Kimberly Clark shows way on sustainability

As the largest tissue manufacturer in the world, Kimberly-Clark recognises the importance of sustainable forest practices.

The marketer in Australia of the Kleenex range of products was awarded the 2014 Federal Environment Minister’s Award for a Cleaner Environment – joining awards in 2013 for supplier of the year from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and The Australian Business Award for Environmental Sustainability.

The FSC awards reward and recognise organisations that exemplify the spirit and intent of the FSC certification system, one of the world’s most rigorous environmental and social standard for responsible forest management.

Speaking at the 2013 FSC awards, Chief Executive Officer of FSC Natalie Reynolds said Kimberly-Clark Australia had made an enormous contribution to driving responsible forest management in Australia. “Kimberly-Clark has taken a strong leadership role in the procurement and supply of FSC-certified products both here and internationally and they should be highly commended for that role,” Reynolds said.

Since 2011, Kimberly-Clark Australia has partnered with World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) as a Foundation Supporter of the Love Your Forests campaign and, since then, has helped raised consumer awareness of the importance of sourcing tissue and paper products from responsibly managed forests, and proactively promoting consumers to choose products with FSC certification. In 2012, this partnership was extended to include Kimberly-Clark’s business-to-business division, Kimberly-Clark Professional to help educate business and government.

Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand employ more than 1,400 employees and generate annual sales revenue of approximately $1 billion.

Its manufacturing facilities are located in Ingleburn NSW where Kimberley Clark Australia make Huggies Nappies, Nappy-Pants, Pull-Ups and DryNites; Albury NSW where it makes non-woven fabrics used in Huggies Nappies, and Millicent SA where its Kleenex, Kleenex Cottonelle, VIVA, Scott and Kimberly-Clark Professional tissue products are made.

Launched in the US 140 years ago, the Kimberly-Clark story in Australia started in 1926 selling Kotex napkins imported from the USA. In the 1930s Kimberly-Clark began local manufacture of feminine care products and the import of Kleenex facial tissues. In 1939 the company expanded local operations to include packaging Kleenex facial tissue at its mill in Surry Hills, Sydney.

Kimberly-Clark now has manufacturing operations in 40 countries and Kimberly-Clark products are sold in more than 175 countries worldwide. Today Kimberly-Clark Australia is 100% owned by Kimberly-Clark Corporation.