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Greenpeace gives Kleenex failing grade

Toronto, ON — Greenpeace released a tissue product scorecard in the UK, giving Kimberly-Clark a failing grade of E…
Toronto, ON — Greenpeace released a tissue product scorecard in the UK, giving Kimberly-Clark a failing grade of E for its Kleenex brand tissues. The company was cited for failing to use recycled fibres in the tissues, using instead virgin fibre from clearcut areas in Canada’s boreal forest.

Greenpeaces press release states that although Kimberly-Clark has promised to begin to buy fibre from responsibly managed forests for its UK products, the company continues to manufacture disposable products for the North American marketplace from virgin sources of fibre with no recycled content. “A company of this size and reach must step up and show leadership on the important issue of protecting forests and saving the climate,” said Brooks. Greenpeace notes that post-consumer recycled paper is the most environmentally friendly option for disposable products as it uses less energy, water and trees than virgin fibre.

Kimberly-Clark’s 2006 sustainablity report notes that the company has updated its fibre procurement policy to maximize the use of environmentally responsible wood fibre. With a goal of purchasing 100% of wood fibre from certified suppliers for all its products, it reports 89% of its fibre was certified in 2006, by various certification schemes. They also plan an independent life cycle assessment in 2007 to compare the use of virgin versus recycled fibre in tissue products.