Kimberly-Clark sustainability report bags A+ GRI rating

"Receiving the A+ GRI rating is a testament to the commitment that our leaders and our employees have to sustainability across our entire value chain involving every function, brand and business at K-C," said Peggy Ward, Director, Sustainability Strategy at Kimberly-Clark. "While we are proud of our 2011 progress and the quality level of our sustainability report, we recognize that sustainability is a journey that we will never complete."

The 2011 Sustainability Report was released in May 2012 and is K-C's ninth such annual report. The report is structured around the company's Sustainability 2015 strategy framework of People, Planet and Products introduced last year. The new framework represents K-C's most ambitious and comprehensive sustainability strategy to date, and embodies the company's commitment to weaving a sustainable business practice and mindset into every facet of the organization and as an integral part of its Global Business Plan.

In order to secure the A+ rating, Kimberly-Clark fulfilled all 79 indicators established by GRI under the headings of Economic Performance, Labor Practices, Human Rights, Environmental Practices, Society Performance and Product Responsibilities. Some of the key highlights of our activities captured in the report include:

Notable 2011 Kimberly-Clark Sustainability Accomplishments

• Sourced 99.9 percent of its fiber from suppliers certified by sustainable forestry practices.
• Generated 13 percent of 2011 net sales from environmentally innovative products.
• Accomplished its goal of zero workplace fatalities.
• Communicated to all of its key suppliers its Supplier Social Compliance Standards, which encourages suppliers to align its operations with K-C's Code of Conduct practices and internationally accepted standards for corporate social responsibility and human rights.
• Achieved zero manufacturing waste to landfill from all its European Personal Care business facilities.