Energy Efficiency, GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  March 1, 2018

Kimberly-Clark recognized for energy and climate leadership

Kimberly-Clark Corporation announced on Mar. 1 it has won both a Climate Leadership Award from Bloomberg Philanthropies and an Innovation Award from Smart Energy Decisions.

The 2018 Climate Leadership Award for Excellence in the Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting) category is the company’s second Climate Leadership Award in two years. The award celebrates organizations that set and achieve aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Kimberly-Clark also was honored with a Smart Energy Decisions  Innovation Award for its “Lean Energy: Transforming the Culture of Energy Conservation at Manufacturing Sites” program, which focused on creating a culture of energy conservation at its manufacturing sites. This award recognized the use of innovative technologies and progressive practices among large electric power users.

In a statement, the company noted, “These two new national awards underscore Kimberly-Clark’s progress toward its energy and climate goals.” The company’s Sustainability 2022 strategy calls for a 20% reduction of absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 2022 to be achieved through reduced energy consumption, greater efficiency, and the increased use of alternative and renewable energy sources. The company expects to achieve more than a 25% reduction in GHG emissions in 2018, four years ahead of the original 2022 target.

 “We are honored to be recognized with these two prestigious awards,” said Lisa Morden, global head of sustainability at Kimberly-Clark. “These awards represent the hard work of our employees on energy conservation and alternative energy programs.”

In addition to the LEAN energy management program, Kimberly-Clark’s ongoing Energy and Climate program includes agreements to purchase approximately 245 megawatts of energy from two wind power projects in Texas and Oklahoma; six large-scale electricity cogeneration facilities with waste heat recovery, and four biomass thermal energy generating plants that provide steam for the company’s tissue operations. The company has completed more than 350 energy initiatives across its operations since 2015.

Photo: John Failla of Smart Energy Decisions presenting the Innovation Award to Kevin McClelion and Stewart Van Horn of Kimberly-Clark.