Kimberly-Clark’s 2012 sustainability achievements nothing to sniff about

A 24% reduction in carbon emissions over 12 months is just one of the many achievements highlighted in the first fully online sustainability report for Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand (KCANZ).

The 2012 sustainability report highlights the progress Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand has made towards its local 2015 sustainability goals structured around the three sustainability focus areas of people, planet and products. While these goals align with Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s global goals, locally KCANZ is setting itself stretch targets, particularly around reducing carbon dioxide emissions and creating social value in the community.

Managing Director Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand Scott Usitalo said, “Every day you read in the media about the pressures facing Australian manufacturing and in the next sentence the carbon tax, rising energy and labour costs. Despite these continued pressures, we’re proud to be driving local innovation both at our manufacturing sites and via our products for the benefit of our consumers, the environment and the community.”

In 2012, Kimberly-Clark commenced a number of energy reduction initiatives, including the construction of a $30 million cogeneration facility at its Millicent Mill in South Australia. When completed it will provide 100% of the mill’s steam, which will help fuel the machines and reduce the reliance on electricity by generating 92% of the mill’s total electricity and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 80,000 tonnes - the equivalent of powering 36,000 average homes for a year.

Other significant achievements for Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand highlighted in the 2012 report include:

• The Huggies brand launched the Hugs for Healing partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia that will fund vital equipment for sick babies and toddlers.
• 20% of Kimberly-Clark employees volunteered in the community.
• 95% of manufacturing waste was diverted from landfill.
• Millicent Mill’s manufacturing wastewater reached Australian Drinking Water Standards.
• The company became a foundation supporter of the REDCycle Program in partnership with Coles to enable consumers to recycle flexible plastic packaging to divert it from landfill.
• The Huggies brand supported EnviroComp in opening a second nappy composting facility in Wellington, New Zealand.

Sustainability and CSR Manager Jacquie Fegent-McGeachie says the company aims to use the power of its brands to raise awareness of key sustainability and social issues.

“We’re continuing our partnership with WWF’s Love Your Forest program to raise awareness of the importance of purchasing tissue and towel products from responsibly managed forests with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification and are pleased to now have our Kimberly-Clark Professional division on board to help educate our business-to-business customers about the benefits of responsible procurement.”

Visit the online sustainability report to view the 2015 sustainability goals for Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand and find out more about these latest achievements.