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Kimberly-Clark

OVERALL

Owned
USA
Rating
Criticism, some praise

Personal paper products

World's #1 maker of personal paper products. A five year boycott call by Greenpeace ended in 2009 when Kimberly-Clark released a new environmental policy.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation   USA     website      facebook   twitter

> About the Ratings

Company Assessment

PRAISE CRITICISM INFORMATION
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Environment CDP Forests Score of A-
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts towards removing commodity-driven deforestation and forest degradation from its direct operations and supply chains. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Forests Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2019)
Environment CDP Climate Change Score of A-
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change risk. Responding companies are scored across four key areas: disclosure; awareness; management; and leadership. This company received a CDP Climate Change Score of A-.
Source: CDP (2019)
Social CDP Water Security Score of B
In 2019, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) asked companies to provide data about their efforts to manage and govern freshwater resources. Responding companies are scored on six key metrics: transparency; governance & strategy; measuring & monitoring; risk assessment; targets & goals; and value chain engagement. This company received a CDP Water Security Score of B.
Source: CDP (2019)
Business Ethics 64% at JUST Capital
JUST Capital polls Americans every year to identify the issues that matter most in defining just business behaviour. For their 2021 rankings the public identified 19 issues, which are organised under the headings Workers, Communities, Customers, Shareholders and Environment. JUST Capital then define metrics that map to those issues and track and analyse the largest, publicly traded U.S. companies. This analysis powers their rankings, in which this company ranked 112th of 928 companies, and 4th of 10 Personal Products companies.
Source: JUST Capital (2020)
Business Ethics 38.9% in Newsweek Green Ranking 2017
This company received a score of 38.9/100 in the Newsweek Green Ranking 2017, which ranks the world's largest publicly traded companies on eight indicators covering energy, greenhouse gases, water, waste, fines and penalties, linking executive pay to sustainability targets, board-level committee oversight of environmental issues and third-party audits. Ranking methodology by Corporate Knights and HIP Investor.
Source: Newsweek (2017)
Environment Tissue sourcing
A 2019 report by two major environmental groups, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Stand.earth, rated companies on their efforts to source sustainable materials for their tissue products. This company received a rating of 'D'.
Source: NRDC (2019)
Environment D+ grade for plastic pollution
As You Sow's 2020 report, Waste and Opportunity, ranks companies on plastic packaging pollution. The study measures the progress of 50 large companies in the beverage, quick-service restaurant, consumer packaged goods, and retail sectors on six core pillars where swift action is needed to reduce plastic pollution: 1) Packaging Design, 2) Reusable Packaging, 3) Recycled Content, 4) Packaging Data Transparency, 5) Support for Recycling, and 6) Producer Responsibility. This company received a grade of D+
Source: As You Sow (2020)
Social 49.3% in conflict minerals rankings
As You Sow's 2019 report, Mining the Disclosures, is a deep analysis of 215 companies' human rights performance in relation to sourcing conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). This company's score was 49.3% (Minimal).
Source: As You Sow (2019)
Business Ethics 31/100 S&P Global ESG Score
This company received an S&P Global ESG Score of 31/100 in the Household Products category of the 2019 SAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment, an annual evaluation of companies' sustainability practices. The rankings are based on an analysis of corporate economic, environmental and social performance, assessing issues such as corporate governance, risk management, environmental reporting, climate strategy, human rights and labour practices.
Source: S&P Global (2019)
Business Ethics CEO Pay Ratio of 254:1
In 2019 the median pay for a worker at this company was US$47,328. The CEO was paid 254 times this amount. Exorbitant CEO pay is a major contributor to rising inequality. CEOs are getting more because of their power to set pay, not because they are increasing productivity or possess specific, high-demand skills. The economy would suffer no harm if CEOs were paid less (or taxed more). In contrast, the CEO-to-typical-worker compensation ratio was 20-to-1 in 1965 and 58-to-1 in 1989.
Source: AFL-CIO (2020)
Environment Commitment to responsible forestry
In June 2011 Kimberly-Clark and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced the expansion of Kimberly-Clark's membership in the Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN), a WWF initiative to eliminate illegal logging and conserve the world's most valuable and threatened forests. Kimberly-Clark will now include its worldwide operations in the initiative, building on its existing GFTN membership in select countries. The participation scope now includes all wood fibres sourced for all of the company's products sold globally in the Personal Care, Consumer Tissue and Kimberly-Clark Professional businesses.
Source: WWF (2011)
Environment Green Power Partner
This company is listed on the EPA Green Power Partnership website (USA), as using renewable energy for 31% of its electricity use for its USA operations.
Source: EPA (2020)
Environment US Plastics Pact signatory
This company is a signatory to the US Plastics Pact, a collaborative effort organized by The Recycling Partnership and the World Wildlife Fund, launched as part of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's global Plastics Pact network to unify diverse public-private stakeholders across the plastics value chain to rethink the way we design, use, and reuse plastics, to create a path forward to realize a circular economy for plastic in the United States. In line with the Ellen McArthur Foundation's vision of a circular economy for plastics, which unites more than 850+ organizations, the US Plastics Pact brings together companies, government entities, NGOs, researchers, and other stakeholders to work collectively toward scalable solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges within the U.S. landscape, through vital knowledge sharing and coordinated action.
Source: US Plastics Pact (2020)
Business Ethics GFTN participant
This company is a participant in WWF's Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), which seeks to mainstream the principles of responsible forest management and sustainable trade throughout the global forest products industry, by providing technical assistance and fostering linkages between committed companies. Independent forest certification is a key tool in this process.
Source: WWF (2019)
Business Ethics How2Recycle member
This company is a member of How2Recycle. The How2Recycle Label is a voluntary, standardized labeling system that clearly communicates recycling instructions to the public. It involves a coalition of forward thinking brands who want their packaging to be recycled and are empowering consumers through smart packaging labels. Companies must be a member of the program to use the How2Recycle Label.
Source: How2Recycle (2020)
Business Ethics Sustainability claims
This company has a number of sustainability claims on its website built around the pillars of People, Planet, and Products.
Source: company website (2016)
Business Ethics Sustainable Brands member
This company is a Silver Member of the Sustainable Brands Network, the leading peer to peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately become those leaders of the next sustainable economy.
Source: Sustainable Brands (2018)
Business Ethics Trash Free Seas Alliance member
This company is a member of the Trash Free Seas Alliance, the oldest forum of its kind focused on innovative and pragmatic solutions to rid the ocean of plastic pollution and other forms of marine debris. Corporate members have collectively committed millions of dollars for research on ways to improve waste collection and recycling in parts of the world most impacted by ocean plastic pollution. Members have also pledged to eliminate or replace up to half a million tons of virgin plastic from products and packaging each year.
Source: Ocean Conservancy (2020)
Environment Previous boycott call
Greenpeace's 'Kleercut' campaign against Kimberly-Clark began in 2004 and called for a boycott of the company for using pulp from clearcut ancient forests, including North America's Boreal forest. The boycott ended in 2009 when the company announced its Global Fibre Procurement Policy, highlights of which include: 1. Not use any fibre from the world's most ecologically sensitive forests areas, 2. Buy Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified fibre over any other virgin wood fibre, 3. Phase out its use of all pulp from Canada's Boreal Forest that is not FSC certified by 2012, 4. Increase its use of FSC and recycled fibre drastically over the next two years , 5. Buy post-consumer recycled fibre over pre-consumer recycled fibre, 6. Not use conflict wood or illegally harvest fibre.
Source: Greenpeace (2009)
Environment 58% in Forest 500 Rankings
The Forest 500 identifies, ranks, and tracks the governments, companies and financial institutions worldwide that together could virtually eradicate tropical deforestation. Rankings are based on their public policies and commitments and potential impacts on tropical forests in the context of forest risk commodities (palm oil, soy, beef, leather, timber and paper). This company received a score of 58%.
Source: Forest 500 (2019)
Social Modern Slavery statement
California, the UK and Australia have all enacted legislation requiring companies operating within their borders to disclose their efforts to eradicate modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. Follow the link to see this company's disclosure statement.
Source: Modern Slavery Registry (2016)
Information OpenSecrets.org profile
OpenSecrets.org tracks the influence of money on U.S. politics, and how that money affects policy and citizens' lives. Follow link to see this company's record of political donations, lobbying, outside spending and more.
Source: Open Secrets (2014)

> About the Icons

Company Details

Type Public company
Revenue US$21 billion in 2013
Employees 57,000 in 2013
Subsidiaries Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Ltd 

Personal paper products

In 2019 they closed down its Sydney manufacturing site with production moved to Asia. They still operate a manufacturing site in South Australia.

Contact Details

Address Dallas, Texas, USA
Website www.kimberly-clark.com

Products / Brands

Kimberly-Clark Australia
Delsey Toilet Paper
Depend Incontinence Needs
Dry Nites Nappies
Huggies Baby Toiletries
Huggies Nappies
Huggies Baby Wipes
Kleenex Tissues
Kleenex Toilet Paper
Kleenex Paper Towels
Kleenex Toilet Paper (Commercial)
Little Swimmers Nappies
Poise Incontinence Needs
Poise Feminine Hygiene
Pull Ups Nappies
Scott Toilet Paper (Commercial)
Snugglers Nappies
U by Kotex Feminine Hygiene
Viva Paper Towels
Viva Scourers, Sponges & Wipes


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