“We wanted to find a message that reflected our commitment to sustainability and thus our mantra” blue by nature, green by choice. “This means that our history and essence are linked to water and nature, but we consciously choose sustainability in each decision That we take, “explains in scope, José Toledo, Kimberly-Clark’s sustainability manager for Latin America. This strategy defines three fundamental pillars: responsible governance, environmental protection and social impact, and seeks to transform the way the company operates and linked to its communities.
Kimberly-Clark assumed sustainability as a transverse axis in its business strategy in Latin America. From the efficient management of natural resources to the development of social impact programs, the company advances with a firm step towards its objective of reducing its water and carbon footprint by 2030 by 2030.
José Toledo stands out: “In a context where sustainability is a demand for consumers, investors and governments, integrating the ESG principles (which means for its acronym in environmental, social and governance) in our operations is not only a regulatory requirement, but an opportunity to encourage sustainable growth and generate long -term value. ”
In this framework, One of the fundamental pillars of the company’s strategy is the economy circulatesr. The company has already achieved that 100% of its plants in Latin America are zero waste to landfills and reduced the use of plastic in its packaging, with the goal of reaching 70% recycled content in the coming years. In addition, its Wypall production plant, located in Colombia, received the Zero Waste To Landfill certification (zero waste to landfills) by SGS, becoming the first in the region to receive this recognition.
“Sustainability is present at each step of our value chain. It is not enough to manufacture recyclable products; We have to guarantee that the production and distribution process is the most efficient and responsible post -libraryE ”, says Toledo. In this sense, the company has worked on the optimization of water use, achieving a reduction of between 29% and 35% in their production plants in Latin America. “Water is a key resource for our industry, and our goal is to minimize its consumption with recirculation technologies that allow reuse of up to 76% of the water in our operations,” he adds.
Social impact
Toledo emphasizes that sustainability is not only an environmental issue, but also of social impact. In this sense, lA company reinforced its commitment to the community through initiatives such as “Baños Change Lives”, a program that has already benefited millions of people in the region through the Bathroom construction and hygiene education. “We know that access to sanitation is key to improving the quality of life. This program allows us to generate a real and lasting impact on the most vulnerable communities, ”says the Executive.
In Argentina, Kimberly-Clark collaborates with the Foundation Yes, where it has donated more than 2.5 million meters of Scott toilet paper, covering the annual consumption of the 26 residences that house more than 900 students. In addition, corporate volunteering days have been held to support the growth of the organization’s educational programs. “This alliance allows us to release resources so that the Foundation can expand its educational programs and provide comprehensive support to young students,” says Toledo.
Another example of its commitment is La Usina, a co-creation space with customers, suppliers and collaborators of the company, relaunched in Argentina to strengthen the generation of shared value. This center promotes innovative solutions in sustainability, cleaning and hygiene, seeking to convert spaces into safer and sustainable environments.
Toledo also highlights that sustainability should not only be driven by external regulations, but must become an internal commitment of each company. “Our approach goes beyond complying with regulations. We believe in the need to generate a long -term positive impact and transform the way we operate”, He explains.
Education and awareness are also part of the company’s commitment. Kimberly-Clark seeks to boost the change of mentality from the classrooms to the work spaces, promoting the training of future professionals with environmental and social awareness. “All, from an engineer to an artist, must incorporate sustainability in their profession, ”emphasizes Toledo
The truth is that Latin America is a key region in Kimberly-Clark’s strategy, Not only for its potential growth, but for the importance of its biodiversity. The region houses about 50% of world biodiversity and one third of global freshwater resources, which makes an approach that protects ecosystems and guarantees responsible access to natural resources.
In line with this, the company’s commitment not only seeks to minimize the environmental impact of its operations, but also generate a structural change in the way in which industry and society conceive sustainable development. “Sustainability is not a separate area of the business, it is the business itself,” concludes Toledo.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
