Kimberly-Clark (K-C), one of the world's leading manufacturers of personal care and hygiene products, has signed a new partnership with Independent Power Producer (IPP) BNZ and announced the future start of three new virtual solar power purchase agreements (vPPAs) in Italy and Spain.

The vPPAs will generate a forecasted 164 GWh of renewable electricity each year from two solar power facilities in Italy - Camposcala and Rinaldone (Lazio) - and one in Spain - Santa Catalina (Andalusia). The renewable energy generation of the solar farms is equivalent to over 40% of the total electricity consumed by K-C's Western & Central European production facilities, located in Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Czechia. It will virtually power the production of major brands including Kleenex, Scottex, Scott, WypAll, Page & Hakle. The launch is scheduled for the second quarter of 2025. Additionally, these projects are another step towards electrification and carbon emissions reduction of the tissue making process.

This joint initiative between K-C and BNZ, an affiliate of Nuveen Infrastructure, will help Kimberly-Clark take significant strides in its decarbonisation journey and support its global commitment to reduce its scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030, against a 2015 baseline.

Oriol Margó, Sustainability Leader at Kimberly-Clark said: "Kimberly-Clark's collaboration with BNZ is another example of our dedication to make progress in our decarbonisation journey. The renewable energy generation of the new solar farms will be equivalent to over 40% of the total electricity consumed by our European production facilities. Energy transformation is a key priority for us and through these projects we are increasing the amount of renewable electricity available in the grids that we draw from, which also benefits the community. We continue to invest in the future of the planet, our business and our industry, with our consumers and customers in mind, and hope to encourage other organisations to do the same."

BNZ's Head of Revenues, Rodrigo López said: "This multi-country PPA agreement with a leading industrial client committed with sustainability represents a significant milestone for BNZ. At the same time, it reflects a growing trend: more and more companies are choosing long-term contracts that not only ensure energy stability but also reinforce their responsibility to create a more sustainable world. This shift not only benefits businesses but also drives meaningful progress for society and the economy as a whole."

These vPPAs represent another major milestone in Kimberly-Clark's ambitious drive towards green energy through a portfolio of PPAs. Recent examples include:

• Opening a new £75 million onshore wind farm in Scotland, UK in 2023 (160,000 MWh per year);
• Installing rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at K-C's manufacturing site in Cape Town, South Africa in 2024 (3,700 MWh per year);
• Installing one of the largest rooftop solar photovoltaic systems at K-C's manufacturing site at Salamanca facility in Spain, completed in January 2025 (6,500 MWh per year).

These contracts constitute an important landmark for BNZ as it continues to sell renewable energy to a major multinational client, consolidating its position in the renewable energy market in Europe. In total, the company plans to deploy a portfolio of more than 1.7 GW of renewable energy in Europe in the coming years.