while maintaining quality of discharge in manufacturing.

You can read the entire 2014 Sustainability Report online.