SINGAPORE, May 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark
today switched on one of Singapore's largest solar energy installations
at its manufacturing facility in Tuas, which produces Huggies
diapers and Huggies baby wipes. The 7,730 photovoltaic panels
mounted on its roof will generate 3.5 Gigawatt hours of clean
energy, enough to power up a thousand 3-bedroom HDB flats for a
year.
With this investment, renewable energy will now replace 15% of
conventional energy use at the plant, reducing greenhouse gas
emissions (GHGs) by approximately 1,600 metric tons per year. This
is equivalent to removing nearly 350 passenger cars from roads
annually.
Kimberly-Clark's Tuas plant has a long track record of reducing
its environmental footprint. In 2016, it launched an in-house
wastewater treatment plant that recycles 75% of the water used in
its wet wipes production.
Since 2017, it has partnered with Ngee
Ann polytechnic researchers to find utility for material
waste generated during its production process, as part of its
broader efforts to re-use or recycle 100% of its waste.
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."
Through continued investments in climate and energy programs at
its operations around the world, Kimberly-Clark has embarked on a
long-term effort to minimize climate change impact from its
operations and at the same time transform its financial
performance.
Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, Singapore's Minister for the Environment and
Water Resources, was the guest of honour at the inauguration.
He said, "I am glad to see enterprises such as Kimberly-Clark
Corporation step up efforts to adopt renewable energy. Sustainable
development is not just central to the mitigation of climate change
and protection of the environment. When thoughtfully incorporated,
it can benefit business operations and reduce costs in the long
run."
The solar roof panels were installed in partnership with
Singapore-based solar energy
provider Sunseap, which has played an instrumental role in the
development of many grid-connected PV systems, pioneering the solar
energy movement in Singapore.
"We are pleased to work with Kimberly-Clark in their efforts to
go green. As the leading integrated clean energy solutions provider
in Singapore, we encourage all
companies to look for ways to be environmentally friendly in their
business. There are various measures companies can take to reduce
their carbon footprint including tapping renewable energy for their
operations and going paperless in their day-to-day work," said
Frank Phuan, CEO and Executive Director, Sunseap Group.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an
indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries.
Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's
most essential needs, we create products that help individuals
experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of
brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle,
Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve,
Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position
in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a
healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business
thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to
learn more about the company's 147-year history of innovation,
visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or
Twitter.
[KMB-C]
View original content to download
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kimberly-clark-switches-on-one-of-singapores-largest-solar-roofs-at-tuas-300856024.html
SOURCE Kimberly-Clark