Kimberly-Clark Expands Global Partnerships for Women's Healthcare

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NASDAQ: KMB) has recently made significant strides to enhance women's healthcare through the establishment of four new global partnerships with notable organizations, including Baby2Baby, Plan International, Project HOPE, and UNICEF. This initiative aims to improve access to vital health services for an estimated 24 million women and girls over the next three years in countries such as Brazil, Peru, China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the United States.

The announcement reflects a renewed focus from the Kimberly-Clark Foundation to bolster basic healthcare for women and girls, especially during their puberty and motherhood stages. To drive this mission, the foundation has pledged $28.7 million over three years, specifically targeting menstrual hygiene and maternal and child health services.

The Urgency of Women's Health

Women's health continues to present significant challenges worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, a woman or infant dies every seven seconds during or shortly after childbirth. Furthermore, around 500 million women and girls lack access to menstrual hygiene resources, as reported by the World Bank. Despite the daunting environment, investing in women's health has proven benefits for entire communities, as noted by the World Economic Forum, which states that investing in women's health is unmatched in terms of returns for societal health.

Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO of Kimberly-Clark and President of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation, expressed the company's vision: "We dream of a world where women and girls everywhere have equal access to the essential care they need to thrive. Since creating the feminine hygiene category in 1921, Kimberly-Clark has been dedicated to improving the health and well-being of women and girls. We take on this responsibility with great pride, knowing that 'Better Can't Wait.'"

Focused Programs Tailored for Communities

The initiatives supported by Kimberly-Clark will be concentrated on underserved communities, encompassing youth education on menstrual hygiene, efforts to reduce stigma, improvements to access safe sanitation facilities, and comprehensive maternal and newborn healthcare. Additionally, there will be programs dedicated to enhancing maternal mental health and strengthening health systems to uplift the most disadvantaged populations.

Transformative Collaborations for a Better World

Kimberly-Clark's partnership with Baby2Baby began in 2011, providing essential baby items to families in need. In 2024, Huggies®, one of Kimberly-Clark's brands, reinforced this commitment by supporting Baby2Baby’s initiative to combat rising maternal mortality rates in the U.S., alongside the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This program distributes health and newborn care kits, addressing the critical link between diaper needs, newborn health, and maternal mental well-being.

Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof, Co-CEOs of Baby2Baby, expressed gratitude for Kimberly-Clark's enduring partnership, stating, "Thanks to their generous donations and three-year commitment, we can make a more significant contribution to fighting maternal mortality, ensuring that mothers across 15 states have access to essential items."

Since 2020, Kimberly-Clark and Plan International have collaborated, reaching approximately 11 million individuals through menstrual health programs. Their expanded partnership now aims to create menstruation-friendly environments in communities and schools in the U.S., Brazil, China, and Peru, ensuring that girls manage their menstrual cycles with dignity and confidence.

Kate Ezzes, Vice President of Program Development at Plan International USA, emphasized the importance of including boys as allies in these initiatives to break down harmful taboos surrounding menstruation.

In collaboration with Project HOPE, Kimberly-Clark aims to enhance access to menstrual and maternal health services in China and Indonesia. This partnership focuses on educating women about menstrual hygiene, providing respectful maternal care, and supporting mental health throughout the life cycle from adolescence to early motherhood.

Dr. Uche Ralph-Opara, head of health at Project HOPE, noted, "The next phase of our partnership will elevate our joint efforts to provide holistic support throughout a woman and girl’s life stages."

Kimberly-Clark’s longstanding partnership with UNICEF has also proven transformative. Together, they have improved the health and well-being of women, girls, and infants across 26 countries over nearly 25 years. The new multi-regional initiative will focus on menstrual hygiene education and access for girls while improving health services for young mothers in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Peru, and Vietnam.

Kitty van der Heijden of UNICEF praised Kimberly-Clark’s contributions, stating that their partnership has helped nearly 14 million children and adults by providing essential health services since 2001.

By aligning these strategic partnerships with its mission, Kimberly-Clark is tackling essential issues collectively, recognizing that menstrual health, maternal welfare, and child development are interconnected. The company is well-positioned to create a substantial positive impact through these collaborations.

Russ Torres, President and CEO of Kimberly-Clark, affirmed, "We want to proceed with care in everything we do. 'We Care' is one of our core values that guides our actions towards our employees, customers, consumers, and the communities we serve. These strategic partnerships allow us to deepen that value, ensuring that women and girls worldwide receive the support they deserve."

This reinforced focus on care for women and girls is integral to Kimberly-Clark’s broader goal of Better Care for a Better World. By aligning with its corporate strategy of 'Powering Care,' the foundation aims to positively impact the lives of one billion people by 2030.