DALLAS, May 24, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Menstrual
Hygiene Day is May 28 and
Kimberly-Clark is engaging consumers, communities and
employees in a global effort to improve access to menstrual hygiene
management.
Kimberly-Clark's commitment to menstrual hygiene began nearly
100 years ago with the introduction of the world's first disposable
menstrual pads under the Kotex brand. Today, the company
is extending its mission with innovative programs that address
period poverty, defined as the lack of access to menstrual hygiene
products, knowledge and basic sanitation that enable women to
manage their periods with dignity.
"Kotex has been championing women's progress for nearly 100
years by challenging the stigma in the society to make sure neither
a period nor the negative perceptions of it stand in the way of any
woman's progress," said Deniz
Gurler, senior brand manager for U by Kotex®. "We
are taking that promise one step further by supporting women and
girls whose futures can be changed by access to period supplies and
education."
Supporting Women in Need through the Alliance for Period
Supplies
Research conducted last year by Kimberly-Clark's U by Kotex
brand found one in four women in the
United States struggles to purchase period products due to
lack of income. To bridge this gap, U by Kotex in 2018 helped found
the Alliance for Period Supplies.
The program celebrated its first anniversary on May 1 and works with more than 60 allied programs
nationwide to distribute free period supplies to local partners,
schools, shelters and other facilities serving low-income
individuals and families. To date, more than 17 million period
products have been distributed through the network.
Select retail partners are also teaming up with U by
Kotex throughout the year, linking purchases of U by Kotex
products to an additional donation to reach even more individuals
in need. Purchases will spark a donation of two period
products to the Alliance for Period Supplies.
Driving Global Change with Plan International USA
Around the world, Kimberly-Clark partners with organizations to
improve basic sanitation in communities at risk, including Plan
International USA, Water Aid and
Water For People. Clean, secure public toilet facilities help women
and girls manage their periods with dignity.
In Bolivia, where approximately
one in two girls do not have a hygienic way to manage their
period because of poor bathroom conditions, the company's
partnership with Plan International USA funded the construction of 27 new
bathrooms in four schools over the past year while providing
educational information to local communities about menstruation and
menstrual hygiene.
Kimberly-Clark joined Plan International USA and Plan UK this week to discuss global
menstrual hygiene challenges and the impact on girls through a
#MenstrualHygieneChat hosted on Twitter. The full conversation
can be found on the @PlanUSA and @PlanUK Twitter
accounts.
Kimberly-Clark Employees Mobilize for Period Progress on
May 28
On Menstrual Hygiene Day, Kimberly-Clark employees will have the
opportunity to join period supply drives benefitting the Alliance
for Period Supplies network.
"We have 40,000 employees worldwide who can become ambassadors
for period progress," said Gurler. "The conversations and actions
we take today will help improve health, wellbeing and opportunities
for women and girls tomorrow. We are united in our mission to end
period poverty."
Menstrual Hygiene Day is a global awareness program introduced
by Wash United in 2014 to bring global attention to the lack of
menstrual hygiene management access, education and sanitation
affecting millions of women and girls.
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.
About Alliance for Period Supplies
The Alliance for
Period Supplies is an initiative of the National Diaper Bank
Network (NDBN)—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that leads a
nationwide movement aimed at helping individuals and families who
struggle to afford material basic needs. Launched in May 2018, with
the support of founding sponsor U by Kotex, the Alliance for Period
Supplies raises national awareness of period poverty
(#endperiodpoverty) and supports the development and expansion of
period supply programs in communities throughout the country. The
organization is comprised of Allied Programs that collect,
warehouse and distribute menstrual/period supplies in local
communities. More information on Alliance for Period Supplies is
available at allianceforperiodsupplies.org, and on Twitter
(@PeriodSupplies) and Facebook
(facebook.com/AllianceForPeriodSupplies).
About Plan International USA
Plan International
USA is an independent development
and humanitarian organization that advances children's rights and
equality for girls. Plan believes in the power and potential of
every child. Working together with children, young people,
supporters, and partners, Plan strives for a just world, tackling
the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable
children.
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SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation