Dive Brief:
- Kimberly-Clark launched an alternative natural fiber program to transform fibers from succulent plants into a sustainable material used in the manufacturing of products, according to an Aug. 3 press release.
- As part of the program, the company is building a pilot facility in Yuma, Arizona, to evaluate the hesperaloe plant, which the consumer-packaged goods manufacturer identified as potential year-round fiber source to be used within its hygiene products.
- The company’s natural fiber program is expected to help advance integration plans for its pending acquisition of Kenvue, reduce natural forest fiber cost volatility and make progress against its natural forest fiber-free ambitions, CEO Michael Hsu said in an Aug. 4 earnings call.
Dive Insight:
Kimberly-Clark latest natural fiber program aims to strengthen the long-term sustainability of its fiber supply.
“This program has the potential to give us more flexibility in how we source fiber in the future and strengthen the resilience of our supply chain over the long term,” Lisa Morden, chief sustainability officer at Kimberly-Clark told Supply Chain Dive in an email. “It's part of our efforts to explore additional fiber sources and reduce dependence on traditional options.”
For the time being, the CPG manufacturer is focused on testing and learning as it advances the program with growers, technical experts and local stakeholders across the Southwest.
“We believe the technology could eventually be used across our hygiene products portfolio, but it's still early, and we're not sharing specific commercialization timelines at this point,” Morden said.
As it experiments with a new material source, Kimberly-Clark has achieved several supply chain innovation wins this year. For example, the company finished installing an end-to-end procurement software, piloted an artificial intelligence agent in its manufacturing network and launched an academy-based learning program to future-proof its supply chain.
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