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Posted On: 07/29/2004

Think green

To demonstrate its commitment to the environment, Kimberly-Clark Professional (KCP) has outlined several of its environmental programs and initiatives in a booklet titled "Precious Resources." The publication also includes information about products and systems that offer environmental benefits to building owners and managers.

These efforts include reductions in packaging materials, energy consumption, fresh water use, chemical use, efficiency improvements and landfill elimination. KCP is conducting business with a regard for the need to sustain natural resources, such as fiber and other materials used in the manufacturing process.

Some of the environmental achievements touted by KCP include:

• The use by KCP North America of more than 318,000 tons of recycled fiber in 2003. About 52% of the total fiber used to make commercial tissue products last year was recycled.
• KCP facilities reduced fresh water use by 28% in 2003.
• A full line of products that meet the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Paper Products Recovered Materials Advisory Notice.
• An innovation management framework that integrates environmental factors throughout the product life cycle, from initial research through development, production, distribution and final disposal.
• The elimination of elemental chlorine in fiber bleaching or water treatment processes. All Kimberly-Clark towel and tissue products are made using elemental chlorine free (ECF) processes.

KCP also offers products and systems that provide environmental benefits. By reducing waste and packaging materials, many of these products help reduce the amount of refuse that is hauled away and sent to landfills. Among these are:

• Coreless Bath Tissue: The product provides the equivalent in length of six standard bath tissue rolls but without the center core, so there is a 100% elimination of core waste. Because the product also offers 15% more paper per case, fewer cases are needed to supply the same amount of paper, thereby reducing packaging waste. In addition, Kleenex and Scott Coreless Bath Tissue are made with a minimum of 45% post-consumer recycled fiber. The product is also made with an elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching process.
• Brown Towels. Made of 100% recovered materials, these towels have a minimum of 60% post-consumer recycled fiber. The towels are also manufactured via ECF bleaching and are made from recycled cardboard.
• Hard Roll Towels. These 1,000-ft. towels are made of 40% post-consumer fiber content, use ECF bleaching, and reduce packaging materials by providing greater feet per case and 25% more towels on each core compared to 800-ft. roll towels.

Kimberly-Clark Corp. has received recognition for its environmental efforts, including:

• Being Named to the Calvert Social Index, which recognizes companies for programs relating to workplace issues, environmental management, product safety and other factors.
• Inclusion in the Financial Times Stock Exchange Index for Good (FTSE4GOOD) U.S. 100 Companies and the FTSE4GOOD Global 100 Companies Index. Kimberly-Clark was included for positive consideration of environmental sustainability, social issues, stakeholder relations and human rights policies.
• Recognition by the Industrial Supply Manufacturers Association. In 2003, Kimberly-Clark received an American Eagle Award for Outstanding Environmental Improvement and Conservation Efforts.

For more information about KCP’s environmental initiatives and products, call (888) 346-GOKC or visit www.kcprofessional.com.