Kimberly-Clark® Professional

Energy Management:

Reducing Use is Critical Success Factor

Alternate energy sources. Carbon offsets. Waste-to-fuel. Landfill gas application. All are excellent opportunities to help reduce our carbon footprint. However, the most critical and cost-effective energy management strategy is simply - Use Less. For example, consider how we manage energy here at Kimberly-Clark.

Kimberly-Clark is like many large manufacturers in that energy costs are one of our largest operating expenses. Recognising that energy is an important strategic resource, Kimberly-Clark has a long-standing commitment to reducing our energy use by achieving best-in-class energy-efficiency targets.

 Supported by our Global Energy Services Team, our energy management efforts include:

• Evaluating energy suppliers
• Negotiating supply contracts
• Assessing and implementing cost-effective alternative energy projects
• Conducting energy efficiency audits
• Implementing technical energy solutions such as combined heat and power technology

Every K-C facility has energy efficiency targets based on benchmarks for each manufacturing process. These targets factor in production levels to create facility-specific targets. Every quarter, each K-C facility submits their energy use data into a centralised database so that we can track our progress and identify and support those facilities that are furthest away from achieving their targets. These support efforts could include sharing best practices and developing and implementing energy efficiency improvement plans.

Our energy management focus efforts are working. For the second consecutive year, K-C was recognised as ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our energy management practices and commitment to sustainable operations.

Climate Change

Successful energy management programs do more than just reduce energy use and related costs. They also help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At Kimberly-Clark, we have a goal of achieving a year-on-year reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent emissions per unit of global production for manufacturing.

We also strive to achieve a year-on-year reduction in emissions related to U.S. product transportation. We have been recognised for our achievements in this area with our third consecutive Environmental Excellence award from EPA's SmartWay Transportation Partnership for leadership in reducing greenhouse gases and conserving energy.

Our energy management processes also help us calculate and track CO2 equivalent emissions from fossil fuels consumed at K-C facilities as well as from purchased electricity. We also track emissions generated through finished product distribution in the U.S.

The results?

Greenhouse gas emissions from K-C manufacturing decreased by seven percent from 2005 to 2009.

By Lisa Morden, Global Sustainability Leader, KIMBERLY-CLARK PROFESSIONAL*