Business News
Kimberly-Clark Releases Its 2008 Sustainability Report: Shaping a Healthier World
Friday 17. April 2009 - Company used less water, less energy, produced less carbon dioxide in 2008
Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE:KMB) today released its 2008 Sustainability Report, Shaping a Healthier World, which highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to build sustainability into all aspects of its business.
“It is truly inspiring to see how the passion of our employees fuels our sustainability efforts,” said Kimberly-Clark Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Tom Falk. “Because of their hard work, we used less water, less energy and produced less carbon dioxide in 2008, even though we made more products than ever before.”
In addition to environmental achievements, the report highlights the commitment Kimberly-Clark employees around the globe have demonstrated to improving the lives of people in their respective countries and communities, including programs and causes like El Salvador Verde, MedShare International, earthquake relief in China, and the United Way in the U.S. These programs, and many others, have benefited not just from the financial support of Kimberly-Clark, but also from the contributions and labor of love of K-C employees.
Falk continued: “We truly appreciate and celebrate our sustainability successes to date, but we know our work is not complete. We know that we must continue building our company in a world of increasingly scarce resources and vulnerable ecosystems. Because sustainability is a core value at Kimberly-Clark, we know that making better choices for the environment and society often means making better choices for our business.”
The full web-based 2008 Sustainability Report is available online at www.kimberly-clark.com/aboutus/sustainability.aspx along with the 2008 Sustainability Report Summary (PDF), which will be translated into the following languages by early May: German, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Russian, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian.
For the first time, an introductory video from Tom Falk welcomes website visitors to the report. In the video, Falk also recognizes K-C’s Korean affiliate, YuHan-Kimberly, for its Keep Korea Green program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The program has helped restore thousands of acres of Korean forestlands and has become synonymous with K-C brands in that market.
Additionally, an external assessment of the report, conducted by the five independent members of Kimberly-Clark’s Sustainability Advisory Board, can be found within the web-based report. This panel advises the company on sustainability issues, and provides a more independent view of K-C’s sustainability programs.
Highlights in Shaping a Healthier World include:
— For the fourth consecutive year, Kimberly-Clark led the personal
products category of the 2008 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.
— Since 2005, K-C has increased its energy efficiency by 4.5 percent and
achieved a 7 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per ton of
production at its manufacturing facilities.
— 98% of the wood fiber Kimberly-Clark used on a global basis in 2008
came from suppliers or forestlands certified to one of five
internationally-recognized sustainable forestry systems.
— Kimberly-Clark’s total contributions to good causes around the world
totaled $22.7 million in 2008, including more than $4 million
contributed by K-C employees in conjunction with the K-C Foundation’s
Matching Gifts program and K-C’s United Way campaign.
— GovernanceMetrics International ranked K-C in the top one percent
among nearly 4,200 companies surveyed in its most recent rating. The
top-ranking companies were recognized for best-in-class corporate
governance standards.
— K-C China received the Most Admired Corporate Citizen award from the
China Corporate Citizenship Committee.
— YuHan-Kimberly has been recognized for its excellent ethical
management in the Korean Business Ethics Index 2008 conducted by the
Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Institute for Industry Policy
and Study. The Korean Management Consulting Association has named
YuHan-Kimberly one of the most admired companies in Korea for five
consecutive years.
— Recognition from The United States Environmental Protection Agency:
— EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year for K-C’s work in 2008
— EPA SmartWay Transportation Excellence Award for the second
consecutive year
— Ranked ninth on the EPA’s list of Fortune 500 companies using
green power.