CPG giant Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s just-released sustainability report indicates that the company diverted 95% of manufacturing waste from landfills and diverted more than 5,000 metric tons of post-consumer waste through partnership programs around the world; the company also says it achieved an an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 16.8% over a 2005 baseline. The company also has increased its focus on supply chain sustainability, Kimberly-Clark says.
The report was the company’s first update on its global progress toward its Sustainability 2022 goals introduced last year.
CPGs like Kimberly-Clark are caught between two contradictory trends among consumers – those of sustainability and convenience, according to Food Dive. An increased desire for snack foods rather than traditional meals have driven a growing desire for CPG products, but the packaging demand of such products comes at a sustainability price that consumers aren’t willing to pay.
But this conundrum has created an opportunity for CPGs, according to the article: by investing in sustainable packaging, they can refresh their image and sustainability reputation without having to revamp the products themselves.
As with many consumer-facing companies reporting on their sustainability in recent months, Kimberly-Clark mentioned the importance of a sustainable supply chain. In 2016, the company introduced new imperatives for occupational safety, reinforced its environmental compliance capabilities and completed a total of 205 social compliance audits of customer, supplier and Kimberly-Clark workplaces, the company said.
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