As a major global producer of wood fiber-based consumer products, we pay particular attention to our fiber procurement.

We believe that sustainable virgin and recycled fiber can both be used responsibly and provide the performance that customers and consumers expect. This belief is based on a scientific life-cycle assessment that compares the environmental impacts of Kimberly-Clark tissue products with varying levels of virgin and recycled fiber.

Most K-C consumer products contain natural fibers derived from wood pulp. Softwood, hardwood fibers and, in many cases, recycled fibers are combined or chosen to deliver the levels of softness, strength, and/or absorbency that consumers expect from tissues, wipers, diapers, feminine care and incontinence care products.

We do not own, manage or harvest any commercial forest land. The wood pulp we use is mainly sourced from forests in the U.S., Canada and Brazil. We buy more than 90 percent of our virgin fiber from external suppliers, and make the rest from purchased wood in our two pulp mills in Everett, Washington, U.S. and Tantanoola, Australia.

We have policies and standards in place to promote sustainable forestry and audit our suppliers to ensure good performance. Sustainable forest management ensures the timber used does not exceed the rate at which the forest can regenerate. It is designed to protect whole forest ecosystems, including the trees, plant life, soil quality, wildlife and freshwater supply. By adhering to one of several recognized forestry and chain-of-custody certification programs, suppliers can demonstrate that their wood fiber products are responsibly sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Our fiber procurement policy

We strive to maximize our use of environmentally responsible wood fiber consistent with product performance and competitive market conditions. Our long-term goal is to purchase 100 percent of virgin wood fiber from suppliers who have certified their fiber procurement activities or forestry operations to one of five internationally recognized sustainable forestry schemes. The certification systems we recognize are:

• Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). We give preference to wood fiber from FSC-certified suppliers where it is available and meets product performance requirements and competitive market conditions.
• Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI).
• Canadian Standards Association’s National Sustainable Forest Management Standards (CSA).
• Sistema Brasileiro de Certificação Florestal (CERFLOR) in Brazil.
• Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC).

We will not knowingly use wood fiber from illegally harvested timber or forest areas requiring protection, such as primary tropical rainforests and any areas protected by government authorities. For definitions of forest areas requiring protection and environmentally responsible fiber, please refer to the complete policy.

K-C is a member of the WWF-UK Forest & Trade Network (FTN). Founded in 1991, the FTN is a partnership between WWF and business that promotes responsible management of the world's forests. Members commit to sourcing forest products responsibly and to tracing these back to the forest source.

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