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Kimberly-Clark Enhances Global Partnerships for Essential Health

On October 9, 2025, Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ: KMB) announced deeper commitments focused on advancing essential health services for women and girls through enhanced global partnerships. The company aims to extend access to life-changing care to approximately 24 million women and girls across Brazil, Peru, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United States. This ambitious initiative is supported by four strategic partnerships with Baby2Baby, Plan International, Project HOPE, and UNICEF, each designed to tackle pressing health issues facing women and girls today.

Transforming Lives with Strategic Partnerships

The motivation behind this initiative stems from Kimberly-Clark's redefined strategic focus through its Foundation, emphasizing essential health for women and girls during pivotal stages such as puberty and motherhood. With an impressive $28.7 million commitment over three years, the foundation will support projects that significantly improve menstrual health and maternal-infant care.

Health issues affecting women remain an unprecedented global challenge. According to WHO statistics, a woman or baby dies from childbirth-related complications every seven seconds. This is coupled with approximately 500 million women and girls worldwide lacking access to effective menstrual management resources, as noted by the World Bank. Despite the harsh realities, opportunities to empower women abound; indeed, the World Economic Forum notes that investments in women’s health yield unmatched societal returns.

Mike Hsu, President and CEO of Kimberly-Clark, articulated this vision, stating, "We envision a world where all women and girls have equal access to the basic health care they need to thrive." Kimberly-Clark has been dedicated to women's health since it pioneered female hygiene products in 1921 and remains steadfast in addressing unmet consumer needs through innovative products and impactful social programs.

Focus on Underserved Communities

The funded programs will primarily target disadvantaged communities, employing key initiatives such as menstrual hygiene education and stigma reduction for adolescents, expanding access to safe sanitation solutions, comprehensive perinatal and neonatal care, maternal mental health support, and strategies to bolster health systems aimed at improving outcomes for the most vulnerable.

Priority Partnerships for Lasting Impact

The partnership with Baby2Baby has provided essential baby products to impoverished families since its initiation in 2011. In 2024, Huggies® expanded its alliance to specifically address the surging maternal mortality rates in the U.S. by collaborating with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative distributes health maternal and neonatal supply kits, linking the essential need for diapers with maternal and neonatal health, and mental well-being.

Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof from Baby2Baby remarked on this vital partnership, thanking Kimberly-Clark for their unwavering support and commitment to making a meaningful impact in maternal health initiatives across 15 states.

Changing Lives through Menstrual Health Empowerment

Since 2020, Kimberly-Clark has worked in tandem with Plan International and Kotex® to improve menstrual health awareness for 11 million people across the U.S., Brazil, China, and Peru. By cultivating menstrual-friendly community and school environments, this collaboration guarantees access to essential supplies, sanitary facilities, and empowering educational resources, enabling girls to confidently manage their menstrual cycles with dignity.

"Menstrual health is key to unlocking the potential of girls," stressed Kate Ezzes, VP of Program Development at Plan International USA, highlighting the transformative effect of involving young boys as allies in breaking stigmas associated with menstruation.

Expanding Maternal and Menstrual Health Access

Kimberly-Clark continues its collaboration with Project HOPE, which seeks to broaden access to menstrual and reproductive health services among women and girls in China and Indonesia. This initiative focuses on menstrual hygiene education, respectful maternal care, and mental health support, thereby empowering individuals through every life stage, from puberty to pregnancy and early motherhood.

Dr. Uche Ralph-Opara from Project HOPE emphasized, "Our collaboration with Kimberly-Clark is geared towards ensuring women and girls receive the dignified care and opportunities they deserve—focusing on holistic support from first menstruation through pregnancy and beyond."

A Longstanding Commitment to Health and Dignity

With nearly 25 years of partnership with UNICEF, Kimberly-Clark is set to deepen its commitment toward enhancing menstrual hygiene education and maternal health access for young mothers across several countries. Kitty van der Heijden, Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF Partnerships, noted the importance of an ongoing collaboration that has positively impacted nearly 14 million lives through maternal and neonatal care, drinking water access, sanitation, hygiene services, and emergency relief.

As Kimberly-Clark aligns with vital health sectors—menstrual care and maternal-child health—this integrated approach enables them to tackle intertwined challenges systematically rather than in isolation. Their market-leading brands already serve these populations with essential products such as diapers and menstrual hygiene solutions, positioning them for substantial and meaningful impact.

Leading with Care for a Better World

Russ Torres, Kimberly-Clark's COO, conveyed the essence of the company's mission: "We strive to lead with care in everything we do... the heart of Kimberly-Clark is care. These strategic partnerships enhance our ability to ensure women and girls worldwide receive the essential support they deserve."

The Foundation's emphasis on women’s and girls’ health aligns with Kimberly-Clark’s goal of providing "Better Care for a Better World". This vision is further supported by the company's Powering Care strategy, contributing to Kimberly-Clark’s ambition of positively impacting one billion lives by 2030.

For more details regarding Kimberly-Clark's 2030 ambitions and the ongoing initiatives of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, please visit Kimberly-Clark's Sustainability efforts.