Sustainability is a broad and complex concept. Improvements in one area can have negative implications elsewhere, neutralizing any benefits. Choices that appear obvious are often far more complex. Biodiesel or conventional fuel? Paper or plastic grocery bags? A comprehensive and holistic approach is needed to establish the most sustainable and cost-effective course of action that doesn't compromise quality or effectiveness.

We call this life-cycle thinking. It is based on life-cycle assessment (LCA), a well-established analytical technique used to calculate environmental impacts. Many complex environmental questions have been answered using this approach, and K-C is among those using LCA to inform our decisions. The results can be used to:

• Understand the full impact of our products
• Align our policies and decisions with sound scientific evidence
• Inform the strategies and action plans of each business group
• Evaluate the environmental risks and benefits of new product designs
• Identify the best opportunities for innovation and improvement.

In September 2007, K-C U.K. joined a pilot project run by the Carbon Trust to develop a common standard for measuring a product’s carbon footprint- the total amount of carbon dioxide created during the product’s life-cycle.

We will use the draft methodology to assess the carbon footprint of Andrex and Huggies, our biggest-selling brands in the U.K. Both are manufactured in the U.K., in keeping with our strategy to manufacture close to market, where possible. The draft methodology calculates the greenhouse gas emissions created by sourcing, manufacturing, distributing, retailing, using and disposing of a single product. We will use the resulting information to help identify opportunities for carbon reduction in our supply chain and to contribute to the development of our global carbon reduction strategy.