Kimberly-Clark Corporation: The Environmental Sustainability Challenge

K-C was founded in 1872 in Neenah, Wisconsin, USA, as a partnership among John A. Kimberly (John Kimberly), Charles B. Clark, Frank C. Shattuck, and Havilah Babcook. It had an initial capital of US$ 30,000. The company's first business was running paper mills and its first paper mill was set up in Wisconsin. The first product of the company was newsprint made from linen and cotton rags. Over the next six years, the company expanded its business by acquiring another paper mill called Atlas Paper Mill...

K-C had a very good history of CSR and an important position in sustainability leadership...

Though the company was carrying out several environment friendly activities, these came to public notice when K-C came out with its environmental report in the early 2000s. In the report, the company outlined its responsibilities as a good corporate citizen...

Despite the CSR initiatives by K-C and its claims of environmental friendly business practices, various environment protection groups alleged that it used virgin fiber for its tissue products. In November 2004, noted environment protection groups Greenpeace and NRDC launched a movement against K-C alleging that it was destroying ancient forests for manufacturing its tissue products and misleading the public about its business practices...