Our Essential World - 2011 Sustainability Report

Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand is celebrating World Environment Day with the launch of its 2011 Sustainability Report highlighting its recent achievements in sustainability and social responsibility.

While corporate responsibility has always been integral to Kimberly-Clark’s business since starting in Australia in 1930, as a global corporation in 2011 it announced its most comprehensive sustainability strategy to date. The strategy, called Sustainability 2015, is based around the framework of People, Planet and Products.

Aligned with this global strategy Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand is also pleased to launch its own set of local Sustainability 2015 targets, which are outlined below.

People:

• 30% of employees engaged in our volunteering program
• 10% of employees engaged in our giving program
• Achieve a consistent culture of safety excellence

Planet:

• 100% fibre from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) certified or controlled sources
• Achieve a 30% absolute reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from full year 2011 levels (minus Tantanoola)
• Zero manufacturing waste to landfill
• Reduce paper usage by 15% from 2011 levels and increase e-waste recycling by 10%

Product:

• Reduce post-consumer products impact on the environment by ensuring each division has an initiative in place
• Achieve 20% recycled or renewable content in all our plastic packaging and 10% reduction in the overall weight of flexible packaging

Read the 2011 Kimberly-Clark Australia & New Zealand Sustainability Report online >>

Sustainability Report Highlights

People:

• At the forefront responding to the Queensland Flood crisis donating a total of 5,204 cases of essential products amounting to a dollar value of $121,285.
• Employees logged over 3,300 hours volunteering and donated to over 50 charities.
•  For the fifth year running we have seen a significant increase in the number of charities benefiting from our Matched Giving program, with 39 charities receiving over $47,000.
• Achieved a 72% reduction in injury impact.

Planet:

• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 7% based on National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting data.
• Announced a $30 million investment in a cogeneration facility at the Millicent Mill. This will greatly increase energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the order of 90,000 tonnes p.a. (30%) CO2-e by 2013.
• Won the FSC® Large chain of custody operation of the year in the FSC® Australia Annual Awards.
• Announced a partnership with WWF’s Love Your Forest campaign to raise awareness of FSC® certification and the need to protect forests.
• Was a signatory to a new ‘Common Platform’ for the elimination of illegal timber products in Australia.
• Diverted 95.2% of all our manufacturing waste from landfill.
• Reduced waste water Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) from the Millicent Mill by 56%.

Products:

• Partnered with the NSW Office of Environment & Heritage and Lake Macquarie Council to undertake a nappy composting trial.
• Launched the Kimguard* Sterile Wrap Hospital Recycling program with a 25% uptake in year one.
• Submitted an updated five year Australian Packaging Covenant plan - 90% of all our packaging is recycled