DALLAS, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) today announced that it has become a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world's largest corporate citizenship and sustainability initiative. As a signatory, Kimberly-Clark will support the Global Compact's 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, reinforcing the company's commitment to responsible business practices on a global basis.

"As part of our longstanding commitment to social, environmental and economic sustainability, Kimberly-Clark has been centered on similar values that the UN Global Compact promotes in industries and economies worldwide," says Suhas Apte, vice president of global sustainability at Kimberly-Clark. "We're honored to sign on to the Global Compact's 10 principles and pledge our support to continue engaging in collaborative projects to advance sustainability on a broader basis."

Kimberly-Clark's long history of Environmental Sustainability, Code of Conduct, Human Rights in Employment policies, and other business practices align very closely with the UN Global Compact's principles. Joining the Global Compact will help the company further improve its efforts by collaborating with other leading organizations that are focused on a sustainable future.

"We applaud Kimberly-Clark's leadership in joining our worldwide initiative," said Georg Kell, executive head of the UN Global Compact. "In an increasingly interconnected world, corporate responsibility is no longer an option – it is a strategic imperative. The rapid up-take of the Global Compact by companies that have operations around the world, like Kimberly-Clark, reflects this reality."

Kimberly-Clark joins more than 8000 companies and groups around the world who have signed the UN Global Compact to promote responsible corporate citizenship and sustainability. As a signatory, Kimberly-Clark will complete an annual Communication on Progress (COP) submission, demonstrating its progress in working towards the Compact's ten principles. More information about the UN Global Compact can be found at www.unglobalcompact.org .

For more information about Kimberly-Clark's commitment to sustainability, visit www.kimberly-clark.com.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust K-C brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries. To keep up with the latest K-C news and to learn more about the company's 138-year history of innovation, visit www.Kimberly-Clark.com.

SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Corporation