Kimberly-Clark: The Sustainability of Andrex, Kleenex & more
As brands contend with escalating waste, greenhouse gas emissions and regulatory requirements, intensifying sustainability pressures are reshaping the consumer goods and personal care industry.
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) are responsible for more than one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and produce roughly 40% of global plastic waste, with 141 million tons of packaging generated yearly – yet only about 9% of cosmetic packaging is recycled.
About Kimberly-Clark
Founded in 1872, Kimberly-Clark’s history spans more than 150 years that are marked by the launches of iconic brands such as Huggies, Kleenex, Andrex, Scott, Kotex and Depend.
Serving nearly one-quarter of the world’s population daily, the company operates manufacturing facilities and supply chains across North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific.
The global reach extends to its sustainability work, for which Kimberly-Clark was recently ranked 19 in Sustainability Magazine’s Top 250 Most Sustainable Companies report in 2025.
Sustainability strategy: 2030 ambition
Kimberly-Clark’s 2030 sustainability strategy sets out goals to improve the well-being of one billion underserved people, reduce plastics and natural forest fiber footprints by 50%, cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% (from a 2015 baseline), halve water use in stressed locations and advance toward a “natural forest-free” status by 2030.
"These extraordinary times remind us why our purpose is more important than ever, and how the values that have guided us for nearly 150 years continue to shape our response to the challenges ahead,” said Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark.
The company is also committed to sourcing 90% of its fiber from recycled or certified sustainable materials and elevating climate resilience across its operations.
These targets are directly linked to its strategic pillars that integrating social progress with environmental stewardship:
- Better Products
- Better Planet
- Better Workplace
- Better Communities
“Kimberly-Clark has always been guided by its purpose, staying the course to deliver it’s sustainability goals and ambitions even during periods of change,” says Lisa Morden, Chief Sustainability Officer at Kimberly-Clark.
In June 2024, Kimberly-Clark named Lisa Morden its first Chief Sustainability Officer. Having joined the company in 1994, she now leads global teams to operationalise climate and sustainability initiatives, with a strong focus on building science-based collaborations and partnerships. Lisa’s approach blends stakeholder engagement across NGOs, government and communities, and she’s credited with rapid progress in reducing emissions, fiber and plastics footprints while driving inclusion and ethics.
Forest-free fiber and biodiversity
Kimberly-Clark has pledged to become “natural forest-free” – eliminating the use of natural, old-growth and boreal forest fiber in its products by 2030, with interim targets to halve this footprint by 2025.
Since 2011, the company has reduced its reliance on sensitive forest ecosystems in Canada and Latin America, substituting fiber from certified plantations, recycled sources and agricultural residues like wheat straw and sugar cane.
Biodiversity protection and WWF partnerships underpin these efforts, especially as northern forests face increasing wildfire and wildlife risks.
Investing in green hydrogen
Kimberly-Clark is investing £125m (US$167m) in green hydrogen production at two major UK sites – Barrow-in-Furness and Northfleet – beginning in 2027.
This will replace 50% of natural gas use, with anticipated CO₂ emissions reductions of 28,500 tonnes annually, which is equivalent to removing 20,000 cars from the road.
Supported by government and private partnerships, the initiative demonstrates leadership in decarbonising high-energy manufacturing and advancing toward 100% renewable energy across UK operations by 2030.
Community and social impact projects
Kimberly-Clark’s community programmes, such as Toilets Change Lives and the Kotex “She Can” pledge, have improved wellbeing for more than 17 million people to date, focusing on menstrual care equity and hygiene access.
The company integrates social inclusion and empowerment into its sustainability strategy, leveraging its brands and partners to tackle stigma and inequality in global markets.
