DNR Seeking Public Comments On Green Tier Application For Kimberly-Clark

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is seeking public comments on a proposed Green Tier application for Kimberly - Clark's manufacturing facility in Marinette. If accepted, the application would allow the Marinette facility to join Tier 1 of the Green Tier program. The proposal covers activities at the facility located on Riverside Ave. in Marinette.

The DNR’s voluntary Green Tier program empowers organizations that are on the path to sustainability by helping them use a systematic approach to minimize environmental risk. Green Tier offers three options for participation. Participants can be individual entities, like a single business, or groups, such as related businesses or organizations with common goals.

Tier 1 of the Green Tier Program is designed to encourage, recognize, and reward companies that are committed to superior environmental performance. Applicants must have a strong environmental record and agree to implement an environmental management system, which will be used to set goals, assess their progress and identify opportunities for improvement. Participants must have that system audited on a regular basis and set goals and objectives aimed towards maintaining superior environmental performance. The DNR welcomes comments from Kimberly-Clark’s customers, neighbors and stakeholders through Oct. 1, 2021.

Kimberly-Clark’s Marinette facility employs about 230 people in the production of Scott® Shop Towels, Scott® Rags-in-a-Box, Wypall® wiping products for the workplace and Viva® paper towels for household and consumer use worldwide. The Marinette facility would join several other Kimberly-Clark facilities in Green Tier, including the Kimtech® facility (joined in 2017), Neenah Cold Springs facility (joined in 2015), and the Kimberly-Clark Experimental facility (joined in 2006).

“At Kimberly-Clark, we believe that better lives happen in healthy environments, and we are committed to innovating new ways to give consumers the essentials they need while safeguarding natural systems and the life they support,” said Joe Canning, Plant Manager at Kimberly-Clark’s Marinette Manufacturing Facility. “Sustainability is at the heart of our operations at Marinette, and our team is excited to continue making progress on our sustainability goals as we work to cut our environmental footprint in half by 2030.”

Prior to its Tier 1 application, Kimberly Clark’s Marinette manufacturing facility implemented a company-wide Green Tier functionally equivalent environmental management system. Future goals include eliminating manufacturing waste from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and continuing to source all fiber from environmentally responsible sources.  

Kimberly-Clark also recently introduced their 2030 ambition and sustainability goals which are aimed at addressing the social and environmental challenges of the next decade. Commitments include improving the lives and well-being of 1 billion people in underserved communities around the world with the smallest environmental footprint. To have the greatest impact, the company is focused on climate, forests, water and plastics.

The DNR will accept written comments until Oct. 1, 2021. Please direct comments to Weston Wegener at weston.wegener@wisconsin.gov or 608-284-0908.

For more information, please visit our Green Tier Kimberly-Clark webpage.