At Kimberly-Clark, we take concern for the environment and conservation of natural resources seriously. As a major user of forest resources and water, we support organizations that help manage these resources in a responsible and sustainable way.

In 2007, we doubled our donations to environmental causes to $200,000.

Conservation International: $100,000

K-C donated $100,000 to Conservation International (CI) for a new biodiversity conservation project. The project will have environmental benefits for the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, a major global pulp-producing region that provides around 30 percent of our fiber. It will help preserve and restore habitats for endangered species, conserve some of the most affected areas of the Atlantic Forest, and protect streams and fragile slopes. The project will also help us bring together regional pulp producers and local non-governmental organizations in a coordinated effort to make plantations throughout the region more sustainable.

The Forest Dialogue: $20,000

We regularly work with The Forest Dialogue (TFD), an independent group that brings together environmental groups and industry to explore sustainable forestry management issues. Attendees include K-C suppliers Aracruz, International Paper, Weyerhaeuser, Stora Enso and Mondi, as well as prominent non-governmental organizations such as WWF, Conservation International, the World Conservation Union, the Forests Peoples Program, Nature Conservancy, the World Resources Institute, the World Bank and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

We support TFD’s work to engage with other stakeholders to address forestry-related topics such as illegal logging, certification systems and tropical rainforest protection.

The National Environmental Education Foundation: $30,000

The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), the American Meteorological Society and the Weather Channel have partnered on an initiative called Earth Gauge. This initiative helps television weather programs provide basic environmental information to their viewers. The initiative currently provides environmental information to 63 markets and a potential 151 million viewers. This is expected to increase to 80 markets by the end of 2008.

Our donation of $30,000 will help NEEF develop a climate change education component to educate the U.S. population (and many K-C consumers) about climate change. We will also help to expand forestry-related information.

World Resources Institute: $50,000

World Resources Institute (WRI) aims to develop robust international agreements and U.S. policies on climate change, to foster widespread investment in climate-friendly technologies and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by expanding the use of clean alternatives.

In 2007, we donated $50,000 to participate in WRI’s Corporate Council, participate in its Climate Midwest group and support the start-up of Climate Southeast, a local business forum on climate change. We are also interested in WRI’s future work in carbon labeling, where the carbon footprint of the product is labeled on the packaging, as this is an issue of growing interest to K-C.

The Urban Forest Project, Brazil

K-C Brazil’s Urban Forest Project is an environmental education program, developed with teachers. It is designed to raise environmental awareness in schools and involve local communities in environmental protection. We provide financial awards to the schools involved. These can be used to improve the school infrastructure, for maintenance and to provide new games and sport facilities.

During 2007, the program launched in three towns with events such as debates, marches and group work designed to develop community awareness of environmental issues. So far, 12 schools have taken part, involving over 230 teachers and almost 6,000 students.