North America

SASKATOON, SK, July 8, 2020 (Globe Newswire) -CN announced today that, as part of its strategic investments to support growing demand and enable supply chains, it plans to invest approximately $105 million (CAD) across Saskatchewan in 2020. The investments will focus on the replacement of rail and ties, as well as the maintenance of bridges, level crossings, culverts, signal systems and other track infrastructure.

“We take our essential role in the North American economy seriously and these investments in Saskatchewan are a key part of our strategy to support growth. The Company remains committed to help enable supply chains that fuel Saskatchewan’s growth as we are a critical part of getting everyday goods to markets and consumers. Safety is a core value at CN and by investing in the maintenance and expansion of our track and capacity, we are providing customers with a safe and reliable solution at a time when fluid supply chains are more critical than ever.”
- James Thompson, Vice-President, Western Region at CN

“Remaining committed to supporting Canadian businesses, our government continues to invest in Canada’s economy to encourage economic growth. We are pleased to see companies such as CN do their share by investing in improving safety, growing its capacity and enabling trade through a safe and reliable rail network. As Canadian grain exports from Saskatchewan continue to set new records, farmers need dependable and fluid networks to keep their goods moving to international markets and these investments support that need.”
- The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, Government of Canada

“The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased to see this large capital investment from CN. These projects will help our producers and manufacturers get their products to market, secure our supply chain, and support Saskatchewan’s strong growth in the years ahead.”
- The Honourable Greg Ottenbreit, Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, Government of Saskatchewan

The Company’s investments will create greater capacity, which supports reductions in its customer’s transportation supply chain GHG emissions, by encouraging the use of rail for long haul needs. This reduces emissions, traffic congestion, accidents and burdens on public transportation infrastructure as one freight train can replace over 300 trucks from roads. Moving freight by rail instead of truck reduces GHG emissions by 75%.  The Company will continue to deploy important safety enhancing technologies across its network, such as the Autonomous.

Track Inspection Program, Distributed Air Cars and Automated Inspection Portals. Planned expansion projects include continued investments to multi-year infrastructure in southern Saskatchewan.

Maintenance program highlights include:             

• Replacement of more than 65 miles of rail
• Installation of over 145,000 new railroad ties
• Rebuilds of 12 road crossing surfaces
• Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure

Saskatchewan in numbers:

• Capital investments: More than $850 million in the last five years
• Employees: approximately 1,154
• Railroad route miles operated: 1,946
• Community partnerships: $416,000 in 2019
• Local spending: $136 million in 2019
• Cash taxes paid: $107 million in 2019             

Grains and fertilizers, especially potash, make up a substantial portion of the traffic handled by CN in this Prairie province. The traffic also reflects the increasing diversification of the Saskatchewan economy by handling growing volumes of consumer goods and specialty crops through CN’s intermodal terminals in Saskatoon and Canada’s first privately operated intermodal terminal located in the Chuka Creek Business Park in Regina. Both Saskatoon and Regina boast metals distribution facilities. Saskatoon also has an automotive distribution facility and a major rail classification yard. In Bienfait, there is a CargoFlo bulk handling facility as well as forest products and metals distribution centres. Finally, in North Battleford, there is an additional forest products distribution centre.

DALLAS, TX, July 8, 2020 (PRNewswire) -Kimberly-Clark has announced its new 2030 sustainability strategy and goals, aimed at addressing the social and environmental challenges of the next decade with commitments to improve the lives and wellbeing of one billion people in underserved communities around the world with the smallest environmental footprint.

"These extraordinary times remind us why our purpose is more important than ever. Our values, that have guided us for nearly 150 years, will continue to shape our response to the challenges ahead," said Mike Hsu, Chairman and CEO, Kimberly-Clark. "I am inspired by our ambition to advance the well-being of one billion people around the world and proud of the significant environmental commitments that we are making to address the impact our products have on the environment."

The ambitious strategy is outlined in the company's 2019 Global Sustainability Report, which reflects progress towards the company's Sustainability 2022 strategy and its pivot to 2030.

"It's great to see Kimberly-Clark setting such an ambitious new social goal to 2030," said Sally Uren, Chief Executive, Forum for the Future. "There is also no doubt that we have entered a decade where decisive action will be critical if we hope to survive and thrive through the next century and beyond. It's exciting to see such strong focus on human well-being, from a business with so many touchpoints with our health. Achieving such goals while protecting natural systems will not be easy, but delivery of these ambitions will help transform the systems we rely on today and allow future generations to flourish."

Trusted Brands at the Leading Edge of Social Impact

Kimberly-Clark and its trusted brands, including Huggies®, Kleenex®, Andrex®, Cottonelle®, Scott®, Kotex® and Depend®, deliver essentials for a better life to one quarter of the world's population every day. Yet millions around the world still lack access to basic products and solutions that could dramatically improve their quality of life – either because they can't access or afford them, or because of associated social stigmas. Meeting these unmet societal needs is the foundation for our new ten-year commitment – to advance the well-being of one billion people in vulnerable and underserved communities.

The new goal will create positive social outcomes by creating shared value in three areas:

• Caring for the health and well-being of people at all stages of life;
• Challenging stigmas and championing the progress of women everywhere; and
• Championing a world where all enjoy access to clean water and sanitation.

"We make lives better when we break down barriers and create opportunities with our purpose-driven brands and products," said Alison Lewis, Chief Growth Officer for Kimberly-Clark. "To reach a billion people is certainly an ambitious goal that requires a significant step change from our previous efforts, and we are ready to take it on."

Safeguarding Natural Systems

Kimberly-Clark understands that a strong and enduring focus on the smallest environmental footprint is just as essential to helping people live a better life. To that end, the company is focused on the areas where it can make the biggest difference – climate, forests, water and plastics.

"Kimberly-Clark's success is dependent on innovating new ways to give consumers the essentials they need while safeguarding natural systems and the life they support," said Lisa Morden, Vice President of Safety, Sustainability and Occupational Health, Kimberly-Clark. "That means eliminating waste and recovering resources; protecting forests of high carbon, biodiversity, and cultural value; cutting greenhouse gas emissions in line with climate science; and building strong water stewardship practices where it matters most."

Each area of the new environmental strategy aims to reduce the footprint by half:

• Carbon Footprint– As previously announced, the company is committed to reduce the carbon footprint of its operations and supply chain by 50 percent for absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions (direct and indirect) from its operations, as well as a 20 percent reduction in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions from purchased goods and services and end of life treatment of sold products. Both targets are based on a new 2015 base year. These targets have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are aligned with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

• Forest Footprint– Kimberly-Clark will continue its previously stated goal to reduce its Natural (Northern) Forest Fiber footprint by 50 percent by 2025 and increase our use of environmentally preferred fibers such as plantation-grown wood, alternative non-wood and recycled fibers. In addition, the company's 2030 goals will tackle the challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, and the impact on Indigenous communities, and communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods.

• Water Footprint– By 2030, Kimberly-Clark intends to reduce its water footprint by 50 percent in water stressed regions by creating meaningful improvements in the supply chain and the surrounding communities. The impact of water insecurity and water scarcity is felt across the value chain, from the sources of fiber to the manufacturing facilities.

• Plastics Footprint– Kimberly-Clark will reduce its use of new, fossil-fuel based plastics by 50 percent through delivery of solutions that use more renewable materials and can be regenerated after use. The strategy builds on the company's previous leadership in manufacturing waste diversion to tackle single-use plastics in its products and packaging, and support innovation in waste collection and circular systems.

"Kimberly-Clark's continued commitment to doing the right thing underpins our social impact and smallest footprint ambitions," added Morden. "Living our purpose begins with ensuring the health and safety of our customers, consumers, and employees, promoting diversity and inclusion within our business, and protecting the rights of workers across our supply chain. These are essential to our ambitions."

2019 Sustainability Report

In 2019, Kimberly-Clark achieved a number of notable environmental and social objectives as part of the company's Sustainability 2022 strategy, including:

• Celebrating five years of the "Toilets Change Lives" program, which has improved access to sanitation for nearly four million people in need;
• Expanding Huggies' "No Baby Unhugged" initiative into Latin America, growing its potential global impact by nearly two million babies and young children across 16 countries;
• Combatting stigmas and period poverty by providing menstrual hygiene education and donations of 11.8 million period products to those in need;
• Achieving a 34.7 percent reduction in Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions (vs. 2005 baseline), on track to achieve its previously announced 40 percent reduction target by 2022;
• Reducing its natural forests footprint by 31 percent (vs. 2011 baseline) and its water footprint in water-stressed areas by 28.9 percent (vs. 2015 baseline).
• Launching new waste-reduction initiatives that helped Kimberly-Clark divert 96 percent of its manufacturing waste and 26,300 metric tons of product and packaging waste to value-adding alternatives.

Kimberly-Clark's 2019 Global Sustainability Report outlines its 2019 results in detail and is organized and presented in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Sustainability Reporting Standards. In addition, the report provides the company's first disclosures against the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) frameworks. In the coming years, the company plans to further evolve its management and reporting practices to better meet the needs of the investment community using these frameworks.

About Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come.

GENTOFTE, Denmark, July 6, 2020 (Press Release) -Hartmann’s Hybrid egg cartons make America’s Handsome Brook Farms’ eggs safe and stylish.

What exactly makes an egg handsome?

For one company founded in upstate New York it’s a combination of freshness, quality, and sustainability.

Handsome Brook Farms eggs are pasture-raised, organic, and American Humane Certified. This means that each hen gets more than 108 square feet of personal outdoor space – perfect for foraging, dust bathing, and stretching their wings. Hills, woodlands, and abundant shade and water give Handsome Brook hens a stress-free environment where they can thrive.

Representing a bright brand

That hen-nirvana is represented on Handsome Brook Farms’ iconic packaging. The eggs grab the shopper’s attention in the supermarket thanks to colourful Hartmann Hybrid egg cartons. With a traditional moulded fibre bottom and a paperboard top, the organic eggs are housed in an eye-catching package that is as high-end as the eggs themselves.

Handsome Brook Farms believes that the future of animal and land husbandry is bright. The cartons’ vibrant colours reflect the green pastures, blue skies, and bright yellow sunshine of a new tomorrow. The makeover of the egg carton is based on studies showing that consumers are increasingly paying attention to what they are eating and how it is getting from farm to table. 

"The Hybrid egg packaging from Hartmann played a role in the growth of Handsome Brook Farm. It lets us communicate in a much clearer way who we are as a brand, what our brand name is, what we stand for, and what our product is all about.”

Matthew Sherman

Chief Marketing Officer

Handsome Brook Farms

About Handsome Brook Farms

Founded with five hens in upstate New York in 2007, Handsome Brook Farms has grown into the largest producer of organic pasture-raised eggs in the United States, with more than 80 partner farms in 10 states. The network of small family farms was built to bring organic, pasture-raised eggs to supermarkets and tables across the country. The products can be found at local grocery stores including Walmart, Sprouts and Publix.