FSC Label Now Featured on Broad Range of Kimberly-Clark Professional Tissue
and Towel Products

ROSWELL, Ga., Oct. 12 /CNW/ -- Kimberly-Clark Professional recently became the first away-from-home tissue products provider in North America to receive Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) chain-of-custody certification for a broad range of tissue and towel products.

    

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091012/PH90239 )

    

These FSC-certified products are now available for purchase and the FSC label will begin appearing on product packaging this month. Customers purchasing FSC-certified products from Kimberly-Clark Professional also receive proof of chain-of-custody certification in their invoices. FSC certification guarantees the products contain a combination of fibers from FSC-certified forests, post-consumer recycled material and/or other controlled sources.

"FSC certification is one of the most respected assurances that the forest products you buy come from sources that are managed with consideration for people, wildlife and the environment," said Richard Thorne , vice president of Kimberly-Clark Professional North America . "FSC is increasingly recognized by governments and independent environmental groups throughout the world, so much so, in fact, that its name has become synonymous with responsible forestry."

"FSC and Kimberly-Clark share the belief that FSC-certified primary wood fiber and recycled fiber can both be used in ways that are environmentally and socially responsible, while providing the product performance that customers expect from these well-known brands," said Corey Brinkema, president, FSC-US.

Kimberly-Clark Professional's FSC-certified products contain a mix of both virgin and post-consumer recycled fiber, which can result in improved performance. "Businesses that buy our FSC-certified products, and the people who use them, can be assured that they are getting the quality performance of the Kleenex and Scott brand products they know and trust, along with the confidence that the raw materials used in these products have been sourced to the highest standards," said Thorne.

FSC certification tracks FSC-certified material from the forest to the consumer, including all stages of processing, manufacturing and distribution. Only FSC chain-of-custody companies, such as Kimberly-Clark Professional, are allowed to label products with the FSC trademarks. The FSC chain-of-custody certification applies to a variety of Kimberly-Clark Professional tissue products marketed under the Kleenex and Scott brand names for the away-from-home market.

    

    Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow
    

FSC certification is a key component of Kimberly-Clark Professional's sustainability program -- Reduce Today, Respect Tomorrow -- which begins with the understanding that the way resources are used today shapes the world of tomorrow. Kimberly-Clark Professional is dedicated to reducing consumption at every stage of the product lifecycle -- from design and manufacture to distribution and disposal. Kimberly-Clark Professional believes that reduction is the key to lowering the environmental impact of its activities as well as those of its customers. For more information, visit www.kcpReduceToday.com.

    

    About Kimberly-Clark Professional

    

Kimberly-Clark Professional is an indispensable business partner, delivering leading-edge health, hygiene and productivity solutions that provide tangible value every day, everywhere. Known for innovative, quality solutions for away-from-home washrooms, "clean" and "industrial" manufacturing environments, and DIY settings, the global brands of Kimberly-Clark Professional include Kleenex, Scott, Kimcare, WypAll, KleenGuard, and Kimtech. With the acquisition of Jackson Safety, Kimberly-Clark Professional offers an even broader range of PPE and other safety offerings, including market-leading welding and work zone safety products. Kimberly-Clark Professional, located in Roswell, Ga., is one of Kimberly-Clark Corporation's four business segments and can be visited on the web at www.kcprofessional.com.

    

    About Kimberly-Clark

    

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people -- almost a quarter of the world's population -- trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries.

    

    About the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

    

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international, not-for-profit organization established to promote the responsible management of the world's forests. It provides standard-setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry. There are currently more than 100 million acres of FSC-certified forestland in the United States and Canada and more than 281 million acres globally. More than 14,000 manufacturers and distributors are certified to buy and sell FSC products, representing more than $20 billion in FSC-labeled product annually. For more information, visit www.fscus.org or www.fsc.org.

For further information: Iris Raylesberg, Kapnek Communications, [phone], [email protected], or Kara Herron, Kimberly-Clark Professional, [phone], [email protected]