Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 11th April 2024 Issue no. 1109
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Kimberly-Clark recognised for sustainability leadership by EPA SmartWay and Ethical Corporation
Kimberly-Clark earned the SmartWay Excellence Award from the US Environmental Protection Agency for leadership in environmentally responsible shipping as well as two Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards for its social impact programs, 'With U She Can' and 'Toilets Change Lives'.
The 2019 SmartWay Excellence Award marks the 10th time Kimberly-Clark has been ranked amongst the top 2% of all SmartWay shippers who meet or exceed the emissions and carrier selection standards EPA outlines for clean, efficient transportation. The company announced in July that it had exceeded its global GHG reduction goals four years early and would double its goals by 2022.
SmartWay high performers are also evaluated by their integration of freight into their sustainability outreach, planning and progress. Kimberly-Clark's commitment to enlisting its extensive network of carriers into the EPA program has been a hallmark of the company's efforts and environmental impact.
"We are committed to using our leadership position to bring other carriers into our sustainability journey because these standards have an incredible impact on air quality and our carbon footprint," says Scott DeGroot, vice president of transportation for Kimberly-Clark. "By implementing SmartWay standards over the past decade, Kimberly-Clark has saved more than 100 million gallons of diesel fuel and reduced greenhouse gas emission by an estimated one million tons."
The company's social impact programs are also yielding benefits for millions of people in need. The company was selected from more than 90 finalists for the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business awards, which recognise leadership in the movement towards a sustainable future.
With U She Can, the signature program of Kimberly-Clark'sU by Kotex brand designed to provide period products to women in need, received Ethical Corporation's Community Impact Award. U by Kotex joined forces with the National Diaper Bank Network in May 2018 to form the Alliance for Period Supplies. As the organisation's founding sponsor, U by Kotex persuaded retail partners to conduct buy-donate programs and dramatically increase donations. By May of 2019, U by Kotex donated products and retailer donations reached 17 million products.
Kimberly-Clark's Toilets Change Lives platform was also recognised by Ethical Corporation for Sustainable Development Goal Impact. The company's flagship multi-national program funds work to improve access to sanitation. Through partnerships between its well-known brands like Andrex, Scott, Baby Soft, Suave, and global NGOs like Water For People and WaterAid, the company is creating consumer engagement in the global sanitation crisis while supporting sanitation education, advocacy, and programs to build toilets, impacting more than 1.5 million people around the world.
Kimberly-Clark was also shortlisted for two additional awards: Circular Innovation and Clean Energy Transition. Between the four shortlists and two wins, it was the most recognised company in 2019 by the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards.
17th October 2019