The Kimberly-Clark Australia Millicent Mill has achieved a perfect score as it is now diverting 100% of waste away from landfill through reuse and recycling initiatives.
It has been working towards this goal for several years as part of its environmental stewardship focus.
The mill has achieved this zero-waste milestone through several key initiatives:
All organic-based materials – including off-quality tissue boxes, loose cardboard, off-quality lotion-treated tissue, and cardboard cores – are responsibly managed offsite through composting practices.
Used fabrics and felts are offered to employees and the wider community for reuse, with any remaining material sent to Gambier Earth Movers for landscaping purposes.
In line with its premise of environmental stewardship, the Millicent Mill actively collects used batteries onsite, which are then bulked and recycled locally.
The Millicent Mill has initiated a program for collecting used plastic pails (made of HDPE) for the Eucalyptus element of key products, as well as damaged plastic pallets for the supply chain.
These materials are transported to Sustainable Plastic Solutions in Hamilton, where they undergo cleaning and processing into chips for recycling.
Having reached 98% of waste reduction last year, KCA recently partnered with Waste ResourceCo, which is now repurposing the final 2% of waste into energy for its site in Adelaide.
Looking forward to the future, Kimberly-Clark has ambitious targets to drive efficiencies and reduce emissions further.
Its state-of-the-art electricity cogeneration facility at Millicent Mill plays a critical role in energy efficiency, capable of generating 95% of electricity onsite – with the company now exploring the opportunity to use green hydrogen as an alternative energy source too.
Millicent Mill manager Adam Carpenter said the plant’s 400 employees and contractors were thrilled about the strides made at Millicent Mill in achieving zero waste.
“Sustainability has always been a core value for us, and this accomplishment is not only significant for our team but also for the broader Australian manufacturing sector – as it demonstrates that this is possible,” Mr Carpenter said.
“Moving forward, we remain committed to furthering our environmental efforts.
“Having surpassed our initial greenhouse gas reduction goal early in 2022, our current focus is on reducing our Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50%, by 2030.
“As of 2023 we have achieved over 30% in reduction efforts, so we’re well on-track and actively exploring various avenues to drive this figure even lower in the years to come.
“Being based in South Australia, a region renowned for its leadership in climate action and electrical network decarbonisation, is advantageous.
“We’re capitalising on this by exploring electrification, direct access to renewable energy sources, and collaborative ventures in green hydrogen generation with industry and government partners to help meet our reduction targets.
“We take pride in our Australian manufacturing base, and we hope our efforts inspire others to prioritise sustainability and contribute to our collective goal of preserving our planet.”
