Global healthcare product provider Kimberly-Clark Australia has been recognised for being an ‘Australian leader’ in sustainability, winning the prestigious Banksia award for Leading in Sustainability for large Organisations and was presented with the award 10 October 2013 at the 25th Banksia Sustainability Awards.
‘Kimberly-Clark Australia has transformed its substantial manufacturing and consumer goods business with leading brands into an Australian market leader in sustainability,’ stated the company’s press release.
‘The company’s Kleenex®, Kleenex® Cottonelle® and Viva® brands are now part of a partnership with environmental NGO WWF due to Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified wood products in its tissue based products.’
In 2011 Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand rolled out a comprehensive and ambitious sustainability strategy entitled Our Essential World. The key elements were focussed around its three pillars of sustainability – people, planet and products.
Graz van Egmond, chief executive officer Banksia Foundation said “Kimberly-Clark set about using the power of its brands to help educate Australians about key sustainability issues. At the same time, challenging itself to significantly reduce its carbon emissions, reduce waste to landfill, being active community contributors and showing leadership around post-consumer waste and ethical sourcing.”
“Based on the significant results achieved and their plan for the future, the judges found Kimberly-Clark to be an industry leader, holistically covering the key elements of sustainability – people, planet and profit,” she said.
On accepting the award, Robbert Rietbroek, vice president and managing director for Kimberly-Clark Australia and New Zealand said, ‘We are incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made towards our 2015 Our Essential World sustainability strategy goals. In particular, the work we’re doing with FSC and WWF and our waste and energy reduction efforts, including the installation of a $30 million cogeneration facility at our tissue mill in South Australia.”
“I would like to congratulate the Kimberly-Clark employees who have truly brought our strategy to life, in particular, our manufacturing facilities for continuously improving our processes to reduce our waste to landfill and carbon emissions, and our sustainability team – Jacquie Fegent-McGeachie and Ryan Kane – for their work implementing and driving a tailored strategy for Australia and New Zealand,” he commended.