Sustainability efforts earn Kimberly-Clark A+
The Global Reporting Initiative bestowed its highest accolade on Kimberly-Clark’s 2011 sustainability report.
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is a non-profit organization promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability by providing organizations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework used worldwide.
“Receiving the A+ GRI rating is a testament to the commitment that our leaders and our employees have to sustainability across our entire value chain involving every function, brand and business at K-C,” said Peggy Ward, director of sustainability strategy at Kimberly-Clark. “While we are proud of our 2011 progress and the quality level of our sustainability report, we recognize that sustainability is a journey that we will never complete.”
In order to secure the A+ rating, Kimberly-Clark fulfilled all 79 indicators established by GRI under the headings of economic performance, labor practices, human rights, environmental practices, society performance and product responsibilities.
The report was released in May and marks the ninth such annual report by the company. It is structured around the company’s Sustainability 2015 strategic framework of people, planet and products that was introduced last year. The new framework represents K-C’s most ambitious and comprehensive sustainability strategy to date, and embodies the company's commitment to weaving a sustainable business practice and mindset into every facet of the organization and as an integral part of a global business plan.
Some of the highlights featured in the report include:
•Sourced 99.9% fiber from suppliers certified by sustainable forestry practices.
•Generated 13% of 2011 net sales from environmentally innovative products.
•Had no workplace fatalities.
•Communicated to all key suppliers its Supplier Social Compliance Standards, which encourages suppliers to align operations with K-C's code of conduct practices and internationally accepted standards for corporate social responsibility and human rights.
•Achieved zero manufacturing waste to landfill from all its European Personal Care business facilities.
•Extended the Huggies brand Every Little Bottom campaign in the U.S. to assist moms who struggle to provide their babies clean disposable diapers.
•Expanded the Huggies diaper composting initiatives by opening a second K-C-sponsored recycling plant in New Zealand.
In addition, Kleenex brand became the first U.S. consumer tissue to offer Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified tissue products and extended its Kimberly-Clark Professional business' FSC certification to more than 95 percent of its tissue and towel lines in North America. Water-replenishment projects were initiated in India, Israel, Colombia and Spain with an anticipated an annualized return of 205 million gallons of water to surrounding communities.