Yuhan-Kimberly Named Korea's Most Admired Company for 13th Straight Year
Yuhan Kimberly
Yuhan-Kimberly was named No. 1 for the 13th consecutive year in Korea's Most Admired Companies 2026, organized by KMAC, and said it has delivered carbon-reduction results through its hand towel recycling business and ESG management.
In the 2026 Korea's Most Admired Companies rankings, Yuhan-Kimberly took first place for the 13th straight year in both the All Star category and the household goods category, according to Korea Management Association Consulting (KMAC). Founded in 1970 as a joint venture between Yuhan Corporation and Kimberly-Clark, the company now operates an ESG Committee directly under the CEO and is pushing ahead with carbon-neutral management and sustainable product innovation. Through its Environment, Social, and Governance subcommittees, the committee is accelerating efforts to establish a carbon-neutral management system and strengthen compliance and ethical management.
Yuhan-Kimberly has set a goal of raising the share of sales from sustainable products to more than 95% by 2030. To achieve this, it is cutting plastic use by 50% from 2019 levels, using FSC pulp, and applying recycled plastic. Key products include Huggies Naturemade Diapers, which use biomass material derived from sugarcane, and Kleenex Paper Wet Wipes, which use plastic-free fabric. These items are managed as core products for establishing ESG standards.
The hand towel recycling business promoted by Yuhan-Kimberly is a circular-economy model that collects used hand towels separately and feeds them back into product raw materials. More than 30 companies and local governments are currently participating, and as of the end of 2025, it had achieved carbon-reduction effects of about 650 tons. That is equivalent to the annual carbon absorption of more than 65,000 pine trees. For this achievement, Yuhan-Kimberly received a Presidential Commendation in December last year in the Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle Practice category.
Through the Keep Korea Green campaign, which has continued since 1984, the company has planted more than 57 million trees to date and created the Yuhan-Kimberly Forest in Mongolia, an area 11 times the size of Yeouido. In its social contribution efforts, it donates 1 million sanitary pads every year through the Cheer Up, Daughters campaign. In addition, cumulative donations of its ultra-small diapers for premature babies, the only product of its kind produced in Korea, have surpassed 30 million units, helping create social value.
This content was prepared by MaeKyung Biz Content Planning Team based on official announcements and press releases.
