The Times Australia
Business and Money

Kimberly-Clark Australia and Woolworths set to reduce plastic waste


Kimberly-Clark Australia, one of the nation’s leading personal care product manufacturers, has partnered with Woolworths on a packaging trial that’s set to remove tonnes of plastic waste from supermarkets and supply chains across the country. 


As part of an ongoing commitment to cut virgin plastic usage by half by 2030, the partnership will enable Kimberly-Clark Australia to save 15 tonnes of plastic annually - equivalent to approximately 1.6 million 500ml plastic water bottles.


The trial saw VIVA paper towels packed directly onto pallets for Woolworths, without the use of secondary packaging or ‘bundling’ - which is commonplace across most supply chains for product transportation and is often ‘invisible’ to consumers, as it’s removed prior to products hitting shelves. 


After over a year in development and testing, the packaging trial reached stores in mid-September and has been deemed a preliminary success, with staff highlighting time efficiencies for stock replenishment and plastic disposal as an additional benefit to the change. Both parties have agreed to continue with the new approach and actualise those plastic savings. 


Commenting on the trial, Adam Carpenter, Mill Manager at Kimberly-Clark Australia, said:  

“Aussie consumers are looking to us to reduce plastic across the board, so we've worked incredibly hard with the Woolworths team to bring this trial to life - and it’s safe to say we’re thrilled with results to date. 


“Removing an ‘invisible’ layer of packaging might not sound like a major achievement, but it represents a significant change to the way products have been manufactured and distributed across Australia for many years - and it’s taken a great deal of problem-solving and persistence to deliver these savings. 


“Rethinking our approach to packaging - and how things have always been done - was instrumental to the success of this project, and now we’ve shown what’s possible, we’ll be looking at other opportunities to roll this out further. We’re looking forward to future collaborations with our customers, including Woolworths, that help reduce plastic waste in Australia.” 


Tim Moffatt, Woolworths Category Manager for Paper Goods, Period & Continence Care at Woolworths, added: 

"We're really pleased to see our trade partners working to remove and reduce unnecessary plastic packaging through the supply chain. Packaging used to transport products through our network can be a significant opportunity for sustainability improvements but requires close collaboration to ensure team safety and product quality is maintained.”


More information about Kimberly-Clark Australia and its portfolio of personal care brands can be found here

Business Times

Agentforce for Financial Services: Merging AI and Human Expertise…

In this rapidly evolving world of financial services, deploying customer experiences that are personalized and intelligen...

Samsara Eco and lululemon announce 10 year partnership

lululemon and Samsara Eco Announce 10-Year Plan to Advance Recycled Material Portfolio Plan will see lululemon source a...

Barelli Bathrooms announces celebrity interior designer Kellie Ri…

Barelli Bathrooms, a leading name in contemporary bathroom accessories and design, is proud to announce its new national ...

The Times Features

How to Tell If Your Eyes Are Working Harder Than They Should Be

Image by freepik Most of us take our vision for granted—until it starts to let us down. Whether it's squinting at your phone, rubbing your eyes at the end of the day, or feeling ...

Ways to Attract Tenants in a Competitive Rental Market

In the kind of rental market we’ve got now, standing out is half the battle. The other half? Actually getting someone to sign that lease. With interest rates doing backflips and ...

Top Tips for Finding the Ideal Block to Build Your Home

There’s something deeply personal and exciting about building your own home. You’re not just choosing paint colours or furniture, you’re creating a space that reflects your lifes...

The Home Buying Process Explained Step by Step

Buying a home is a thrilling milestone, but it can also feel like navigating a maze without a map. With paperwork, finances, and decisions at every turn, understanding the home-b...

Thinking of Selling Your Home? Here’s What You Need to Know

Selling a home is more than just putting up a “For Sale” sign. It’s a strategic process that involves preparation, pricing, and negotiation - all aimed at getting the best value ...

Smart Ways to Earn Passive Income from Real Estate

Imagine making money without doing much work. You get paid even while you sleep, travel, or do fun things. This is called passive income. Indeed, real estate has great ways to do...