As businesses and consumers look for ways to protect the environment, it’s always good to think about recycling. But it’s also important to think about reducing what we use in the first place.
That’s the strategy behind the environmentally focused, global communications campaign being launched today by Kimberly-Clark Professional. The campaign – called Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow – takes a bigger-picture approach to environmental sustainability and is the first truly global communications campaign developed by Kimberly-Clark Professional.
One of four global business sectors within Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Professional is one of the largest manufacturers of washroom products in the world, serving commercial and institutional facilities such as office buildings, hotels, schools, healthcare facilities, manufacturing plants, and other public buildings. Kimberly-Clark Professional is aligned with its parent company’s commitment to sustainability at all levels of its business.
“Our ongoing efforts to achieve outstanding environmental performance are not just our responsibility as corporate citizens, they are vital to our success as a business,” said Jan Spencer, president, Global Kimberly-Clark Professional. “These efforts are also guided by global, company-wide objectives for improving operational performance in energy, water, waste, and environmental management systems.”
Reducing, Not Just Recycling
While many people have come to regard recycled fiber content as the main measure of environmental stewardship, Kimberly-Clark Professional takes a broader approach.
The central premise of the Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow campaign is that focusing only on 100 percent recycled fiber content does not address the total picture, nor is it the best approach to environmental sustainability. Rather, Kimberly-Clark Professional looks at a bigger picture and strives to reduce environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle. This approach to the environment is based on source reduction. Source reduction is essentially waste prevention, or designing products to eliminate waste at the start – before it ever becomes waste. Products created with source-reduction in mind are designed in such a way that users actually consume less, either through improved performance, more reliable dispensing methods, or both. And if less is consumed in the first place, it often means there is less packaging waste, which further reduces the amount of waste to recycle, or send to landfill.
Yet, reduced consumption is only part of the solution. Kimberly-Clark Professional also considers ways to reduce environmental impact at every stage of a product’s lifecycle, including:
· Developing unique fiber-efficient technologies, such as the patented UCTAD manufacturing process, which reduces by up to 17 percent the amount of fiber needed to make tissue, towel and wiper products versus competitive wet press technology.
· Compressing or redesigning products and packaging so that more fits into every case.
· Introducing products such as Scott Coreless Standard Roll Bath Tissue, which reduces packaging waste by nearly 55 percent, compared with standard roll bath tissue – including 100 percent core and paper wrap elimination.
· Resizing cases to optimize how they fit onto standard pallets, so truck space can be used more effectively, reducing the total number of deliveries needed to fill orders.
Recycled fiber. Reduced packaging. Manufacturing technologies that reduce the amount of raw material used. Superior product performance that allows customers to use less and waste less. These are all key components of Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow and Kimberly-Clark Professional’s business strategy for a more sustainable future.
Other Environmental Initiatives
As part of its overall environmental strategy, Kimberly-Clark recently became the first away-from-home tissue products provider in
In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional has received Green Seal certification for a range of its Scott brand products, which are designed for customers who are interested in or mandated to use only 100 percent recycled fiber washroom products.
Kimberly-Clark Professional is also a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the nation’s leading nonprofit coalition advancing buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The company has partnered with USGBC primarily in support of the Council’s efforts to advance the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program for Existing Buildings.
For more information about Kimberly-Clark Professional, its products and its sustainability program, visit www.kcpReduceToday.com.
About Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional is an indispensable business partner, delivering leading-edge health, hygiene and productivity solutions that provide tangible value every day, everywhere. Known for innovative, quality solutions for away-from-home washrooms, “clean” and “industrial” manufacturing environments, and DIY settings, the global brands of Kimberly-Clark Professional include Kleenex, Scott, Kimcare, WypAll, KleenGuard, and Kimtech. With the acquisition of Jackson Safety, Kimberly-Clark Professional offers an even broader range of PPE and other safety offerings, including market-leading welding and work zone safety products. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people – almost a quarter of the world's population – trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries.
