Kimberly-Clark & BNZ Boost Green Manufacturing through Solar
When considering the sustainability of Kleenex, paper may be the first thing that comes to mind, but the energy consumed during manufacturing is also a crucial factor.
Kimberly-Clark, the company behind Kleenex, Huggies and Kotex, has announced a multi-country partnership with BNZ to support three virtual solar power purchase agreements (vPPAs).
“Kimberly-Clark's collaboration with BNZ is another example of our dedication to make progress in our decarbonisation journey," says Oriol Margó, Sustainability Leader at Kimberly-Clark.
“The renewable energy generation of the new solar farms will be equivalent to over 40% of the total electricity consumed by our European production facilities.
“Energy transformation is a key priority for us and through these projects we are increasing the amount of renewable electricity available in the grids that we draw from, which also benefits the community.
“We continue to invest in the future of the planet, our business and our industry, with our consumers and customers in mind, and hope to encourage other organisations to do the same.”
Who is BNZ?
BNZ is an independent power producer that develops, builds and operates solar photovoltaic projects in Southern Europe.
Its primary goal is to generate 100% renewable energy to contribute to a more sustainable future.
BNZ is part of the portfolio of Nuveen Infrastructure, one of Europe’s largest renewable energy fund managers.
“This multi-country PPA agreement with a leading industrial client committed to sustainability represents a significant milestone for BNZ," says BNZ’s Head of Revenues, Rodrigo López.
“At the same time, it reflects a growing trend: more and more companies are choosing long-term contracts that not only ensure energy stability but also reinforce their responsibility to create a more sustainable world.
“This shift not only benefits businesses but also drives meaningful progress for society and the economy as a whole.”
Kimberly-Clark & sustainability
“Sustainability is a key component of the Kimberly-Clark innovation strategy,” says Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO at Kimberly-Clark in its 2023 Sustainability Report.
“As the world becomes increasingly complex, we at Kimberly-Clark will continue to raise the bar for ourselves in how we serve the needs of consumers, customers, employees, society and shareholders.”
By 2030, Kimberly-Clark aims to cut its Scope 1 and 2 absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 50% from a 2015 baseline.
It is also working to reduce its plastics footprint and seeks to improve the wellbeing of a billion people in vulnerable and underserved communities.
Kimberly-Clark’s strategic approach to green energy
Kimberly-Clark’s virtual power purchase agreements with BNZ will support two solar projects in Italy and one in Spain, set to commence operations in the second quarter of 2025.
The Italian projects are based in Camposcala and Rinaldone, while the Spanish project is located in Santa Catalina.
These agreements are expected to generate 164GWh of renewable electricity annually, covering more than 40% of the total electricity demand of Kimberly-Clark’s production facilities across Western and Central Europe.
Beyond this partnership, Kimberly-Clark is involved in several other renewable energy initiatives, including:
A £75 million (US$96 million) onshore wind farm in Scotland, which began operating in 2023 and generates 160,000MWh of electricity per year
Rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at its manufacturing site in Cape Town, South Africa, installed in 2024, producing 3,700MWh annually
One of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at its Salamanca facility in Spain, completed in January 2025, delivering 6,500MWh of renewable power each year
Explore the latest edition of Manufacturing Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Manufacturing LIVE.
Sign up to our weekly newsletter here.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Manufacturing Digital is a BizClik brand.
