Design Life-Cycle

Joanne Lai

Ashley Lin and Madiha Musazay

DES 40A A07

Professor Cogdell

Life Cycle Analysis: Kleenex Soothing Lotion Tissues

Raw Materials 

Tissues are manufactured as one-time-use products, and most people use them daily. This widespread use of this product means that to meet demands, a significant amount of raw materials must be used to manufacture them. One of the largest manufacturers of this product is the Kimberly-Clark company and more specifically their Kleenex branch. Their branding claims they are extremely sustainable due to their use of recycled and biodegradable materials. Using a life cycle analysis, we can determine whether Kleenex Soothing Lotion Tissues are sustainable. For this section, I will be focusing on the raw materials used throughout the product’s life stages: raw material acquisition, manufacturing, transportation/distribution, use/reuse/management, and waste management. However, I will mainly focus on raw material acquisition, manufacturing, and transportation/distribution, as generally once the product reaches the user, no raw materials are used on the product. Based on the research, it seems that the product is somewhat sustainable as in general, the product is environmentally friendly, however, some of the chemicals used to produce the product such as PFAs have caused issues with pollution.

            To create any product, we need to gather raw materials first, and for Kleenex, we need to account for both the tissues and packaging. The first material is the wood used to create the tissue pulp. Kleenex uses five different types of wood “spruce, fir, aspen, maple and eucalyptus”, sourced from “forests that are responsibly managed” (“Sustainability”). This is significant as according to the article “Let’s See How Many Trees You Can Save From Not Using Tissue Paper” by Satria Akbar Sigit, “Dr. William Yu, the founder and chief executive of World Green Organization explained. — ‘At least 17 trees will have to be cut down and 20,000 gallons of water is contaminated in order to produce a ton of tissue paper,’”. However, after pressure from organizations like Greenpeace, Kimberly-Clark has worked with them to switch to more sustainable sources and has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council since 2010 (Pape; FSC). This wood is then processed by outside manufacturers where it is “either transported to the pulp mill in the form of chips from lumber processing or as logs. The logs are then washed, debarked and cut into small, uniform chips, while individual cellulose fibers are separated by ‘cooking’ the wood.” (“Sustainability”). For the packaging of the tissues, Kleenex uses paperboard boxes that are made from “100% recycled paperboard” which is very sustainable as it doesn’t deplete any of the natural forests that would have been impacted (“Sustainability”). The box also has a recyclable LDPE plastic poly insert made from petroleum (“Sustainability”; Xometry, 2022). This means that crude oil extraction is required, and then goes through cracking and processing before being shipped to manufacturers as plastic pellets (IARC, 1970). This oil is also used to produce mineral oils, an ingredient of the lotion, it goes through vacuum processing and heat treatment to produce the mineral oil needed (Fletcher 2022; Pleasant, 2016). As of 2020, Kleenex has also attempted to completely remove plastic poly inserts and replace them with paper flaps (Connolly, 2023). Once these raw materials are gathered, we can process them to start manufacturing the product.

To create the tissues, we need to process the wood grains into a cellulose pulp which requires water and chemical bleachers, binding agents, or wetting agents. In 2022, Kimberly-Clark used 89,258 Megaliters of water sourced from groundwater, surface water, and third-party sources for all their products (“2022 Global Sustainability Report”, 2022, pg 17). However, because Kimberly-Clark owns a lot of different companies and products, not all this water was used for these specific tissues, but we can assume that around 1,500 Megaliters are used for this product annually if we divide the total by 5–across all 5 brands Kimberly-Clark owns–and then divide again by 11–across all the products Kleenex offers. As a bleach and wetting agent, Perfluoro alkoxy alkanes (PFAs) are allegedly used to create their tissue pulp (Perkins, 2024). PFAs are both toxic and are considered “forever chemicals” as they take an extremely long time to degrade due to their strong chemical bonds (“Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances”). In fact, just recently, there was an issue regarding Kleenex’s use of PFAs contaminating water supplies and creating air pollution (Perkins, 2024). This poses serious consequences on the environment and the sustainability of this product.

As we are focusing on Soothing Lotion tissues, we also need the ingredients to make the lotion. On the Kimberly-Clark website for Kleenex Soothing Lotion Tissues, they state that the lotion is made of mineral oil, stearyl alcohol, ceresin, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, and cocos nucifera oil. Most of these chemicals are assumed to be sourced from other manufacturers and labs. The previously purified crude oilis received as mineral oils and used in the tissues. Stearyl alcohol is derived from plant oils such as coconut and palm oils (“Stearyl alcohol”, 2023). Normally, palm oil is extremely harmful to the environment due to deforestation and monoculture farms, however, Kleenex has partnered with RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil) to source their palm oil from sustainable sources (“Why sustainable palm oil?”, 2023). Ceresin is derived from the naturally occurring mineral wax ozokerite after being purified (“Ceresin”). Isopropyl palmitate is “made of the ester of isopropyl alcohol and palmitic acid derived from renewable vegetable oils”, however, the specific oils used are not known as Kleenex gets these ingredients from third-party sources (“Isopropyl Palmitate”). Dimethicone “is a substance that comes from silicone. Silicone comes from silica, which is a natural compound present in sand, sandstone, granite, and quartz.” (Lewsley, 2022). The silica is mixed with carbon and heated up to create dimethicone. Tocopheryl acetate “is typically made through a chemical reaction between tocopherol (a natural form of vitamin E) and acetic acid” (“Tocopheryl Acetate”). Aloe barbadensis leaf extract comes from the plant Aloe Vera (“Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract”). Finally, Cocos nucifera oil is extracted from the cocos nucifera tree, a species of coconut tree (Boateng et al., 2016). These ingredients are mixed to create the lotion and applied to the tissues before they are packaged into the boxes.

After the tissues are finished manufacturing, they have to be packaged and sent to stores. For the production of the boxes that store the tissues, the cleaned and processed paperboard is shaped into a box, and the LDPE plastic poly insert is glued on. These boxes are then wrapped in more LDPE plastic and shipped to stores for consumers to buy. Once the consumer buys the product, no more raw materials are added to the product. The box can be recycled with the poly insert attached without any additional materials added to it, and the tissues can be thrown in the trash. Since paperboard is extremely recyclable, it can be reused for the future production of Kleenex boxes. For reusability, the tissues are not reusable once used for their intended purposes, but the box can be recycled if cut into smaller shapes, or for temporary storage, but typically has no other purpose than to store the tissues.

In conclusion, based on the raw materials used and where they are sourced, we can determine that Kleenex Soothing Lotion Tissues are somewhat sustainable. There seems to be an effort to be more sustainable in terms of their raw materials as they source their wood and palm oil from sustainably managed forests, however, there are also a lot of materials that are extremely harmful to the environment. These include the use of PFAs and plastics made from crude oils. It is also difficult to determine fully how sustainable these tissues are, mainly because the sources and the processing ingredients of most of these materials are unknown to both the manufacturers and consumers. Because of this, we can only assume that based on the information provided to us, Kleenex is somewhat sustainable in terms of its raw material use throughout its life cycle.

Works Cited

“Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract.” ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT - Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI), cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/aloe-barbadensis-leaf-extract. Accessed 30 May 2024.

Bank, L. C., and T. D. Gerhardt. “Paperboard.” Paperboard - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, 2016, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/paperboard.

Boateng, Laurene, et al. “Coconut Oil and Palm Oil’s Role in Nutrition, Health and National Development: A Review.” Ghana Medical Journal, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2016, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27752194/.

“Ceresin.” Ceresin (Wax) : Cosmetic Ingredient INCI, cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/ceresin. Accessed 2 June 2024.

Chen, Sheng, et al. “Crepe Cellulose Paper and Nitrocellulose Membrane-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Human-Machine Interaction.” Nano Energy, Elsevier, 13 Apr. 2019, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211285519303441.

“Clark – Ingredients.” Kimberly, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/brands/ingredients/ingredient-library. Accessed 28 May 2024.

Connolly, Kate Bertrand. “New Kleenex Packaging Elevates ‘softness’ and Modernizes.” Packaging Digest, 6 June 2023, www.packagingdigest.com/packaging-design/new-kleenex-packaging-elevates-softness-and-modernizes.

“FAQ: Kleenex® US.” FAQ | Kleenex® US, www.kleenex.com/en-us/about-us/faq. Accessed 28 May 2024.

Fletcher, Jenna. “Mineral Oil: Cancer Risk, Benefits, and How to Use.” Edited by Clare Wightman, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 20 Apr. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/is-mineral-oil-bad-for-your-skin.

Forest Stewardship Council® – United States. “Consumer Kleenex in the US and Canada Now FSC Certified.” FSC United States, 3 Oct. 2011, us.fsc.org/en-us/newsroom/newsletter/id/556.

“FSC Public Search – Certificate Data.” FSC Public Certificate Search | FSC Connect, 2024, connect.fsc.org/fsc-public-certificate-search.

“How the FSC System Works: Forest Stewardship Council   .” Fsc.Org, Aug. 2021, fsc.org/en/how-the-fsc-system-works.

IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. “Mineral Oils, Untreated or Mildly Treated.” Chemical Agents and Related Occupations., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304428/.

IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. “Mineral Oils, Untreated or Mildly Treated.” Chemical Agents and Related Occupations., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 1 Jan. 1970, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304428/.

“Isopropyl Palmitate 810.” MakingCosmetics, www.makingcosmetics.com/ELL-ISOPROPALM-01.html?lang=en_US. Accessed 28 May 2024.

“Kimberly-Clark Corporation.” Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), 2022, rspo.org/members/4-1245-20-000-00/.

“Kleenex® Ultra SoftTM Tissues.” Kleenex® Ultra SoftTM Tissues, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/brands/ingredients/ingredient-library/kleenex-ultra-soft-tissues. Accessed 28 May 2024.

Lewsley, Joanne. “What Is Dimethicone? Uses, Safety, and Alternatives.” Edited by Alisha D. Sellers, Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, 17 Mar. 2022, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dimethicone#summary.

“Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE).” Xometrys RSS, Xometry, 17 May 2022, www.xometry.com/resources/materials/low-density-polyethylene-ldpe/.

Pape, Jill. “To Protect Forests and Free Speech, Lend Your Voice (Literally!).” Greenpeace International, 24 May 2017, www.greenpeace.org/international/story/7138/to-protect-forests-and-free-speech-lend-your-voice-literally/?_gl=1%2A3iyfjy%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2ANjg2NzAzNDI1LjE3MTY3MDg2Mzg.%2A_ga_94MRTN8HG4%2AMTcxNjcwODYzNy4xLjAuMTcxNjcwODYzNy4wLjAuNjg5MTk0ODQ4%2A_ga_0CCB1GTVV6%2AMTcxNjcwODYzNy4xLjAuMTcxNjcwODYzNy4wLjAuMA..%2A_ga_99CSX66YC1%2AMTcxNjcwODYzNy4xLjAuMTcxNjcwODYzNy4wLjAuMA..

“Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).” National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc. Accessed 2 June 2024.

Perkins, Tom. “US Kleenex Plant Contaminated Drinking Water with Pfas, Lawsuit Says.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Mar. 2024, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/19/kleenex-plant-pfas-toxic-chemicals-lawsuit-connecticut.

Perugia, Johnathan. “Who We Are.” Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), 16 May 2023, rspo.org/who-we-are/.

Sigit, Satria Akbar. “Let’s See How Many Trees You Can Save from Not Using Tissue Paper.” Earth Buddies, 27 Feb. 2024, earthbuddies.net/trees-not-using-tissue/.

“Stearyl Alcohol.” Cosmetics Info, 11 Sept. 2023, www.cosmeticsinfo.org/ingredient/stearyl-alcohol/.

“Sustainability: Kleenex® US.” Sustainability | Kleenex® US, www.kleenex.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability. Accessed 28 May 2024.

“Tocopheryl Acetate.” Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant): Cosmetic Ingredient INCI, cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/tocopheryl-acetate. Accessed 30 May 2024.

“Why Sustainable Palm Oil?” Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), 31 Oct. 2023, rspo.org/why-sustainable-palm-oil/.

Madiha Musazay

Joanne Lai, Ashley Lin

DES 40A A07

Professor Cogdell

Energy Life Cycle of Kleenex

A sneeze. A tear. A drip of sweat. A tissue is always there to help you clean up. Tissues have become a common household item, present in living rooms, classrooms, vehicles, and more. However, just how sustainable are these convenient little pieces of paper? Is the energy utilized to make these products worth it? To answer this question, we will look deeper into Kleenex® Soothing Lotion™ Facial Tissues and analyze the life-cycle of this product, specifically through the lens of energy consumption. We will go through the entire product life cycle, starting from raw materials acquisition, manufacturing and processing, distribution and transportation, use and maintenance, recycling, and waste management.

Raw Materials Acquisition

The ingredients of Kleenex® Soothing Lotion™ Facial Tissues are wood pulp, water, and conditioners (made from mineral oil, stearyl alcohol, ceresin, isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate, coconut oil,  and aloe barbadensis leaf extract) [8]. The Kleenex brand purchases wood pulp from third-party vendors, which is made from trees like spruce, fir, aspen, maple, and eucalyptus [13]. According to Kleenex®, wood from sustainably managed forests is transported to a pulp mill as logs or wood chips [6]. They are then washed, debarked, and cut into uniform chips. Cellulose fibers are harvested by cooking the wood, and that pulp is eventually turned into paper. Cutting down trees, transporting them, processing them into logs or chips, washing them, debarking them, cutting them, and finally chemically separating the pulp from the wood all require a significant amount of energy [16]. At each stage, a few forms of energy are utilized, primarily electricity and fuel [17]. According to a study, most on-site electricity in the forestry-pulp industry is generated using heat and power generation units, while a small amount is derived from combustible energy or renewable sources. There are two possible types of processes used in the pulping process: machine-driven processes (such as machines used to cut and process wood), or thermal processes (such as machines used to heat and cool wood). The energy used to process wood pulp is high in intensity, resulting in high emissions and pollution. Although Kleenex® has set and met goals to reduce its environmental impact, whether it be reducing its forest fiber footprint, or sourcing its tissue fiber from environmentally preferred sources, the energy used to process wood is still great [5][6][10][11].

The energy used to source conditioners varies based on the actual specifics of the conditioner used. For example, mineral oil, the primary ingredient of the conditioner used in Kleenex® Soothing Lotion™ Facial Tissues, is derived from crude oil, which is heated and condensed [12]. Due to the refinement process of crude oil, a small percentage of crude oil is refined into mineral oil. Therefore, the amount of energy utilized is multiplied to reach the amount that is needed to get a sufficient amount of mineral oil. Stearyl alcohol and isopropyl palmitate are derived from palm oil. Based on the Kleenex® website, it seems chemicals derived from palm oil sources are purchased from third-party vendors [5]. Specifically, palm kernel oil-based derivatives and fractions seem to be the primary products purchased from other companies, and Kleenex® seems to comply with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil [5]. However, despite the ethical sourcing, the energy used to process and transport these materials is less than ideal. Palm oil is made by stripping fresh fruit and getting processed into crude oil. Crude palm oil is extracted from the flesh of the fruit, while palm kernel oil comes from pressing the seeds [9]. Then, these crude oils are taken to refineries and are refined, bleached, and deodorized. This process requires a lot of energy use, especially since kernels must be processed at a much higher level than the fruit. Furthermore, a great amount of energy is utilized to refine these crude oils. Ceresin is derived from ozokerite, and treated with sulfuric acid [3]. The same is true for dimethicone, which is derived from silica and refined [15]. Tocopheryl acetate is made by combining tocopheryl and acetic acid [14]. These three ingredients require a lot of energy to process and refine materials as they require the harvest of specific raw materials, then require refining and chemical processes that alter and specialize the materials so that they are usable for the product. The energy that is used to transport, process, and refine these materials is large in number, and the source of that energy is likely non-renewable. For ingredients such as aloe barbadensis leaf extract and coconut oil, much less energy is required as there is a simple natural process that collects and processes these raw materials [2][4]. For example, the aloe leaf extract is simply derived from the leaves, while coconut oil is squeezed out of grated coconut. Very simple in comparison to the refinement of oil and other chemicals mentioned before. Greater energy demands come from transporting these materials in and out of processing plants and to the manufacturing facility.

The energy used to source water is likely from transportation and processing- transportation to get the water to the factory, and processing to remove any unwanted substances within the water.

While Kimberly-Clark seems to have goals and efforts to reduce its environmental impact, more work can be done to reduce its energy use when acquiring its raw materials, specifically the energy used on wood pulp and chemicals used in conditioners.

Manufacturing, Processing, Formulation

Using our three ingredients- wood pulp, water, and conditioner- we can now discuss the energy use in making these ingredients into Kleenex® Soothing Lotion™ Facial Tissues. Following the acquisition of materials, the wood pulp is processed mechanically, grounding the chips and creating a slurry with water and conditioner [1]. That slurry is then screened and cleaned, before beginning the paper-making stage. The pulp slurry is drained and shaped into a sheet, then passed through a series of rollers to remove water and improve texture. Then the pressed paper is dried and cut, ready to be put into boxes, and sent out to the public. The energy used at these stages is a combination of physical and thermal energy. The energy required to do this process can come from a variety of sources, but as mentioned before, it is likely from the on-ground heat and power generation units [17]. Due to the amount of ingredients required to make the paper, not a lot of energy is required at this stage due to the simple process. However, since the source of energy is likely non-renewable and therefore, not necessarily sustainable. It would be recommended that the energy sources be shifted to something more sustainable such as solar, wind, or hydropower to reduce environmental impacts.

Distribution and Transportation

It is likely common that Kimberly-Clark uses similar distribution methods as other companies, which largely rely on shipping [7]. Most energy demands of the shipping industry are met by oil-based fuels, which are not entirely sustainable as they are not renewable. It is recommended that the shipping industry moves towards low-emission fuels to help in the efforts of decarbonizing international shipping.

Use, Re-use, Maintenance, and Recycling

A tissue, at its core, is meant to be convenient and disposable. There is no energy consumption correlated to using tissues outside of human energy used to pick the tissue up. Furthermore, there is neither a feasible opportunity to recycle tissues, as they are often soiled with biological excretions. Therefore, while it seems that there is no significant energy spent to use the product, there is also not much of a way to recycle the product.

Waste Management

Due to the conditioners within the tissue, while the product is biodegradable it takes longer than something like toilet paper. Therefore, Kleenex® recommends that their products be thrown in the trash rather than flushed down the toilet [13]. However, since the product is biodegradable, no excess energy is needed to break down and manage the waste.

Conclusion

Despite Kleenex® goals to improve their environmental impact and the great work that is being done to execute them, more work can be done to improve the energy usage of making Kleenex® Soothing Lotion™ Tissues. The majority of the energy used stems from materials acquisition, product manufacturing, and distribution. However, many issues within can be mitigated. For instance, the type of energy used to acquire and process materials can be switched from non-renewable to renewable sources of energy. The same goes for process manufacturing. Shipping can also be adjusted so that the fuel is low-emissions. Making these changes will significantly improve the energy use of the company, and will help it reach sustainability.

Works Cited

1. Admin. “Tissue Paper Production: From Raw Materials to Finished Product.” Buy Paper Pulping Machines from Professional Manufacturer, 24 Feb. 2023, paper-pulper.com/tissue-paper-production/. 

2. “Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract.” ALOE BARBADENSIS LEAF EXTRACT - Cosmetic Ingredient (INCI), cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/aloe-barbadensis-leaf-extract#:~:text=Aloe%20Barbadensis%20Leaf%20Extract%20is%20derived%20from%20the%20leaves%20of,that%20appears%20transparent%20and%20colorless. Accessed 5 June 2024.

3. “Ceresin.” Ataman Kimya, www.atamanchemicals.com/ceresin_u25629/#:~:text=Ceresin%20is%20refined%20by%20treating,ranging%20from%20C20%20to%20C32. Accessed 5 June 2024.

4. “Coconut Oil.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 8 Mar. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_oil#:~:text=Producing%20it%20from%20coconut%20milk,oil%20from%20the%20other%20liquids.

5. “Forest Management.” Kimberly, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/esg/2030-ambition/esg-article/forest-management. Accessed 5 June 2024.

6. “Forest.” Kimberly, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/esg/safeguarding-natural-systems/forests. Accessed 5 June 2024.

7. Iea. “International Shipping.” IEA, www.iea.org/energy-system/transport/international-shipping. Accessed 5 June 2024.

8. “Kleenex® Soothing LotionTM Tissues.” Kleenex® Soothing LotionTM Tissues, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/brands/ingredients/ingredient-library/kleenex-soothing-lotion-tissues. Accessed 5 June 2024.

9. Lan, Chih-Ching, and Josie Phillips. “Breaking down Palm Oil.” Dialogue Earth, 22 Aug. 2022, dialogue.earth/en/food/breaking-down-palm-oil/.

10. Our Strategy for the Decisive Decade, www.kimberly-clark.com/-/media/kimberly/pdf/esg/2030-ambition/our-strategy/kimberly-clark-2030-strategy.pdf?la=en-us. Accessed 5 June 2024.

11. “Safeguarding Natural Systems.” Kimberly, www.kimberly-clark.com/en-us/esg/safeguarding-natural-systems. Accessed 5 June 2024.

12. Specialties, Twin. “How Mineral Base Oils Are Made.” Twin Specialties Corp., 19 Nov. 2020, www.twinoils.com/news/how-mineral-base-oils-are-made/. 

13. “Sustainability: Kleenex® US.” Sustainability | Kleenex® US, www.kleenex.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability#f6f283f0-d044-499b-9924-1955e3ce9bdd. Accessed 5 June 2024.

14. “Tocopheryl Acetate.” Tocopheryl Acetate (Antioxidant): Cosmetic Ingredient INCI, cosmetics.specialchem.com/inci-ingredients/tocopheryl-acetate#:~:text=Tocopheryl%20Acetate%20is%20typically%20made,properties%20as%20the%20natural%20form. Accessed 5 June 2024. 

15. “What Is Dimethicone? Uses, Safety, and Alternatives.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dimethicone#:~:text=Dimethicone%2C%20also%20known%20as%20polydimethylsiloxane,C%20(3%2C992%C2%B0F). Accessed 5 June 2024. 

16. “What Is Pulp and Paper?: Naturally:Wood.” Naturallywood, 2 May 2024, www.naturallywood.com/products/pulp-and-paper/#:~:text=How%20is%20wood%20pulp%20made,it%20down%20to%20a%20pulp.

17. Zhao, Qingjian, et al. “Energy flows and carbon footprint in the forestry-pulp and Paper Industry.” Forests, vol. 10, no. 9, 23 Aug. 2019, p. 725, https://doi.org/10.3390/f10090725. 

Ashley Lin 

Joanne Lai, Madiha Musazay

DES 40A A07

Professor Cogdell

Waste and Emissions - Kleenex; Soothing Lotion 

Kleenex is widely used throughout the world as the people’s choice of tissues so much so that people refer to Kleenex instead of tissues. With this product that many people use on a daily basis, the life cycle of the tissue becomes more curious as the world is trying to be environmentally friendly. Specifically, diving into the aftermath of the Kleenex, the soothing lotion product that they produce. The soothing lotion tissues product is mainly composed of two parts, the box alongside the tissues. Kleenex claims that the box is completely recyclable, however, the question comes from the tissues. Although they claim that the tissue is made from biodegradable materials, they advised that you should discard it within the trash. This sparks speculations about the true sustainability of soothing lotion tissues of the product’s waste management. The company seems to be transparent about their reports and alongside some outside sources, we can piece together the journey the tissues take after it is being used. 

Although the soothing lotion product is mainly focused on the tissues itself, the whole package must be taken into consideration which includes the box the tissues comes in. As stated previously, the material used to produce the box can be recyclable. As long as one can properly dispose of the box, it seems that waste of the packaging would be sustainable for the environment. On the official website, Kleenex claims “We’re constantly working to reduce the environmental impact of our products and packaging, which is why Kleenex carton boxes are made with 100% recycled paperboard” (Kleenex). The statement is clear and concise, straight to the point for the readers to easily grasp at. Alongside that, specifically they added the word “recyclable” to the view that it can be discarded in recycling to be repurposed into another material. The company actually goes into slightly more detail answering another question where they state, “Our cartons are fully recyclable with the poly insert attached. They are accepted at recycling facilities across the country” (Kleenex). It seems that the company is making a proactive effort to make sustainable efforts in their packaging of this product and any other they may produce on the way. They explain that even with the poly insert of the product that this box is fully recyclable. Furthermore, Kleenex clarifies that there are multiple points in contact that these pieces can interact with in order for it to be properly repurposed. It seems that in terms of packaging that Kleenex has sustainable materials that can be properly recycled, making for the disposal process clean and cut. However, there’s more to explore within the main focus of the product, the soothing lotion tissues.

The packaging remains consistent across all their products, however this is an examination of the soothing lotion facial tissues not the packaging of Kleenex. Although, there is a commonality between all the tissues that Kleenex has issued within the question part in their website. There’s a basic foundation of the tissues that must be applied throughout all the products. As sustainability is one of the goals, they made sure to mention that “Kleenex Tissue is made with biodegradable cellulose fibers…therefore, we suggest you discard Kleenex Tissue in the trash” (Kleenex). The first part of this statement addresses the question of the biodegradability of the tissue, and it claims that they are made with biodegradable cellulose fibers. Thus, by relation this product should be biodegradable in theory. However, there seems to be a slight confusion as it later implores you to just dispose of it within the landfill. The term biodegradable means that it allows them to decompose naturally over time back into the environment. The surface level explanation of the waste of the product would be that the packaging would be recycled, hopefully repurposed into something new and that the tissues would be disregarded in the trash to slowly decompose naturally such as with bacteria over time. 

Now that the basics of the product have been covered, let’s explore the details of the specifics of this soothing lotion product. The ingredients listed in the tissue were: mineral oil, stearyl alcohol, ceresin (mineral wax), isopropyl palmitate, dimethicone, tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, and aloe barbadensis leaf extract (plant extract). The description lists that it is dated chronologically in terms of the amount used and describes the purpose for the ingredients. There are some more common identifiable ingredients among this list. With these more known materials, it is easier to know or assume how to dispose of this ingredient or how it would break down. When acquiring these materials there is not exactly waste that is made as anything acquired is normally used within the manufacturing process rather than putting something to waste. However, we can analyze the waste process of the specific material used. With the more commonly known ingredients used, the general people would have a better grasp on the disposal process. For example, one of the ingredients that people know is coconut oil. There are a multitude of methods to properly dispose of the product.  According to Tiny Tins Waste, there are four ways where they state it is to reuse the product, compost it, throw it away in the trash that is leak-proof, and drink it. It seems that this ingredient is easier to process away. On the other hand, one of the ingredients which goes by the name, isopropyl palmitate is a bit more complex to analyze. With a more complicated material to obtain, it would be equally as difficult for it to be disposed of in waste properly. According to the website that is under Science Direct, they provide a detailed description of the material. It also relays an intricate process of how to properly utilize it and if need be dispose of the element. Now this process is similar to the other more complex elements. After this process of acquisition, these materials must get manufactured into the product we know.

Now that we have gotten into the decomposition of the waste, let’s dive into the manufacturing process and the waste & emissions that it produces within it. Luckily, deeper into the parent company of Kimberly-Clark, they are transparent with their reports on the manufacturing process. There’s even a section detailing their waste management. In one of their topics, they discuss how to better their product and provide goals of plastics and waste management. They list their goals as plastic footprint reduction, landfill diversion, packaging recycled content, product materials that are either biodegradable or recovered/recycled, and packaging that is reusable, recyclable, or compostable. It seems that they are close to achieving the goal of landfill diversion and packaging that is reusable, recyclable or compostable. This showcases that they are taking the waste excess in the manufacturing process seriously with making the package sustainable alongside with diverting the landfill. The company was making a good amount of progress with using materials that are biodegradable or recovered/recycled which is sustainable for the environment. However, it seems that they are less progressive with their goals of plastic footprint reduction and packaging recycled content. It seems as though for the most part that the company of Kleenex has a progressive waste management system. 

Along with these reports lies more reports with more details and exact statistics of the waste and emissions produced during the manufacturing and distribution process of the soothing lotion products. Specifically, there are three sections within the waste which consist of waste by composition (metric ton), waste diverted from disposal by recovery operation (metric ton), and waste directed to disposal (metric ton).  The company formatted this information within data tables within three years in between 2020-2022. Kimberly-Clark has logged in every single type of material that they disregard and the amount of waste distributed throughout. This also includes the hazardous material that is highlighted in bold to make it a bit more distinctive. It seems that in this section over the years that the amount of waste has started to increase but also the amount directed to and from disposal. Moving forward to the second section of the data tables, this will focus more on the recycling avenue. It seems in most specific cases over the years the amount of material has increased in reuse, recycle or recovery. This is the case for both hazardous and nonhazardous waste that is produced. Lastly within the last section of the tables, we discover that they incinerate with energy recovery alongside landfilling. The tables also demonstrate an increase  in the amount of waste over the years. 

Overall, it seems that the sustainability of the soothing lotion tissues produced by Kleenex is increasing in a positive light. Specifically, looking at the waste and emissions within the process of the product, the whole life cycle. Although there can still be improvement made, it seems as though given time that sustainability will be seen within the whole process itself from the raw material acquisition all the way to the waste and recycle aspect. Kleenex soothing lotion tissues produce waste and emission but they’re on track to a more sustainable process for the people and the environment. 

Works Cited

2022 Global Sustainability Report, www.kimberly-clark.com/-/media/kimberly/pdf/key-download-pdf/2022-sustainability-report.pdf. 

Author links open overlay panelS. Bhatia, et al. “Production of Isopropyl Palmitate in a Catalytic Distillation Column: Experimental Studies.” Chemical Engineering Science, Pergamon, 30 Aug. 2006, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000925090600529X. 

Author links open overlay panelBoning Su a 1, et al. “Ceresin Wax Enhances Hydrophobicity and Density of Bio-Based Polyurethane of Controlled-Release Fertilizers: Streamlined Production, Improved Nutrient Release Performance, and Reduced Cost.” Journal of Cleaner Production, Elsevier, 6 Apr. 2024, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652624015932.  

Author links open overlay panelSheng Chen a b, et al. “Crepe Cellulose Paper and Nitrocellulose Membrane-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerators for Energy Harvesting and Self-Powered Human-Machine Interaction.” Nano Energy, Elsevier, 13 Apr. 2019, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211285519303441. 

C;, Stevens. “Environmental Fate and Effects of Dimethicone and Cyclotetrasiloxane from Personal Care Applications.” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18505514/#:~:text=Ultimately%2C%20both%20dimethicone%20and%20cyclotetrasiloxane,dioxide%2C%20silicic%20acid%20and%20water. 

Data Tables, www.kimberly-clark.com/-/media/kimberly/pdf/key-download-pdf/2022-data-tables.pdf. 

Degradation of Tocopherol and Tocopheryl ..., extension.okstate.edu/programs/beef-extension/research-reports/site-files/documents/1999/1999-2-han.pdf. 

Ewg Skin Deep® | What Is Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Extract, www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredients/700273-ALOE_BARBADENSIS_ALOE_VERA_LEAF_EXTRACT/. 

“How to Dispose of Coconut Oil? Safe & Effective Methods.” Tiny Tins Waste Management, 31 Mar. 2023, www.tinytinswastemanagement.com.au/how-to-dispose-of-coconut-oil/#:~:text=Safe%20Ways%20to%20Dispose%20of%20Coconut%20Oil&text=Coconut%20oil%20can%20be%20disposed,excellent%20addition%20to%20your%20pile. 

IEEE Xplore, ieeexplore.ieee.org/Xplore/home.jsp.  

“Soothing LotionTM Facial Tissues Cube Box for Runny Noses: Kleenex® US.” Soothing LotionTM Facial Tissues Cube Box for Runny Noses | Kleenex® US, www.kleenex.com/en-US/Products/Soothing-Lotion-Facial-Tissues-Cube-Box. 

“Sustainability: Kleenex® US.” Sustainability | Kleenex® US, www.kleenex.com/en-us/about-us/sustainability.