Kimberly-Clark’s Safety of Products and Services policy commits us to provide products and services that do not compromise public safety.

As one of the world’s leading health and hygiene companies, we are committed to protecting consumers’ health and safety. Our scientists have been conducting product safety assessments for many years. These assessments cover the complete life cycle of a product: research and development, manufacture, sale and use. Safety information for our products and components is held electronically and is readily retrievable. We also subscribe to academic and public databases of toxicological information to assist our safety assessments. Many of our experts lead select industry committees, bringing together K-C and our industry peers to apply the highest human and environmental safety standards industry wide.

We begin the safety assessment for each product by reviewing the safety of each individual component. We consider the concentration and application of the component in the product, consumer exposure to the component during product use, and residual levels of other materials that may be present in the component. We then evaluate and test the finished product to determine its overall safety. This comprehensive safety testing and scientific review assures consumers that our products are safe.

Consumer access to safety information

Part of our consumer service organization’s role is to maintain an extensive global database of information on our products. When consumers who purchase and use our products have a question regarding safety, our consumer service representatives are able to quickly and accurately respond to their concerns.

Product Review Committee

K-C has for many years used internal Product Review Committees to assess new technologies and their potential application in products. The committees evaluate products, components and emerging technologies for general safety, employee safety, consumer use and benefits, as well as environmental, regulatory and legal concerns. The committees comprise experts in each of these areas.

REACH

The European Commission has implemented a new regulatory framework for the management of chemicals, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances). This regulation is designed to ensure that companies identify and manage hazardous substances in a consistent and timely manner to increase protection for consumers, employees and the environment.

REACH requires all companies that manufacture and import chemicals in Europe to gather and pre-register information for inclusion in a central database. It also calls for the evaluation and authorization of hazardous and persistent chemicals for each particular end use. As a user and importer of chemicals, rather than a manufacturer, we are working with our suppliers to assure that the chemicals we use are properly registered. We expect to register the main chemicals we use in 2008.

K-C has established a team of scientists, regulatory experts, supply chain leaders and product development engineers to manage the implementation of REACH and assure all corporate activities comply with its requirements.