RECYCLED or VIRGIN?
No Environmental Preference – Independent LCA
There is no environmental preference between the use of recycled or virgin fibre in the manufacture of K-C tissue products.
Independent, Professional Study
ERM conducted a formal life cycle assessment (LCA) of Kimberly-Clark (K-C) tissue products which found that there is no environmental preference between the use of recycled or virgin fibre in the manufacture of K-C’s tissue products. ERM, (Environmental Resources Management) is a major independent environmental consultancy.
The study used and met international standards for conducting LCA studies, ISO14040 and ISO14044.
It was commissioned by K-C who required the study be reviewed by an independent and expert LCA review panel. The external panel members were:
- Professor Dr. Walter Klöpffer, (Chair)
- Mary Ann Curran,
- Dr. Jim Bowyer .
Assessed Environmental Impacts
The LCA assessed the environmental aspects and potential impacts throughout the lifecycle of a range of major KC tissue products. The nine Environmental & Health Impacts evaluated were compiled into five areas:
- Fossil Fuel Combustion - includes: global warming, resource depletion, smog, and others
- Human Toxicity
- Water Quality - addresses nutrients & algal blooms
- Water Use
- Solid Waste
Scope of Tissue Products studied
The study assessed environmental impacts for seven categories of K-C tissue products sold in Europe and North America. These included facial tissue, toilet tissue, paper towels and commercial wipers.
Conclusion
ERM concluded, and the reviewing experts agreed, that neither recycled nor virgin fibre is environmentally preferable. This is based on the comparison of environmental impacts for a range of combinations of raw materials, production and product types as summarised in the table.
| Impact Category | Favours use of Virgin Fibre | Favours use of Recycled Fibre | No Preference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fossil fuel combustion | ♦ | ||
| Human toxicity | ♦ | ||
| Water Quality | ♦ | ||
| Water Use | ♦ | ||
| Solid Waste | ♦ |
The full report is available at; http://www.kimberly-clark.com/pdfs/LifeCycleAssessment.pdf .
[1] Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
[2] LCA Research Program Manager, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
[3] Professor Emeritus, College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota
