Kimberly-Clark Australia Announces 2014/15 Sustainability Progress

Jun 19, 2015 12:00 PM ET

Sydney, Friday 19th June 2015 /3BL Media/ -  Kimberly-Clark (K-C) Australia & New Zealand launched their 2014/15 Sustainability Progress Report which includes key highlights across their three pillars of sustainability – People, Planet and Products.

Key highlights from the latest report include:

  • Carbon emissions reductions of 29% since 2011, whilst increasing total production across Kimberly-Clark manufacturing sites.
  • Manufacturing waste water from the K-C tissue facility in South Australia, reaching Australian drinking water standards as verified by independent tests.
  • Supported the composting of over 3,000 tonnes of absorbent hygiene waste (which is the equivalent of over 18 million nappies and sanitary hygiene products), since the first Envirocomp plant was installed in Canterbury New Zealand in 2009.
  • Helped consumers recycle 1.5 million pieces of flexible plastic packaging, weighing over 6.3 tonnes via our partnership with REDcycle (which would have otherwise gone to landfill through REDcycle).
  • 33% of employees donated to over 120 charities across ANZ, increasing involvement by 18% from 2013, and achieving record participation in the company volunteering program.
  • Lowest injury rate ever recorded for Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand for the third consecutive year with a 7.5% reduction in reportable injuries from 2013. 
  • Launched Kleenex® Cottonelle® Toilet Tissue with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certified Bamboo Fibres to progress the K-C global goal of reducing natural wood fibre in Kimberly-Clark products.

In addition to focusing on their operational footprint and supply chain, Kimberly-Clark is also focused on using the power of their market leading brands to make a difference. Examples include:

  • The Kleenex Cottonelle brand developed the ‘Keep the Hearts Beating’ campaign with WWF-Australia as part of our Love Your Forests partnership to help save organg-utans in Borneo and raise awareness of FSC certification as the solution to devastating deforestation.
  • The Huggies® brand in New Zealand has donated over $6 million NZD to date to the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society, helping to support the crucial services they provide to New Zealand families.
  • The Huggies® brand has donated over $200,000 AUD to fund vital equipment and services for neonatal care in Australia’s major Children’s Hospitals since 2013 in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Foundations Australia.
  • The U by Kotex® Schools Program in Australia reached over 130,000 Australian girls, an increase of 9% from 2013 and representing almost 40% of girls aged 11-13 years.

Jacqueline Fegent-McGeachie, Head of Sustainability & Corporate Affairs at Kimberly-Clark Australia & New Zealand says: “I’m extremely proud to announce that we are currently one of the most awarded companies in Australia for sustainability, having won six awards in the last two years. This includes the inaugural Environment Minister’s Award for a Cleaner Environment through the Banksia Foundation.”

“Protecting the environment and improving the lives of people through our products and actions, is critical to our business. We continuously aim to improve the way we run our business – socially, environmentally and economically. This commitment is one of the reasons that our organisation has earned the trust and respect of people around the world for more than 140 years,” concludes Fegent-McGeachie.

Please visit the 2014/15 Online Progress Report here, go straight to the new website or view the 2014/15 Sustainability Highlights Fact Sheet.

About Kimberly-Clark:

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust K-C’s brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With well-known and trusted brands, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To learn more about the company's 142-year history of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

Kimberly-Clark Australia

• Kimberly-Clark is a global leader in the ‘essentials for a better life’ across Consumer and Business-to-business markets.

• Kimberly-Clark Australia (KCA) is headquartered at Milsons Point, Sydney NSW.

• The company markets leading household brands including the KLEENEX®, KLEENEX® COTTONELLE®, HUGGIES, U BY KOTEX®,  VIVA®, POISE® and DEPEND® ranges.

• Kimberly-Clark Professional represents the company’s B2B business.

• KCA employs over 1400 employees in Australia and operations include: 

  • Millicent Mill: KLEENEX® Tissue, KLEENEX® COTTONELLE® toilet tissue and VIVA® paper towel
  • Albury Mill: Nonwoven products,
  • Ingleburn Mill: HUGGIES® Nappies
  • Distribution centres and sales offices in major capital centres
  • For further information visit www.kimberly-clark.com.au

 

For further information contact:

Farah Kataieh, Communications Manager

E: Farah.kataieh@kcc.com,

T: 02 9963 8087

M: 0415 749 528

 

Genevieve McGrath, Communications Co-ordinator

E: Genevieve.Mcgrath@kcc.com

T: 02 9963 8732

M: 0466 248 515