Dallas, TX
www.kimberly-clark.com
2024 Nonwovens Sales: $1.5 billion

Key Personnel
Michael Hsu, chairman and chief executive officer, Kimberly-Clark; Russ Torres, president, North America Consumer Business, Kimberly-Clark; Ehab Abou-Oaf, president, Kimberly-Clark Professional; Lori Shaffer, vice president, Global Nonwovens

Location
Global Nonwovens Manufacturing Facilities
Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA

ISO Status
Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA

Processes
Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, airlaid and Coform

Brands
Kimberly-Clark Professional: Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Kimberly-Clark Personal Care: Huggies, Depend, Kotex, Poise

Major Markets
Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Recent news from Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies diapers and Depend adult incontinence products as well as the world’s fourth largest nonwovens producer, includes a large-scale North American manufacturing investment and a partnership with a Brazilian pulp supplier.

In May 2025, K-C announced plans to invest $2 billion over the next five years in its North America business, marking the company’s largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years. The investments, which were attributed to rising demand for the company’s consumer products, significantly enhance its U.S. manufacturing capacity, accelerate its innovation plans and support its ambitious growth targets.

Included in the scope of the project are a new advanced manufacturing facility in Warren, OH, and an expansion of its Beech Island, SC site with a state-of-the-art automated distribution center. It also includes additional capital expenditure linked to innovation and automation upgrades across its North America supply chain network.

“This landmark investment represents a strategic bet on the American consumer and our ability to drive innovation-led sustainable growth for Kimberly-Clark,” says Russ Torres, group president, Kimberly-Clark North America. “It reflects the confidence we have in our long-term growth plans and complements a broad range of commercial and R&D investments we have been making throughout the business as part of our Powering Care transformation journey.”

The new facility in Warren, OH, strategically located in geographic proximity to roughly 117 million consumers will serve as a vital hub for the Northeast and Midwest regions. It will be spread across more than a million square feet and provide the capacity needed to unleash future growth for Kimberly-Clark’s fastest growing personal care categories. Its proprietary manufacturing technologies will enable the creation of new and improved next-generation consumer products, rooted in material invention, product engineering and manufacturing process innovation.

Meanwhile, a new Regional Distribution Center (DC) in Beech Island, SC, will create the infrastructure necessary to support future scale and unlock network efficiencies. Located next to the company’s largest manufacturing facility, the automated DC will significantly increase the site’s ability to direct-ship and streamline its distribution footprint. The facility will leverage advanced robotics, AI-powered logistics systems, and high-density automated storage to dramatically improve operational efficiencies and fast-track speed to market.

“These investments in North America represent the strong progress we are making on our end-to-end supply chain transformation, specifically in terms of network optimization,” says Tamera Fenske, Kimberly-Clark chief supply chain officer. “By bringing together manufacturing and distribution under one automated roof, we are building a more agile, responsive, and resilient manufacturing network that will enhance service levels for our retail partners and contribute to our gross productivity plan. Beech Island is the largest site in our network, so this new investment will drive impact at scale.”

The announcement comes one year after Kimberly-Clark launched its company-wide transformation initiative – the most comprehensive in its 150-year history. The investment underscores how the company is executing against its strategy to deliver on global growth targets, with North America positioned to be a key growth driver. Construction for both facilities was scheduled to begin in May 2025 and expected to be completed over the next two to three years.

In other news, in June 2025, K-C entered into an agreement with Suzano, a Brazilian pulp producer, to create a preeminent international tissue and professional products company. Kimberly-Clark will own a 49% interest in the new venture, which will include substantially all the assets of its International Family Care and Professional (IFP) business, and Suzano will own 51%.

Kimberly-Clark will contribute substantially all the assets of its IFP business to the venture, which encompasses sales in more than 70 countries, 22 manufacturing facilities and approximately 9000 employees. IFP’s more than 40 regional brands will be owned by the new entity and its five global brands, including Scott, Kleenex, Viva, WypAll and Kimberly-Clark Professional, will be licensed to the venture by Kimberly-Clark under a long-term agreement. Kimberly-Clark’s interests in Mexico and its joint venture in South Korea are outside the scope of this transaction.

The business Kimberly-Clark is contributing to the venture generated approximately $3.3 billion of net sales in 2024. The transaction contemplates an implied current enterprise value for the business of approximately $3.4 billion, subject to certain purchase price adjustments at closing.

Additionally, the transaction focuses Kimberly-Clark on its higher growth and higher margin business segments—North America and International Personal Care—and shifts its business mix towards its iconic, global brands. Upon completion of the transaction, approximately two-thirds of the company’s net revenues will come from personal care categories, improving its long-term growth trajectory, profitability and returns on investment.

Through the venture, IFP is expected to create more value for shareholders than Kimberly-Clark could achieve running IFP on its own. Kimberly-Clark will receive meaningful upfront cash proceeds that it expects to return to shareholders through share repurchases following the close of the transaction.

The transaction will also reduce Kimberly-Clark’s exposure to volatile input costs, enhancing its ability to deliver more predictable and consistent margins and profit growth over time.

“This transaction is a powerful step forward in the transformation strategy we laid out last year,” says Kimberly-Clark chairman and chief executive officer Mike Hsu. “Following years of deliberate investments that have strengthened Kimberly-Clark and IFP, we are excited to expand our partnership with Suzano and focus Kimberly-Clark’s portfolio on our higher growth, higher margin businesses. Together, this positions each business to move forward with clarity and seize the tremendous opportunities ahead. We are grateful to our global teams who have made this moment possible.”

Jeff Melucci, Kimberly-Clark’s chief strategy, business development and administrative officer, says, “Suzano is a leader in its field, whose deep industrial manufacturing and fiber expertise complement Kimberly-Clark’s leading brands and world-class commercial capabilities. We look forward to working closely with Suzano to ensure a smooth transition to this exciting venture for IFP, our customers and other stakeholders to deliver on the promise inherent in the business.”

Location: Global Nonwovens Manufacturing Facilities – Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, airlaid and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional: Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Kimberly-Clark Personal Care: Huggies, Depend, Kotex, Poise
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Kimberly-Clark continues to see nonwovens as a key driver of innovation and growth for its brands, which include Huggies diapers, Kotex fem care and Depend incontinence products. In addition to serving these multinational businesses, K-C’s nonwovens are also sold externally to markets like filtration, construction, acoustics and critical cleaning.

“Both our consumer business and Kimberly-Clark Professional businesses are experiencing strong growth as we continue to innovate to deliver against our consumers’ unmet needs better than competitors,” says Lori Shaffer, vice president, Global Nonwovens.

Three main drivers continue to guide nonwovens innovation—skin health, garment-like comfort and sustainability—which all tie back to the benefits being delivered to consumers. For skin health, K-C develops material solutions that improve the condition of skin; garment-like comfort offers silky soft materials that move with the body without irritation.

“Because we make products that either replace underwear or are used in conjunction with underwear, achieving a more garment-like fit and feel is important and much of the technology we are developing helps create softer, stretchier materials,” Shaffer says.

The development of the Huggies Skin Essentials diaper, launched this year in North America, leverages a textured nonwoven liner to deliver skin health benefits for baby by more efficiently and effectively pulling mess away from the skin and trapping it in the absorbent core.

“We continue to invent new classes of materials that deliver improved breathability, comfort, fit and skin health in our core categories of adult, feminine, baby and childcare,” Shaffer adds.

Sustainability also continues to be a top priority for K-C, and this shows up in its innovation pipeline for nonwovens where the company has multiple technology pathways focused on delivering more sustainable solutions for its consumers. “We’re continuing to develop more sustainable materials—inventing new processes that deliver raw material efficiency (reducing plastic content in our products) and leveraging bio-based resins to reduce environmental impact,” Shaffer says.

Examples of how K-C has strengthened its product offerings through the development of more sustainable solutions include the introduction of the first-ever Kotex paper pouch, and launching reusable menstrual and incontinence solutions in markets around the globe. Kimberly-Clark also continues to prioritize the procurement of fibers from sources with sustainable forest management certification while pursuing ongoing investments in alternative fiber solutions. The company has reduced its plastics footprint by 16.4% towards its goal of a 50% reduction by 2030 over its 2019 baseline.

These efforts have been supported by a 150,000-square-foot expansion to Kimberly-Clark’s plant in Corinth, MS, which was reportedly the company’s largest-ever investment in nonwovens. The investment is allowing Kimberly-Clark to combine its unique technical expertise in global nonwovens with new innovative technology to continue to deliver value and raise the bar on performance. “We installed a state-of-the-art nonwovens asset in Corinth that continues to unlock innovation opportunities for our brands across multiple benefit spaces—comfort, sustainability and fit,” Shaffer says.

The expansion has allowed Kimberly-Clark to expand manufacturing of components for Huggies, Pull-Ups, Poise and Depend products using unique raw materials with a particular focus on comfort and skin health, as well as sustainability.

Global Nonwovens Manufacturing Facilities: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, airlaid and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional: Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Kimberly-Clark Personal Care: Huggies, Depend, Kotex, Poise
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Nonwovens continues to be a key driver of innovation and growth for both business and brands at Kimberly-Clark. The maker of Huggies diapers and Depend adult incontinence undergarments continues to see the greatest demand for nonwovens within the consumer areas with its brands being the biggest focus.

“We strive for innovation, and we’re continuing to leverage our technical expertise in the nonwovens space to drive value for our consumers,” says Lori Shaffer, vice president, Global Nonwovens.

To better serve its internal and external nonwovens business, in 2022, Kimberly-Clark completed work on a 150,000-square-foot expansion to its plant in Corinth, MS—reportedly its largest-ever investment in nonwovens. The investment is allowing Kimberly-Clark to combine its unique technical expertise in global nonwovens with new innovative technology to continue to deliver value and raise the bar on performance. “Kimberly-Clark is dedicated to providing the best quality and care with our essential products and continuing our commitment to strengthen the communities where we work and live,” Shaffer says.

The expansion has allowed Kimberly-Clark to expand manufacturing of components for Huggies, Pull-Ups, Poise and Depend products using unique raw materials with a particular focus on comfort and skin health, as well as sustainability.

When developing nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark continues to focus on three main priorities—skin health, garment-like comfort and sustainability when it comes to developing benefits for its consumers. For skin health, Kimberly-Clark wants to provide nonwoven solutions that leave the skin in a better condition than when they found it. Meanwhile, garment-like comfort allows its products to achieve a better fit for the person wearing them. “Because we make products that either replace underwear or are used in conjunction with underwear, achieving a more garment-like fit and feel is important, and much of the technology we’re developing helps create softer, stretchier material,” Shaffer says. “Consider a diaper, which consists of 65% nonwovens by weight. It is not only the first thing a mom touches, but it also stays on her baby all day, ensuring dryness and comfort. Our products provide peace of mind, and we are committed to delivering a quality consumer experience, with nonwovens playing a critical role.”

In terms of sustainability, Kimberly-Clark continues to develop more sustainable materials and is committed to looking at alternatives to plastic like bio-based or naturals to provide consumers with no compromise solutions. “There are a variety of ways in which we are doing this – reducing the amount of material and using proprietary raw materials and processing techniques that allow us to deliver more sustainable products,” Shaffer says.  “Growth and sustainable innovation/practices should go hand-in-hand. Our 2030 ambition to advance the well-being of 1 billion people in vulnerable and underserved communities with the smallest environmental impact is at the center of everything we do—not just from a global nonwovens standpoint. This is woven into all our brands and plans.”

In terms of recent accomplishments, Kimberly-Clark has continued to drive material development on the polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) platform in collaboration with RWDC Industries. This partnership brings together Kimberly-Clark’s deep experience in nonwoven technologies and resin development with RWDC’s innovative and cost-effective biopolymer solutions. RWDC is providing its PHA source material, Solon, which the company will use to develop additional products that are marine degradable. The partnership with RWDC on PHA represents just one of the ways the company is exploring sustainable alternatives to plastic as it works to reduce its use of new, fossil fuel-based plastics by 50% by 2030.

“To advance our sustainability goals, we have continued to work with strategic universities and businesses within the private sector, like RWDC Industries, a biotech company working to replace petroleum-derived materials with safe, sustainable alternatives,” Shaffer says. “We regularly prototype across multiple product categories to pull solutions to market, collaborating with other experts to bring the most innovative products to market.”

Global Nonwovens’ business model is built on open innovation, in which it identifies and works with external subject matter experts such as RWDC, which offers exceptional resins development know-how.  “Kimberly-Clark is not looking to get into that space, and we’re focused on what we’re good at—taking raw material and translating it into our products,” Shaffer says. “That’s our model, and it will continue to be moving forward. Ultimately, we recognize innovation to market happens faster together versus alone.”

Shaffer adds that investment behind sustainable innovation pathways continues at Kimberly-Clark, ultimately targeting alternatives to plastic—whether that’s PLA (polylactic acid) or PHA. “We will continue to innovate on that platform internally and seek external options that meet the single-use plastic (SUP) requirements and other requirements where we do business,” she adds.

Innovation has also been a key defense against overcapacity in the nonwovens industry for Kimberly-Clark.

“Overcapacity is still a challenge with many companies still feeling the aftereffects of the pandemic and trying to deplete inventory produced during that time,” Shaffer says. “The way we’re dealing with these issues is through innovation, and we continue to invest in making materials and products that allow us to win in the market and leverage the volume we’ve invested in.”

“Being a large multinational company with strong brands has proven to be highly beneficial for us,” she adds. “Our brands serve as a powerful force and play a vital role in fulfilling our commitments. The scale in which we operate, coupled with the strength of our brands, is having a positive impact overall.”

Global Nonwovens Manufacturing Facilities: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, airlaid and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional: Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Kimberly-Clark Personal Care: Huggies, Depend, Kotex, Poise
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Proving its commitment to its Global Nonwovens business, Kimberly-Clark recently completed a $140 million investment in its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Corinth, MS. Reported to be the company’s largest-ever single nonwovens investment, the expansion added more than 150,000 square feet to the facility and expanded manufacturing of components for Huggies, Pull -Ups, Poise and Depend products.

“The investment has enabled the Corinth facility to add unique capabilities that focus on comfort and skin health as well as sustainability,” says Lori Shaffer, vice president, Global Nonwovens. “The new line is primarily for consumer hygiene products, but it’s flexible so we can make materials for Kimberly-Clark Professional as well.”

Additionally, the new equipment at the site is allowing Kimberly-Clark to work with some unique raw materials and is providing increased flexibility when it comes to inputs and processes.

Kimberly-Clark also manufactures nonwovens for the adult care, feminine care and baby and child care businesses at its Berkeley manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, NC, and its LaGrange manufacturing facility in LaGrange, GA. The Berkeley site was most recently expanded in 2018 with a $30 million investment.

Additionally, the company’s LaGrange site makes Kimtech N95 respirators. These non-surgical respirators were designed to help alleviate supply shortages within the industrial, cleanroom and laboratory segments during the Covid-19 pandemic. They leverage Kimberly-Clark’s proprietary nonwovens technology to provide industry-leading comfort and protection. The facility also makes substrates for industrial-grade apparel and wipes, supporting the Kimberly-Clark Professional business.

In recent years, Kimberly-Clark has zeroed in on becoming a more sustainable company through its 2030 sustainability strategy and goals that are aimed at improving the lives and well-being of one billion people in underserved communities around the world while reducing its environmental footprint by 50%.

“Kimberly-Clark’s purpose is to provide better care for a better world. That is our compass, and it guides everything we do,” Shaffer says. The Global Nonwovens team plays a leading role in this effort by developing innovative materials that improve product performance and sustainability.

In June, Kimberly-Clark announced significant progress toward its ambitious emissions reduction targets, which were outlined in the 2030 strategy. Compared to 2015, the company has achieved a 41% reduction in operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and a 6.3% reduction in Scope 3 emissions.

Additionally, the company is exploring more sustainable, commercially viable and scalable alternatives to fossil fuel-based plastics. In 2021, Kimberly-Clark doubled the percentage of recycled content in its plastic packaging, and it further increased the amount of packaging globally that is reusable, recyclable or compostable to nearly 84%, as it strives for 100% by 2025.

“In nonwovens, we are always asking how we can use less fossil fuel-based plastic without sacrificing performance. Anytime we develop a product, we think about its end life,” Shaffer says.

To help facilitate the use of more sustainable materials, Kimberly-Clark has forged partnerships with other companies, NGOs and academia. Its collaboration with RWDC Industries is focused on the development of sustainable solutions that address the environmental challenges of single-use plastics.

The partnership brings together Kimberly-Clark’s deep experience in nonwoven technologies and resin development with RWDC’s innovative and cost-effective biopolymer solutions. RWDC is providing its polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) source material, Solon, which the company will use to develop additional products that are marine degradable. The partnership with RWDC on PHA represents just one of the ways the company is exploring sustainable alternatives to plastic as it works to reduce its use of new, fossil fuel-based plastics by 50% by 2030.

Global Nonwovens is already prototyping alternative source materials, including rayon, viscose, cotton and lyocell, in products such as wet wipes and menstrual pads. By using and exploring these sustainably sourced materials, the company aims to design products for recovery and compatibility with existing and emerging organics processing and sanitation infrastructures.

The group also operates the Roswell Rapid Advanced Material Prototyping (RAMP) facility to test the production of new materials and validate consumer propositions. The process learning and consumer insights gained from the RAMP pilot line enable Global Nonwovens to deliver breakthrough materials that help Kimberly-Clark fulfill its purpose of better care for a better world, driving sustainable growth for the business.

To see Kimberly-Clark’s 2020 top company profile, click here.

U.S. Plants: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Maumelle, AR; Conway, AR; Beech Island, SC
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination, airlaid, and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Kimberly-Clark continues to deliver on its commitment to its Global Nonwovens business through investment. In November 2020, the company announced it would invest $140 million in its nonwovens manufacturing site in Corinth, MS. The investment is the second at the site in so many years. In November 2019, the company invested $20 million to expand capacity of an existing nonwovens line and added 25 jobs.

The most recent investment in Corinth is reportedly Kimberly-Clark’s largest-ever investment in Global Nonwovens and will expand the facility by more than 150,000 square feet. The new installations will manufacture components primarily for Huggies, Pull-Ups, Poise and Depend products. The improvements are expected to add 33 jobs to the site.

“All of the investments in our nonwovens facilities tie back to our global growth initiatives,” says Lori Shaffer, vice president, global nonwovens at Kimberly-Clark. “They all comprise a variety of different technologies—not just one—because there are several different materials we many need for each product. What we may need for a baby diaper may be different from what we need for a baby wipe.”

In addition to the Corinth site, Kimberly-Clark manufactures nonwovens for the adult care, feminine care and baby and child care businesses at its Berkeley manufacturing facility in Henderson, NC. That site was most recently expanded in 2018 with a $30 million investment. Additionally, the company’s LaGrange, GA, nonwovens site makes Kimtech N95 respirators. These non-surgical respirators were designed to help alleviate supply shortages within the industrial, cleanroom and laboratory segments during the Covid-19 pandemic. They leverage Kimberly-Clark’s proprietary nonwovens technology to provide industry-leading comfort and protection. The facility also makes substrates for industrial-grade apparel and wipes, supporting the Kimberly-Clark Professional business.

“Our whole focus within our team is to work with our business partners around the world to meet consumer needs and grow the business,” Shaffer says. “Global Nonwovens has been focused on innovation and growth. We achieve this through regular outreach with all of our business partners around the globe, which spans a wide spectrum.”

Currently, about 95% of Kimberly-Clark’s nonwovens output supplies its internal hygiene and wipes business, and the remaining 5% targets high performance areas such as filtration, sorbents, critical cleaning and more.

In addition to working with business partners, Kimberly-Clark has developed relationships with researchers at leading universities including Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Purdue University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Through these relationships, the company gains access to cutting-edge technologies from academic researchers as well as introductions to startups with special expertise in materials development and production. Collaborating with these organizations extends Global Nonwovens’ capabilities, and speeds the process of creating and commercializing new solutions to meet the evolving needs of consumers and customers around the world.

As one example, the Global Nonwovens technical team is working with researchers at Georgia Tech’s School of Materials Science to apply artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) to accelerate the development of next-generation materials. AI and ML are used to predict how variables such as raw material, structure and processing conditions affect a material’s performance, replicating traditional product trials at a fraction of the time and cost.

In addition to university partnerships, the Global Nonwovens business leverages industry connections and an open-innovation mindset to accelerate speed to market. Throught is partnership with the biotech company RWDC Industries, K-C is developing sustainable solutions that address the environmental challenges of single-use plastics.

The collaboration brings together K-C’s deep experience in nonwoven technologies and resin development with RDWC’s innovative and cost-effective biopolymer solutions. RWDC is providing its polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) source material, Solon, which the company will use to develop products that are marine degradable. This initiative is one of the strategies K-C is pursuing to reduce its use of new, fossil fuel-based plastics by 50% by 2030.

“We’ve seen the growing demand from consumers and governments for companies to provide more sustainable solutions to single-use plastics,” says Shaffer. “Solving for these challenges will take game-changing innovation as well as collaboration with industry-leading partners like RWDC to help speed these new materials to market.”

This new source material for K-C’s personal care products is one of the strategies the company is pursuing to transition from traditional fossil fuel-based plastics toward more renewable and regenerative materials.

Global Nonwovens is already using alternative source materials, including rayon, viscose, cotton and lyocell, in products such as wet wipes and menstrual pads. By using and exploring these sustainably sourced materials, the company has had the pportunity to design products for recovery and compatibility with existing and emerging organics processing and sanitation infrastructures.

Global Nonwovens also operates the Roswell Rapid Advanced Material Prototyping (R2AMP) facility to test the production of new materials and validate consumer propositions. The process learning and consumer insights gained from the R2AMP pilot line enable Global Nonwovens to deliver breakthrough materials that help Kimberly-Clark’s brands fulfill their promise of better care for a better world, driving sustainable growth for the business.

The focus on sustainability has also trickled down into K-C’s consumer product offerings. Last year, the company launched a new range of Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes in the U.K. that biodegrade after 15 days in simulated landfill conditions.

The plastic-free wipes are made with 100% naturally derived fibers, Huggies says. Independent testing shows Huggies Pure Biodegradable wipes will biodegrade in landfill conditions after 15 days, making them the brand’s first biodegradable product, according to a report in Circular (U.K.).

The brand has committed to eliminating plastic from its baby wipes range in the U.K. within five years or sooner.

In other new product news, K-C recently launched Scott 24 Hour Sanitizing Wipes—the company’s first effort in the wet wipes surface cleaning category—which was recently honored with the World of Wipes (WOW) Innovation Award from INDA. For this product, K-C developed the entire value chain including the meltblown wipe substrate and the surface disinfectant solution, which is proven to keep surfaces germ free for at least 24 hours.

“The knowledge of the criticality of baby wipes – which includes a deep understanding of regulated products and how they can impact health and wellbeing – was a significant advantage for the team behind Scott 24,” says Julia Georgoff, general manager, North American wipes, K-C Professional. “It drove our understanding on quality manufacturing processes, product safety and regulated product environments. KCP has also gained substantial knowledge in this journey by referencing our WetTask line of products—which allow end user customers to pair our substrates with their own chemicals. This product family added to our understanding of how our substrates respond to various formulations.”

Georgoff adds that this product is another example of the company’s customer-led innovation efforts and the product was developed through specific customer insights. “The teams worked closely with key customers across multiple segments to ensure K-C not only clearly understood their needs, but also conducted sufficient testing with customers to provide evidence-based confidence that their facilities and patrons will be protected against bacteria for longer periods of times when using Scott 24. This is what we refer to as ‘confidence between cleans.’”

In acquisition news, K-C’s global footprint was significantly expanded in late 2020 through the acquisition of Softex Indonesia, a leader in the fast-growing Indonesian personal care market.

“This acquisition represents a compelling strategic fit and demonstrates our commitment to accelerate growth in developing and emerging markets,” says Mike Hsu, chairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark. “Moreover, adding Softex Indonesia and its brands to Kimberly-Clark will enhance our company’s underlying growth prospects and help us create even more long-term shareholder value.”

U.S. Plants: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Maumelle, AK; Conway, AK; Beech Island, SC
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination, airlaid, and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Even as it continues to cement its role as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of personal hygiene and tissue products, Kimberly-Clark continues to invest in its nonwovens operation, which not only fuels its consumer products business but also targets customers directly in segments like filtration, construction, sorbents and critical cleaning. The company’s Global Nonwovens business is headquartered in Roswell, GA, and operates facilities in Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA and Tuas, Singapore.

In 2018, K-C announced it would invest $30 million for expansion and improvements to its Berkeley nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, NC. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex. The two-year project is focused on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.

“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” says Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”

Additionally, K-C has added capacity for baby wipes and created a dedicated formulation lab to boost product innovation in Tuas, Singapore. The Tuas site exports to markets across the Asia-Pacific including Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, China and multiple ASEAN countries. It was first opened in 1981. The investment brought the site’s baby wipes capacity from 2.4 million to about 5 million per year, according to reports.

In January 2018, Kimberly-Clark initiated a global restructuring program in order to reduce the company’s structural cost base and enhance the company’s flexibility to invest in its brands, growth initiatives and capabilities critical to delivering future growth. The company expects the program will generate annual pre-tax cost savings of $500 to $550 million by the end of 2021. As part of the program, Kimberly-Clark expects to exit or divest some low-margin businesses that generate approximately 1% of company net sales.

The North American sites known to be affected by this plan include its nonwovens manufacturing site in Neenah, WI, one in California, which makes consumer products like Scott toilet tissue and Kleenex, as well as professional products—including KimWipes and KayDry wipers—and a facility in Conway, AR. K-C will move production from these sites into other facilities operated by the company in North America.

Additionally, one of its Brazilian sites—an absorbent hygiene plant in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil—will close, and K-C will transfer production to other Brazilian sites in Sao Paulo, Correia Pinto, Camacari and Suzano Mogi das Cruzes.

Moving east, an Ingleburn, Australia site making Huggies diapers closed last summer, impacting 220 employees. Production will move to K-C facilities in Asia, allowing faster access to the latest research and engineering advancements in diapers and pants.

In Africa, K-C closed its plant in Lagos, Nigeria, in late 2019 and is reportedly building a new factory in its place. The decision to build a new factory with enhanced technology and capabilities was driven by strong growth in demand for its products in the region. About 60 permanent employees will be affected by the closure. However, the company insists it remains committed to the Nigerian market where it will expand its team and open an additional office this year.

Looking forward, K-C expects to continue to grow its personal care businesses and has improvements planned for many of its core brands including Huggies diapers and baby wipes, Pull-Ups training pants and Depend adult incontinence products.

In August, K-C introduced New Leaf Pull-Ups training pants made with plant-based ingredients like sugarcane and fluff pulp, carefully selected and crafted to provide protection and comfort.

“Pull-Ups understands the potty training journey is a big milestone for both parents and big kids,” says Martin Knight-Jones, Pull-Ups general manager for North America. “Pull-Ups New Leaf offers parents the trusted protection they know and love from Pull-Ups with fun ‘Frozen II’ designs, superior softness and plant-based ingredients to help keep their big kids comfortable & confident on their journey to independence.”

The launch of Pull-Ups New Leaf is in sync with the company’s sustainability strategy, which has been outlined in new 2030 sustainability strategy and goals aimed at addressing the social challenges of the next decade with commitments to improve the lives and well being of one billion underserved communities around the world.

“These extraordinary times remind us why our purpose is more important than ever. Our values, which have guided us for nearly 150 years, will continue to shape our response to the challenges ahead,” says Mike Hsu, chairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark. “I am inspired by our ambition to advance the well-being of one billion people around the world and proud of the significant environmental commitments that we are making to address the impact our products have on the environment. The ambitious strategy is outlined in the company’s 2019 Global Sustainability Report, which reflects progress towards the company’s Sustainability 2022 strategy and its pivot to 2030.”

The new strategy looks at four key areas—carbon, forest, water and plastics—and seeks to reduce each footprint by half.

Last month, the company joined the U.S. Plastics Pact, a collaborative, solutions-driven initiative rooted in four ambitious goals intended to drive significant systems change by unifying diverse cross-sector approaches, setting a national strategy, and creating scalable solutions to create a path forward toward a circular economy for plastics in the United States by 2025. The first North American Pact of its kind, the U.S. Pact is a collaboration led by The Recycling Partnership, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

“We aspire to be at the forefront of the transition to a circular, reuse economy and finding new ways of giving consumers the products they need,” says Kim Underhill, president of Kimberly-Clark’s North American Consumer Business. “We realize getting there will take game-changing innovation, and we know we’re up to the challenge to do more by joining the U.S. Plastics Pact.”

As a founding Activator of the U.S. Plastics Pact, Kimberly-Clark has agreed to collectively deliver against these four ambitious goals across its U.S. business, in alignment with the company’s 2030 strategy and goals including ensuring all of its packaging is 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.

U.S. Plants: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Maumelle, AK; Conway, AK; Beech Island, SC
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination, airlaid, and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit

Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

One of the world’s biggest users of nonwoven fabrics, Kimberly-Clark is also a major producer of nonwovens—not only for its consumer products like Huggies diapers and Depend adult incontinence items, but for external customers in markets including filtration, housewrap and critical cleaning. The company’s Global Nonwovens business is headquartered in Roswell, GA, and operates facilities in Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA  and Tuas, Singapore.

In 2018, K-C announced it would invest $30 million for expansion and improvements to its Berkeley nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, NC. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex. The two-year project will focus on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.

“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” says Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”

Additionally, K-C has added capacity for baby wipes and created a dedicated formulation lab to boost product innovation in Tuas, Singapore. The Tuas site exports to markets across the Asia-Pacific including Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, China and multiple ASEAN countries. It was first opened in 1981. The investment brought the site’s baby wipes capacity from 2.4 million to about 5 million per year, according to reports.

Also in Tuas, K-C has invested heavily in solar technology to improve the sustainability profile of its plant there. The company recently mounted 7730 photovoltaic panels on the plant’s roof. This investment in renewable energy will allow K-C to replace 15% of conventional energy used at the plant, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) by approximately 1600 metric tons per year— equivalent to removing nearly 350 passenger cars from roads annually.

At a ceremony held to inaugurate its solar roof, Achal Agarwal, president, Kimberly-Clark Asia Pacific, said, “Our manufacturing operations in Singapore have long been recognized as a leader in environmental protection. Switching on this solar roof marks a new milestone in our sustainability journey and accelerates our progress towards our goal of achieving a 20% reduction in GHG emissions globally, by 2022.”

In January 2018, Kimberly-Clark initiated a global restructuring program in order to reduce the company’s structural cost base and enhance the company’s flexibility to invest in its brands, growth initiatives and capabilities critical to delivering future growth. The company expects the program will generate annual pre-tax cost savings of $500 to $550 million by the end of 2021. As part of the program, Kimberly-Clark expects to exit or divest some low-margin businesses that generate approximately 1% of company net sales.

The North American sites known to be affected by this plan include its nonwovens manufacturing site in Neenah, WI, one in California, which makes consumer products like Scott toilet tissue and Kleenex, as well as professional products including KimWipes and KayDry wipers, and a facility in Conway, AR. K-C will move production from these sites into other facilities operated by the company in North America.

Additionally, one of its Brazilian sites—an absorbent hygiene plant in Eldorado do Sul, Brazil—will close, and K-C will transfer production to other Brazilian sites in Sao Paulo, Correia Pinto, Camacari and Suzano Mogi das Cruzes.

Moving east, an Ingleburn, Australia, site making Huggies diapers closed this summer, impacting 220 employees. Production will move to K-C facilities in Asia, allowing faster access to the latest research and engineering advancements in diapers and pants.

In Africa, K-C announced plans to close its factory in Lagos, Nigeria, later this year and build a new factory in its place. The decision to build a new factory with enhanced technology and capabilities was driven by strong growth in demand for its products in the region. About 60 permanent employees will be affected by the closure. However, the company insists it remains committed to the Nigerian market where it will expand its team and open an additional office this year.

Looking forward, K-C expects to continue to grow its personal care businesses and has improvements planned for many of its core brands including Huggies diapers and baby wipes, Pull-Ups training pants and Depend adult incontinence products.

“With a strong legacy of innovation, Kimberly-Clark understands the need to maintain a pulse on changing consumer needs and how our products can meet them. With a strong team of PhDs, scientists, engineers, and lean experts, our nonwovens organization is leveraging rapid learning cycles and digital intelligence to deliver breakthrough materials and processes that accelerate innovation from idea to commercialization,” says Elizabeth Metz, vice president, Global Nonwovens.

In July, K-C introduced Huggies Special Delivery diapers, the softest diaper with plant-based materials (3% by weight), designed specifically to provide the best for a baby’s bottom, without compromise. Huggies Special Delivery was created for ultimate skin comfort with the trusted leak protection that parents count on to keep baby’s skin healthy.

“We are inspired by the loving bond that a parent feels with their baby and their desire to provide the very best care to their babies that they possibly can,” says Kristine Rhode, Huggies North America brand director. “These insights led us to create our most perfect diaper, so parents can provide their own perfect care.”

Huggies Special Delivery diapers feature a baby-side liner and waistband made with fibers derived from plant-based materials such as sugarcane, carefully selected to help provide superior absorption and fit. They are free of parabens, fragrance and elemental chlorine, and dermatologically tested and clinically proven hypoallergenic for baby’s delicate skin.

In the adult incontinence segment, K-C’s Depend brand has developed  a new line of Depend Fit-Flex absorbent underwear. The new products feature a  blush color and a variety of designs for women, and an ultra-soft, flexible fabric for improved comfort.

“We are excited to bring our new beautiful designs and ultra-soft fabric to consumers to help them be there for the moments that matter the most,” says Lauren Kren, senior brand manager for the Depend brand. “Depend believes that incontinence should not be a barrier to living your best life. Instead, users should feel empowered to engage in their favorite activities without the distractions of bladder leakage or discomfort.”

Meanwhile, Kimberly-Clark’s Poise brand recently introduced Poise Ultra Thin Active Collection pads and liners with wings designed for physically active women with light bladder leakage (LBL).

U.S. Plants: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Maumelle, AK; Conway, AK; Beech Island, SC
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination, airlaid, and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Kimberly-Clark’s commitment to its nonwovens operations was confirmed earlier this year when the Dallas, TX-based company approved $30 million for expansion and improvements to its nonwovens manufacturing facility in Hendersonville, NC. The plant produces nonwoven materials for Kimberly-Clark’s North American adult and feminine care brands including Depend, Poise and U by Kotex.

The two-year project will focus on expanding the plant’s production capacity and efficiency and is expected to add 14 new jobs at the site, while maintaining current employment.

“The Berkeley Mill team is proud about the role we will play in supporting the future growth of Kimberly-Clark’s adult and feminine care business in North America,” says Ernest Humphries, plant manager, Kimberly-Clark’s Berkeley Mill. “This investment, combined with the commitment of our employees and the support of the local community, will bolster the mill’s competitiveness and position us for continued success.”

The expansion plan comes following a restructuring announcement at K-C. The company announced in January it would close 10 sites and eliminate 5000-5500 jobs as part of its global restructuring plan.

The sites known to be affected by this plan include two plants in Wisconsin—one making nonwovens and another making Depend adult incontinence items—and one in California, which makes consumer products like Scott toilet tissue and Kleenex, as well as professional products including KimWipes and KayDry wipers.

Calling the program the latest example of a proactive and strategic approach to improving K-C so it can win in the marketplace, executives unveiled the program at K-C’s fourth quarter and full year earnings call.

“We remain optimistic about our business,” CEO Tom Falk says. “We have many strong brands and we are present in some strong growth markets, particularly in emerging economies.”

The plan is expected to save between $500-550 million by 2021. It also includes the divestment of lower margin businesses, mainly in the consumer tissue segment, which represent only about 1% of corporate sales.

The restructuring savings will be on top of an expected $1.5 billion in savings generated by K-C’s FORCE (Focused on Reducing Costs Everywhere), which are expected to be generated between now and 2021.

Looking forward, K-C expects to continue to grow its personal care businesses and has improvements planned for many of its core brands including Huggies diapers and baby wipes, Pull-Ups training pants and Depend adult incontinence products. On the diaper front, Kimberly-Clark has launched an upgraded version of Huggies diapers, featuring 5D core technology, which allows an extremely thin, yet soft and absorbent diaper. The company plans to expand this technology’s scope into the pants style diapers in the next few months.

On the ultrapremium side, Huggies is offering its first-ever customizable diaper, Huggies Made by You. Huggies diapers can now be custom-designed with a name, monogram, or date on five limited edition designs.

Meanwhile, in the wipes segment, K-C has expanded its Kleenex brand with the introduction of Kleenex Wet Wipes, which are already grabbing marketshare in the wet wipes market.

“Kleenex Wet Wipes are made for those of us who are active and not afraid to get a little messy,” says actress Alexandra Daddario, who is teamed up with Kleenex this summer. “From the dog park to yoga class and grabbing a bite to eat in between, these wipes have become a daily essential in my bag.”

Kimberly Clark’s leadership in innovation and technology led to the development of Kleenex Wet Wipes. Available in three varieties, the wipes bring the gentle cleansing power of water to people anytime, anywhere.

“More than 90 years ago, this brand was created by the same type of people who inspired this product. We continue to be inspired by ‘doers’ who fearlessly pursue their passions and we want to celebrate them,” says Rusty Zaspel, general manager for Hands and Face Care. “As the category leader, we keep the needs of our consumers at the center of everything we do and we created Kleenex Wet Wipes so people can quickly clean up and have the confidence to keep moving forward.”

They are available in three varieties: Kleenex Wet Wipes Gentle Clean, which leave no sticky residue; Kleenex Wet Wipes Germ Removal, clinically proven to wipe away 99% of germs from skin without harsh chemicals; and Kleenex Wet Wipes Sensitive, great for delicate skin, thanks to a fragrance-free formulation containing 99% purified water and a touch of Aloe and Vitamin E.

In adult incontinence, K-C has expanded its line of Depend Fit-Flex underwear with new sizes. Designed to be the best-fitting, most comfortable underwear, Depend Fit-Flex is available in sizes small, medium, large and extra-large for women and sizes small/medium, large and extra-large for men. With more sizes than before, Depend Fit-Flex Underwear provides a better fit for all body shapes and sizes, including an improved waistband to keep the brief in place and new tailored tension for comfort.

“As a licensed psychotherapist, I know that being comfortable both inside and out is essential to living a healthy lifestyle, no matter your age,” says Robi Ludwig, Depend brand spokesperson. “The new Depend Fit-Flex sizes offer individuals experiencing incontinence a way to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin, which is essential to living your best life at any age.”

Meanwhile, K-C continues to focus on its external nonwovens business, which represents approximately 15% of its output. Sold within the company’s K-C Professional Partnership business, the business continues to target new markets both within and beyond its traditional branded consumer products to grow its position globally.  This division drives the innovation, marketing and sales for nonwovens made by K-C not destined for its consumer products. One recent innovation being offered by the group is a dual-textured Hydroknit material. The new fabric is perfect for demanding cleaning applications, featuring a scrubby side and a strong absorbent, cloth-like side. It is sold in many wet wipe applications including cleaning and polishing.

Other key markets for K-C’s external nonwovens business include air filtration, construction and sorbents.

USA Plants: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Maumelle, AK; Conway, AK; Beech Island, SC
ISO Status: Corinth, MS; Hendersonville, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination, airlaid, and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean; Delivery Systems: Hydroknit
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

With the launch of a new wet wipe substrate nonwoven fabric technology into the marketplace, Kimberly-Clark Professional Partnership Products, the company’s external nonwovens business, continues to target new markets both within and beyond its traditional branded consumer products to grow its position globally. This division drives the innovation, marketing and sales for the nonwovens made by K-C not destined for products like Huggies diapers, Depend adult incontinence products and Kotex feminine hygiene items.

K-C’s nonwovens operation is immensely important to its consumer business and brands. Roughly, 85% of its output fuels this massive business. The Partnership Products business targets areas outside of its consumer business and brands like filtration, construction, acoustics and wet wipe substrates.

“At Kimberly-Clark Professional Partnership Products we believe in enabling our customer’s professionals to do their best work,” says Tony Fedel, business leader, K-C Professional Partnership Products. “We are driven by a passion to commercialize distinctive nonwoven materials empowering our customers to develop and market with pride finished products that make end-users lives healthier, safer, and more productive. Insight driven innovation coupled with partnership level customer relationships is how we drive growth.”

The recent innovation launch being offered by K-C Professional Partnership Products is Dual-Texture Hydroknit Material. The new fabric is perfect for demanding cleaning applications. It features a scrubby side and a strong, absorbent, cloth-like side. Dual-Texture Hydroknit Material releases fluid more evenly and longer than other substrates, allowing end-users to clean more space with each wipe.

Kimberly-Clark Professional Partnership Products sells standard Hydroknit Material for use in many end-user preferred, wet wiping applications including cleaning and polishing,” Fedel says. “Kimberly-Clark Professional* Partnership Products also offers the company’s proprietary Coform material—which is used in K-C’s Huggies baby wipes brand—for sale into applications where its unique properties enable enhanced finished product performance. Typical applications include use as the absorbent core in consumer cleaning and personal care products.”

Outside of disposable hygiene, Partnership Products focuses on markets beyond K-C’s consumer businesses. One of these is the air filtration market where growth continues to be driven by the health and productivity benefits of good indoor air quality (IAQ).

“There is growing awareness of the health dangers to people associated with submicron airborne particles—such as dust, mold, pollution, bacteria and allergens,” Fedel says. “Companies and consumers are increasingly seeking the productivity and health benefits of improved IAQ for their employees, customers and family members. Opportunities to improve people’s IAQ while they are commuting, working, learning, shopping, healing, or relaxing at home are driving market growth.”

Citing media performance including longer filter life and energy-efficiency in-use as key drivers during the filter product development cycle, Fedel explains how a filter’s airflow resistance can cause the HVAC air handling system to consume more energy as it works to deliver the required air flow. “Working harder and running longer can result in higher energy usage increasing cost and associated greenhouse gas emissions,” he says. “Nonwoven, electret-treated air filter media has become increasingly valued for its ability to meet these demanding filter performance and end-use requirements.”

On the corporate level, Kimberly-Clark reported a slight drop in sales in 2016 to just over $18 billion. Sales in its personal care business, which includes its Huggies diaper brand, Depend and Poise adult incontinence brands and Kotex feminine hygiene products, decreased 2% compared to 2015. Gains were reported in the Huggies baby diaper business while baby wipes sales increased in the mid single digits. K-C executives also attributed category growth and innovation to gains in childcare and adult care businesses.

CEO Tom Falk recently told investors that as a consumer preferred brand it is Kimberly-Clark’s job to focus on category innovation. “We are focused on innovation,” he says.

This innovation will help  the company return sales of its diapers and other products to high levels in upcoming quarters. For its second quarter of 2017, K-C reported that lower sales volumes in the infant and childcare business were largely responsible for slight decreases in the company’s personal care division. Sales of Huggies diapers were reportedly down in the mid single digits during the second quarter. Sales of Huggies baby wipes grew in the mid single digits.

Executives blame the softness on two major economic trends—increased competition in the category as well as lower category demographics, caused by a declining birth rate in major markets like North America and South Korea.

Falk says he considers the declining birth rate a temporary situation. “There are lots of reasons for the birth rate decline,” he says. “But, the broad trend is that millenials are having kids later, but as long as they have the same number of kids eventually, it will correct itself.”

As K-C makes efforts to compensate for lower birth rates and steel itself in an intently competitive climate in North America, China continues to be a bright spot for the company.

With five times as many babies born as in the U.S., K-C has been successful offering best-in-class innovation, which translates into a tier seven product and premium diaper pants. And, K-C’s Chinese business will certainly benefit from the opening of a new diaper manufacturing facility in Tianjin, which will expand manufacturing and accelerate delivery to the market.

Strategically located in the Tianjin Airport Economic Area, the new facility features a fully-automated production line with integrated operations, including an R&D laboratory and manufacturing and distribution center. “The establishment of the Tianjin mill demonstrates our confidence in the Chinese market and our commitment to long-term development in China,” says Mike Zhang, managing director of Kimberly-Clark China. “Kimberly-Clark China will continue to make world-class products accessible to Chinese consumers through sustainable manufacturing to lead the world in essentials for a better life.”

Outside of diapers, K-C continues to innovate in markets like feminine hygiene and adult incontinence. In July, K-C launched U by Kotex Fitness, a line of tampons, liners and pads that are ideal for use when working out. The launch expands the brands’ commitment to creating real change and making things better when it comes to periods, period experiences and the feminine hygiene category.

Plants: Corinth, MS; Balfour and Hendersonville, NC; Berkeley, NC, Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Barton-upon-Humber, U.K.; Jaromer, Czech Republic
ISO Status: Certification achieved in Berkeley, NC; Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; and Barton (U.K.); other facilities in progress
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution, and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean
Major Markets: Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Kimberly-Clark Corporation continues to focus on its nonwovens business both as a means to feed its giant consumer products business, which includes Huggies diapers, Kotex feminine hygiene products and Depend and Poise adult incontinence items, and as an important supplier of nonwovens technologies to many important end use markets.

A manufacturer of spunbond, meltblown and its own proprietary Coform technologies, K-C makes hundreds of thousands of tons of nonwovens at plants around the world. While about 85% of this output is consumed internally, K-C continues to market nonwovens in a number of market areas like filtration, construction, acoustics and delivery systems (wipes) where it works in partnership with its customers.

While some might think that Kimberly-Clark’s massive consumer products business dwarfs its nonwovens sales, executives insist that this is not the case. “External nonwovens sales are key to K-C’s overall business strategy,” says Robert Martin, associate category manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional. “We call this business our Partnership Products business, and it leverages various nonwovens technologies manufactured by Kimberly-Clark. We partner with outside companies that purchase these materials and convert them into end-use products that make people’s lives healthier, safer and more productive. For example, in filtration, our nonwovens are used in HVAC air filters to capture harmful particles.”

K-C’s leadership in external nonwovens is based on three elements: partnerships, value and scale. The company works as a true partner with its customers to help them create exceptional products, leveraging its vast experience and innovative nonwovens that have the same performance and quality as K-C’s own billion-dollar brands.

“We work with our customers in an enduring, collaborative and cross-functional manner that includes sales, marketing, research and engineering, planning and customer support professionals,” Martin says. “And our manufacturing capabilities enable us to meet our customers’ needs, including regulatory compliance. Our ability to use different and unique fibers and proprietary fabric constructions can help our customers achieve their desired product properties and differentiate them in the market.”

Kimberly-Clark’s global leadership position in many consumer markets surely helps its case in winning customers across a number of categories. “Our external nonwovens business supplies the same, proven nonwovens technologies that people know and trust from our consumer brands,” Martin adds. “This makes our offering ideal for other branded product marketers, because they understand that they can depend on our materials to deliver on their promise to customers.”

As a whole, Kimberly-Clark invests more than $300 million a year in research and development. Throughout its history, these efforts have contributed to pioneering roles in five of the company’s eight major consumer product categories, including bath tissue, roll towels, feminine hygiene, facial tissue and training pants. Additionally, K-C holds leadership roles in other consumer product categories like baby diapers, adult incontinence and baby wipes.

In recent months, the company has focused on growing its wipes business outside of baby care. On the consumer products side, in December 2015, K-C introduced several wipes products in its first facial cleansing line, which is an extension of its Kleenex tissue brand. The line includes dual-side  exfoliating cushions that smooth and polish the skin; moist facial cleaning wipes; soft cotton pads; moist eye makeup removers and shine away sheets, which feature double-sided fabric technology that lifts and traps oil without smudging makeup.

“Kleenex has a strong heritage in making high-quality tissue fabrics, and we are extending that knowledge into new innovations for effective facial cleansing,” says Eniko Olah, senior brand manager.

Meanwhile, within the Partnership Products business, household cleaning applications have become a focus on its delivery systems, or wipes, business. K-C’s new Hydroknit technology features a basesheet that combines meltblown and Hydroknit technologies. The dual structure allows the material to overcome the limitations of single-attribute wipes by providing a scrubby side for extra cleaning power—thanks to KC’s dual-texture meltblown—and a strong, absorbent, cloth-like side—thanks to Hydroknit.

According to Martin, wet wipes made with this material can be used throughout the home, for a number of cleaning tasks. “Not only do they provide a convenient and easy way to clean, their strength means they dispense with less tearing,” he says.

“Plus, the meltblown component provides metered release of cleaning chemistry, which means it releases fluid more evenly. As a result, less liquid is wasted when the wipe is thrown away. It also means that users can clean more space with each wipe, because the cleaning chemistry is not dumped on the first surface it touches. In general, our base sheets offer our product manufacturer customers the opportunity to add value to their offering and maintain their brand image in the marketplace by extending their product lines with innovative performance.”

Beyond Hydroknit, the delivery systems business offer a variety of substrates that deliver chemical formulations in a wet wipe format allowing its customers—wipes manufacturers—to enter a wide range of wet wipe applications. “One of the key advantages that our customers value most is the metered release of chemistry,” Martin says. “In many cleaning applications, the ability to dependably get the most out of each wipe is a great benefit and real differentiator for our customers.”

Moving to K-C’s filtration business, Martin says filter manufacturers responding to their customers’ desire for products that provide end users better cost-in use in all product categories. “We also see increasing demand for higher efficiency products driven by interest among facility owners and managers—as well as homeowners—in creating spaces free from airborne contaminants,” he adds. “Achieving these two goals is at the forefront of many filter manufacturers’ minds and we help them address both of these issues with our air filtration media’s excellent performance capturing the submicron airborne particles that can cause health issues while maintaining a low pressure drop for energy savings.”

On the consumer products front, K-C continues to invest in emerging markets to fuel growth of its diapers, feminine hygiene products and adult incontinence items. In China, K-C is adding a new diaper manufacturing facility in Tianjin. The 300,000 square-meter-plant will help grow K-C’s diaper business in China, where Huggies have been sold since 1997. The company, which has had assets in the country since 1994, also has facilities in Beijing, Nanjing and Shanghai, which produce several well-known brands such as Kotex, Huggies, Kleenex, and Depend.

Elsewhere in Asia, K-C is reportedly adding new manufacturing lines for Huggies baby wipes and diaper pants in Tuas, Singapore. This multi-million dollar investment brings Kimberly-Clark’s total investment in Singapore to nearly $300 million. The company first set up its Singapore office in 1998 and established its ASEAN office and Asia-Pacific headquarters there in 2012.

The new manufacturing lines reportedly feature advanced and automated technologies for the production of Huggies brand baby wipes and diaper pants, which will be exported to 11 other countries including China and Australia in the region. Asia-Pacific is Kimberly-Clark’s biggest international region by revenue.

On the nonwovens side, K-C is reportedly undergoing a major investment in its proprietary Coform technology, which largely serves the wipes market. Marking the first major expansion of this technology in about 10 years, new lines are being built in Korea, Colombia, Brazil and Singapore to support K-C’s growth in the global baby wipes market, which is being propelled by advancing sales of Huggies diapers in developing areas.

Plants: Corinth, MS; Balfour and Hendersonville, NC; Berkeley, NC, Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Barton-upon-Humber, U.K.; Jaromer, Czech Republic
ISO Status: Certification achieved in Berkeley, NC; Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; and Barton (U.K.); other facilities in progress
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution, and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean
Major Markets:Filtration, construction, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

One of the world’s largest manufacturer of diapers, feminine hygiene items and adult incontinence products, Kimberly-Clark is also a major manufacturer of nonwoven products with plants located around the world. While a majority of these nonwovens fuel its large consumer products business, it innovates and sells nonwovens in a number of markets through its Partnership Products business.

“The heritage of Partnership Products is and continues to be partnering with other companies, providing them with the nonwovens solution that enables them to launch a new product and win in the marketplace,” says Tony Fedel, business leader of Partnership Products. “While we are evolving how we go to market as we assess new growth opportunities, we remain committed to our heritage customers and meeting their needs.”

An example of this evolution is K-C Block-It housewrap, K-C’s first branded entry into the building products space, which was launched in May 2014 at Menards home improvement stores.  The product draws on the company’s expertise in the development and manufacture of nonwoven, breathable materials to keep moisture out but let water vapor escape.

While Partnership Products collaborated internally to develop the technology, K-C Professional offered the customer access to bring the product to market. More than a year after the launch of this product, K-C is now looking at expansion opportunities within the building space.

Meanwhile, K-C Professional Partnership Products’ heritage markets, some of which include filtration media and wet wipe substrates, continue to perform well. Within these markets, it is K-C Professional Partnership Products’ mission to create enterprise value by leveraging the company’s global scale and capabilities. This division has the advantage of not being tethered to K-C’s global billion dollar brands so it can commercialize opportunities across any part of the value chain, even if they fall outside of K-C’s traditional product categories.

For example, within the air filtration industry, Kimberly-Clark does not produce finished branded filters. Instead, the Partnership Products business markets and sells filtration media to producers of commercial, industrial, automotive and retail filters. “This is a great example of where we utilize our know-how in nonwovens and have translated it into a sustainable business that does not dilute the efforts of K-C’s global brand teams,” says Fedel.

Describing the Partnership Products team as being entrepreneurial, Fedel says the team aspires to support their customers’ desire to bring exceptional nonwovens-enabled products to market. “The Partnership Products team works hard every day to deliver value to our customers that makes a real difference for them and their customers.  Collaboration with our customers is key.  By knowing what problem to solve for them and the value the solutions brings, we are better able to guide our innovation efforts.”

In late 2014, K-C spun off its healthcare business, which was a considerable user of nonwovens materials, into a separate company now known as Halyard Healthcare. Per K-C earnings releases, this has made Halyard a K-C Professional customer. “The spin-off hasn’t changed our strategic focus.” Fedel says.

On the corporate front, K-C’s total 2014 sales reflected a 1% increase compared to 2013 but organic sales rose 4%. Within its personal care busineses, the big news was the finalization of changes related to its exit from the Western and Central European businesses, a plan that was announced in 2014

In early 2015, after less than stellar North American sales in the fourth quarter for its personal care business, K-C announced it will be focusing on marketing and innovation this year, which will compete with major rival Procter & Gamble, parent company of Pampers and Luvs.

Chairman and CEO Thomas Falk made the announcement during K-C’s fourth quarter 2014 earnings call. “One of our businesses had a soft year in North America, and that was mainline Huggies diapers,” Falk said during the call. “To improve our performance in 2015, we will be making investments in innovation, marketing and relative value to key competition.”

K-C’s North American sales in the personal care segment dropped 2%. Volumes were down 2% in this area, and currency was unfavorable 1%, while net selling prices rose slightly. Huggies diaper volumes were off 10%, according to the company, which it attributes to “marketshare declines and competitive promotional activity.”

K-C also saw lower volumes for its Pull-Ups training pants.   Falk says K-C will focus on both North America and emerging markets to drive growth. North American plans include improvements in Huggies diapers and baby wipes and adult care products with new product launches and a few mainline improvements.

K-C will introduce new products or make upgrades to existing items across many categories. “To support our innovations and growth initiatives, our advertising spending should be up somewhat as a percent of sales,” he said.

Some of this innovation has come through an exclusive partnership with Costco big box retailer in the U.S. and Canada. Huggies Little Snugglers Plus and Little Movers Plus featuring a gentle absorb liner, adding an extra layer of protection, and double grip strips for a comfortable and secure fit, were launched his year exclusively at the retailer. Meanwhile, new Huggies Snug & Dry diapers, available only at Wal-Mart, lock away wetness for up to 12 hours.

Within K-C’s incontinence business, Depend active fit silhouette is a moderate absorbency brief that features a thin design for complete comfort, a lower rise and  is available in black or beige.

Plants: Corinth, MS; Balfour and Hendersonville, NC; Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Barton-upon-Humber, U.K.; Jaromer, Czech Republic
ISO Status: Certification achieved in Berkeley, NC; Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; and Barton (U.K.); other facilities in progress
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution, and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean
Major Markets: Filtration, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

Unique in its role as one of the world’s largest consumers and manufacturers of nonwoven roll goods, Kimberly-Clark’s nonwovens output mainly goes into its large disposable consumer product businesses, which include Huggies diapers, Depend and Poise adult incontinence items, Kotex feminine hygiene items as well as a number of healthcare and wipes products sold through the company’s healthcare and professional products businesses, respectively. Beyond these businesses, however, about 15% of the company’s nonwovens output is sold externally through the company’s Partnership Products division of Kimberly-Clark Professional.

“Our strategic importance to the K-C Enterprise continues to growth,” says Partnership Products business leader Tony Fedel. “Our unique business model within K-C allows us to create enterprise value by leveraging K-C’s global scale and capabilities yet we are untethered from K-C’s global billion dollar brands. This allows us to commercialize opportunities across any part of the value chain even if they fall outside of K-C’s traditional product categories.”

For example, within air filtration, does not produce finished branded filters. Instead, the Partnership Products business markets and sells filtration media to producers of commercial, industrial and retail filters. “This is a great example of where we utilize our know-how in nonwovens and have translated it into a sustainable business that does not require support from K-C’s brand teams,” says Fedel.

Partnership Products’ key markets include delivery systems for wipes and other disposable goods, sorbents, filtration media, and protective fabrics and films for automotive and construction use.

“We have a right to win in many nonwoven market segments,” Fedel says. “In one meeting we may be talking about opportunities in industrial settings and in the next we are discussing how to solve very different customer needs in the healthcare segment.”

Describing the Partnership Products team as being entrepreneurial, Fedel says the team aspires to support their customers’ desire to bring exceptional nonwovens enabled products to market.

“We work closely with our customers to enable their success by bringing K-C’s talent and nonwovens know-how to solve their problems,” Fedel says.

“One recent example of this entrepreneurial spirit and ability to collaborate with broad K-C resources led to K-C’s entry into the building products space. In May of this year, it launched Kimberly-Clark Block-It housewrap at Menards. The product draws on the company’s expertise in the development and manufacture of nonwoven, breathable materials to keep moisture out but let water vapor escape.

While Partnership Products worked to develop the technology, KC Professional offered the know-how and access to bring the product to market. It is now available at Menards and should roll out to new retailers by the end of the year.

Turning to Kimberly-Clark’s corporate business, sales were essentially flat in 2013 as 3% organic sales growth offset decreases brought on by a European restructuring plan announced in 2012. Likewise, the company’s personal care sales remained flat for the year.

More specifically, adult care volumes grew in the mid-single digits due to innovation in its core brands, Depends and Poise, which are both market leaders in their categories. During the past 12 months, K-C has rolled out several innovations in the adult incontinence market, both to secure future growth and defend its position against a potential newcomer in the market.

In the Poise brand, in April, the company introduced new Poise Microliners featuring SAM (superabsorbent material), which are described as the thinnest liner in the category and are designed specifically for light bladder leakage, a problem that affects one in three women.

Also new in K-C’s adult products line is an upgrade in Depend disposable underwear. This new innovation features Fit-Flex protection, providing the great protection people have come to expect from Depend with more Lycra strands for a smooth and comfortable close-to-the-body fit.

Meanwhile, childcare sales were down due to category softness and lower shipments of swim diapers. Additionally, K-C’s decision to exist the diaper market in much of Europe, a strategy announced in October 2012 and expected to be complete by the end of 2014, has led to a 31% sales decrease in Europe.

K-C is offsetting the loss of the European business by focusing on developing markets and in 2013, the company reported impressive diaper growth in China, which reported a 35% gain, as well as Russia and Brazil, which each grew 20%.

Meanwhile in the developed markets, K-C continues to innovate and add new products like GoodNites Tru-Fit, a machine-washable, cotton-blend underwear with disposable, absorbent inserts. This bed wetting aid, with outstanding nighttime protection is available for boys and girls in sizes small/medium and large/extra large with colors and patterns for each gender.

K-C Professional’s sales increased 1% in 2013 on higher volumes in washroom and wiper applications, which offset the impact of the company’s exit from lower margin safety areas. Recent news out of this division includes the launch of a new wiper for aviation surface preparation and a new dual-surface wiper system for cleaning and disinfecting within healthcare environments.

In other corporate news, K-C plans to spin off its healthcare business later this year, allowing it to take advantage of its leading position in several key areas. The spun off business will be known as Halyard Health and it will be headquartered in Alpharetta, GA.

“The planned spin-off of our health care business continues our focus on creating shareholder value,” says Kimberly-Clark chairman and CEO Thomas Falk. “When the spin-off is completed, Halyard Health will be able to take advantage of its leading positions in several key categories to drive its performance and pursue its own opportunities. This move will also allow Kimberly-Clark to further sharpen our focus on growing our consumer and K-C Professional brands around the world.”

Plants:Corinth, MS; Balfour and Hendersonville, NC; Lexington, NC; LaGrange, GA; Neenah, WI; Barton-upon-Humber, U.K.; Jaromer, Czech Republic
ISO Status: Certification achieved in Berkeley, NC, Lexington, NC, LaGrange, GA, and Barton (U.K.); other facilities in progress
Processes: Spunbond, meltblown, SMS, BCW, hydroentangled, film lamination, elastic lamination and Coform
Brands: Kimberly-Clark Professional; Protective Fabrics: Block-It, Dustop, Evolution, and Noah; Filtration Media: Intrepid, Powerloft, Cyclean
Major Markets: Filtration, acoustics, consumer hygiene, industrial, medical, packaging, protective, sorbents, textile linings and wet wipes

One of the world’s largest users of nonwovens, Kimberly-Clark is also one of the biggest producers of nonwovens in the world. While much of this company’s output fuels its enormous consumer products business, including Huggies Disposable diapers, Depend adult incontinence and Kotex feminine hygiene products, Kimberly-Clark’s Partnership Products business sells nonwoven substrates within a total of six categories— filtration, protective fabrics, acoustics, absorbents, advanced personal care and wet wipe delivery systems.

While the major brands are what K-C is known best for, executives say developing the external nonwovens business, which represent about 15% of total output, is just as important to the company as the nonwovens used internally.

“The Partnership Products team leverages various, and often proprietary, nonwovens technologies manufactured by Kimberly-Clark,” says Michele Neher, business development manager, Kimberly-Clark Professional Partnership Products. “We partner with outside companies that purchase these materials and convert them into end-use products. Our nonwovens are used as components of products you may use every day.

“We focus our attention on markets where we can provide differentiated technology and performance and where we can be a strategic, long-term partner with our customers,” says Neher. “We sell our nonwoven roll goods to both converters and branded product manufacturers. These customers value getting the same product performance people associate with Kimberly-Clark’s billion dollar brands.”

At the core of K-C Professional Partnership Products is the Exceptional Products initiative. All of the business unit’s products and activities center around the goal of making people’s lives healthier, safer and more productive whether it be an air filtration product that improves indoor air quality, protective fabrics to safeguard high value property or wiping substrates used in medical, industrial and consumer products.

“Our success lies in the depth of our capability and experience in delivering value-added, innovative nonwoven solutions to our customers that enable them to win by bringing exceptional products to market,” says Tony Fedel, business leader of K-C Professional Partnership Products.

Products being sold by Partnership Products include fine fiber metlblown applications used in high performance wipes areas, dual texture meltblown applications for industrial wipes areas, Hydroknit Material, Ultrasoft spunbond, SMS nonwovens and Coform. These products are made at sites in Wisconsin, North Carolina, Arkansas and Mississippi.

In terms of corporate sales, K-C reported a 1% increase to $21.1 billion last year and sales are expected to grow 2-3% by volume in 2013. These volumes account for lower sales in Europe where K-C announced in late 2012 it would exit the disposable diaper business. K-C said it would exit the European diaper market, except for Italy, and would divest some lower margin businesses in the consumer tissue market. At the time of the announcement, CEO Thomas Falk said the move would facilitate growth in other parts of the world.

The closures reportedly affected five diaper plants, which in total employed 1200-1500 employees.

Amidst this change, K-C continues to focus on building its global brands by providing products that improve the lives of its consumers. Within U by Kotex, a feminine hygiene brand targeting younger women, K-C introduced U by Kotex Extra pads—a new, super premium maxi pad designed to keep girls feeling clean and fresh while providing maximum, heavy duty protection. The brand’s most absorbent pad yet, U by Kotex Extra pads provide such outstanding protection that the U by Kotex brand invites girls to put it to the test in their own “real life product demos” and experience firsthand how it performs and looks like no other.

“The U by Kotex brand knows girls are too smart to believe the absurd, unrealistic demos that some feminine care brands use to prove their products work,” says Kanchan Patkar, U by Kotex senior brand manager, Kimberly-Clark. “When it comes to protection, real life is the only test that matters; so we encourage girls to try and see for themselves how the U by Kotex Extra pad protects against their heaviest flows.”

With the launch of U by Kotex Extra pads, the U by Kotex brand, which was established in 2010, offers a full spectrum of coverage absorbency including U by Kotex Click and Sleek tampons, U by Kotex CleanWear pads and U by Kotex BarelyThere and Curves liners. The new U by Kotex Extra pads have a soft dual cover that keeps wearers clean and dry, an ultra-flexible four-layer absorbency system and Tru-Fit wings that help prevent bunching and scrunching and keep the pad in place. Like all U by Kotex brand products, U by Kotex Extra pads feature a bold, edgy aesthetic and fun colors that continue to challenge the boring and institutional look of feminine care.

Within the baby and family care segment, K-C has expanded its GoodNites disposable underwear with a new design that fits more like real underwear. New GoodNites Underwear can help kids boost their self-esteem by empowering them to participate without drawing unwanted attention to their condition.

“Many parents are unaware that bedwetting is a developmental condition that cannot be overcome through training, and it affects one out of every six kids between the ages of 4-12 years old,” says Jen Wilder, GoodNites brand director for Kimberly-Clark Corp. “We want to provide effective bedwetting solutions and also educate parents on how to best support their child. This new Undercover Mission will help make the journey easier for their children.”

Providing solutions for its customers also led to the creation of Depend Guards and Shields, two products specifically designed for men with light bladder leakage. Depend Guards and Shields are made to fi t a man’s body and can be worn securely in a man’s own underwear. Depend Guards for Men fit like an athletic cup so they stay close to the body and feature maximum absorbency for larger surges. Depend Shields for Men are ultra-thin and offer light absorbency for drips and dribbles.

On the professional side of its business, K-C this year developed a suite of wipes, under its Kimtech brand, to address the unique needs of the aviation industry and help workers perform more productively and efficiently. This aviation-certified wiping solutions meet the requirements of Aerospace Material Specification(AMS) 3819C (Aerospace industry requirement) and Boeing Material Specification (BMS) 15-5F (Boeing).

Kimtech Wipes for aviation are specifically engineered to perform in all areas of Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) and Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) operations — including paint surface prep, engine maintenance and general-purpose cleaning. These application-driven solutions are designed to deliver superior cleaning, improve operational efficiencies, reduce turn-around time, and maximize productivity while meeting the precision standards and requirements of the aviation industry.

“Aviation industry workers must have the best wiping tools available to make sure every job is done right the first time,” says Marianne Santangelo, go-to-market leader, Manufacturing, Kimberly-Clark Professional. “Our goal is to provide them with a comprehensive range of customized tools that reduce waste and costs and increase efficiency. This supports our vision of creating Exceptional Workplaces that help keep workers healthier, safer and more productive.”

Kimtech Wipes for aviation are available in four categories: Abrasive Wipes, Surface Preparation Wipes, Cleaning Wipes and a Wet Wipe System. The products also feature an intuitive, alpha-numeric, performance-tier identification system with visual cues that make it easier for technicians to identify the right product for the task.