We actively take steps to reduce the amount of
material needed to adequately package our products.
For example, 98 percent of all Kleenex tissue cartons sold in North
America are made from 100 percent recycled fiber. Kleenex tissue
cartons are fully recyclable, even with the poly insert still
attached, and are accepted at recycling facilities across the
U.S.
We use lighter plastics in packaging, where possible, and work with
some customers to expand this practice. In line with Walmart
requirements, we aim to reduce packaging by five percent by 2013,
and our Personal Care business is more than halfway there.
Kimberly-Clark Personal Care also has made progress in packaging
reductions:
- Switch the Kotex Mainline liners and tampons carton material
from solid bleached to solid unbleached sulfite. This resulted in
32 percent energy reduction to produce and 25 percent reduction in
carbon dioxide emissions in carton manufacturing.
- Reduce the Huggies Natural Care wipes bag gauge and width for
annual savings of 998 kilograms in poly.
- Reduce the material weight of Pull-Ups Biggie Pack and Depend
Super Plus 1.7X retail packaging by 87 percent and 94 percent per
package, respectively, by eliminating corrugate. That's an annual
savings of 337 metric tons and 387 metric tons, respectively, of
packaging material.
In Korea:
Yuhan-Kimberly, in agreement with the Korean Ministry of
Environment's policy to reduce packaging, has signed a
voluntary pact to reduce secondary packaging by 2012. Brands
participating are feminine sanitary napkins Kotex White and Kotex
Goodfeel, and panty liner Kotex Anydays. Yuhan-Kimberly
changed the packaging of feminine sanitary napkins to a lighter
material by using a plastic bag instead of paper, and reduced the
thickness of the plastic bag by 18 percent.
In U.S. and Europe:
Huggies and Pull-Ups packaging film weights were reduced 16
percent, and some pack sizes were reduced, equal to 902.5 tons of
poly saved annually.
Corrugate packaging sizes were reduced on our Huggies brand,
equal to 550 tons of corrugate saved.
Kimberly-Clark Professional launched new refill packs for Scott
facial tissues. The innovative refill packs contain 14 percent more
tissues than existing cartons at no extra cost to the customer, and
with no added storage space. By fitting more tissues into each pack
case, packaging waste is significantly reduced, and though they
contain more sheets per pack, the new packs weigh less, reducing
fuel consumption during distribution. The entire range of Scott
facial tissue is made from a high quality 100 percent recycled base
sheet, as is the outer case.
