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December 28, 2022
NEENAH – With brands such as Cottonelle®, Depend®, Huggies®, Kleenex®, Poise®, Scott® – you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t used a Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) product at some point in their lives.
In fact, according to the 150-year-old company’s website, a quarter of the world’s population use a Kimberly-Clark product every day.
The personal care product manufacturer went all out to celebrate its century-and-a-half milestone – gathering employees from around the globe, including Chairman and CEO Mike Hsu, to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange late last year.
Hsu called the milestone historic and a testament to the company’s hard work and dedication to its employees.
“For 150 years, our team has transformed insights into new categories and products that have made a difference in the lives of billions of people around the world,” Hsu said. “Our commitment to help people with their most essential needs remains core to how we deliver meaningful innovation and bring to life our purpose of ‘Better Care for a Better World.’”
From its humble 1872 beginnings at Neenah’s Globe Mill to a presence in more than 172 countries, thousands of employees and $19.4 billion sales in 2021 – Kimberly-Clark has come a long way in the last century and a half.
Originally known as Kimberly, Clark and Company, the company – founded by Charles B. Clark, Frank C. Shattuck, Havilah Babcock and John A. Kimberly – started by making all-rag newsprint.
As time passed the company began adding more mills and products – each more innovative than the next.
Pete Dulcamara, vice president of corporate research and site leader for the Neenah Innovation and Operational Excellence Center, said Kimberly-Clark is a company that has reinvented itself every 50 years.
“The company’s first sale was a stack of writing paper produced from recycled rags and linens at its newly opened Globe Mill in Neenah on Oct. 22, 1872,” he said. “For the next 50 years, Kimberly-Clark grew as a paper company, not only with recycled rags, but also with the burgeoning lumber industry to create what became known as Paper Valley.”
The next reinvention, Dulcamara said, came in 1914 with the hiring of Ernst Mahler who created Kimberly-Clark’s first industrial research department in Neenah.
This is the only known image of the four Kimberly-Clark founders together. Clockwise from top left are Charles B. Clark, Frank C. Shattuck, Havilah Babcock and John A. Kimberly. Submitted Photo
“(He) asked the question, ‘what if we could turn a tree into cotton?’” he said. “The answer to that question led to the invention of Cellucotton, and in 1920, Kimberly-Clark launched the modern feminine hygiene category, under the Kotex® brand, with new-to-the-world products that corresponded with women’s right to vote in the United States.”
Dulcamara said these products, along with Kleenex® brand tissues in 1924, led to another 50 years of growth as a consumer products company.
“The next reinvention happened in 1972 when researchers asked the question, ‘what if we could make paper out of plastic?’” he said. “(Which led to the) invention (of) nonwoven fabrics that led to Huggies®, Pull-Ups®, Depend®, Poise® and another 50 years of growth as a personal care company.”
As the company completes its 150th year, Dulcamara said “we are asking, ‘what will propel us for the next 50 years?’”
“We believe it is to become a ‘smart and sustainable enterprise’ that embeds intelligence into our products and processes, and to make our products and processes more sustainable,” he said.
Innovative from the beginning
Dulcamara said the company’s history of innovation began with its founders who established a culture that encouraged entrepreneurial spirit, experimentation in product development and creativity in marketing – all of which are still alive in Neenah today.
“As Kimberly-Clark grew, so did our reputation as a company,” he said. “Our people turn ideas into beneficial realities for our customers, shoppers and users.”
Dulcamara said Kimberly-Clark’s passion for creating “better care for a better world for people everywhere” has driven the company to invent five of its eight major consumer product categories – facial tissue, paper towels, toilet paper on a roll, feminine pads and disposable training pants – most of which were created right here in Neenah.
“For 150 years, Kimberly-Clark has had the foresight to find new ways to make lives better,” he said. “From creating new categories to starting new conversations, we are constantly innovating our products and our practices to serve and care for the ever-changing needs of the people we touch at all life stages.”
Dulcamara said a couple of things come to mind in regard to how Kimberly-Clark stands out in the industry.
Papermaking at the Globe Mill required a great volume of linen and cloth rags. Women who worked side by side sorting these rags by hand, were known in earlier years as “queen’s row.” Submitted Photo
“First, is its ability to transform insights and technologies into innovative products and services that improve the lives of nearly a quarter of the world’s population,” he said.
Dulcamara said it’s remarkable what Kimberly-Clark has been able to accomplish over the last 150 years and how far it has come.
“The way we live out our company values – ‘We Care, We Own, We Act’ – is something that makes Kimberly-Clark special,” he said. “Our values are at the core of everything we do.”
Dulcamara said that dedication is shown by keeping its employees safe, while producing the highest quality products in its manufacturing sites.
“Everything we do is a result of our strong core values that our employees live out each and every day,” he said.
Dulcamara said the work the company’s research and engineering team does at the Kimberly-Clark Innovation and Operational Excellence Center off Winchester Road helps fuel the company’s growth and future for the next 150-plus years.
“We thank the Neenah community and all of our Kimberly-Clark employees for their support and dedication,” he said.
Dulcamara said billions of people choose Kimberly-Clark products each day.
“That’s a big responsibility that inspires us every day to fulfill our purpose to provide better care for a better world,” he said.
Paying it forward
In honor of the company’s 150th anniversary, Dulcamara said the Kimberly-Clark Foundation announced three $150,000 grants to nonprofit organizations that work to improve the well-being of people around the world.
“Since its inception in 1952, the foundation has provided more than $440 million in financial support to targeted causes that align with the company’s social impact goals,” he said. “In addition, Kimberly-Clark’s North American team donated a $150,000 grant to the Neenah Joint School District to be used to further STEM educational opportunities throughout the district.”
Dulcamara said as Kimberly-Clark looks ahead to future innovation and growth, it is working on finding new ways to give consumers the essentials, while safeguarding natural systems.
“These ambitions are at the forefront of continued strategic investments in global research and the development of sustainable raw materials, alternative fibers, nonwovens materials science, intelligent washroom technologies and other benefit areas,” he said.
Kimberly-Clark employees from around the globe gathered to celebrate the company’s 150th anniversary at the New York Stock Exchange. Submitted Photo
Innovation and advanced technology, Dulcamara said, have allowed Kimberly-Clark to bring more sustainable products to market – including 100% biodegradable baby wipes made with plant derived fibers, bath tissue made with 100% bamboo fiber and wrapped in recycled paper packaging and reusable products.
“While consumer needs are at the center of Kimberly-Clark’s current efforts, it’s humanity-centric innovation that provides the inspiration for its global research and development teams to think about where the company might be in the next 150 years,” he said. “With a focus on affordability, accessibility, availability and acceptability for a diverse array of people, Kimberly-Clark is working to create long-term, sustainable change and deliver on its purpose to create a better future for people around the world.”
