Kimberly-Clark

🚨 Reasons for Boycotting Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark is a U.S.-based multinational corporation founded in 1872, operating in personal care and hygiene products. The company owns iconic brands such as Kleenex, Huggies, Kotex, Depend, and Scott. While the company does not sell weapons directly, it is deeply embedded in the israeli settlement economy through its historical reliance on suppliers operating in the illegal Barkan Industrial Zone in the occupied West Bank, its direct commercial presence in israil through its wholly-owned subsidiary Hogla-Kimberly (Kimberly-Clark israel), and its continued operations in the israeli market that provide tax revenues and economic normalization for the occupation. Additionally, its largest shareholders - Vanguard and BlackRock - are among the largest investors in the weapons companies supplying the israeli occupation military.

1. Historical Reliance on Suppliers in the Illegal Barkan Settlement: According to investigations by the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the main factory of Avgol Industries - an israeli manufacturer of nonwoven fabrics - was located in the Barkan Industrial Zone, an illegal israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, between 1999 and 2020. Kimberly-Clark was one of Avgol's largest clients, having used its materials in its products since at least 2009. In 2020, the United Nations listed both Avgol and its parent company Indorama Ventures in its database of companies operating in illegal settlements. Avgol closed its Barkan factory in March 2021 and relocated production to other factories, but Kimberly-Clark continued to deal with Avgol, meaning its profits helped sustain a company that operated at the heart of the settlement infrastructure.AFSC Investigate: Indorama Ventures PCL — Avgol's Barkan factory (1999-2020), Kimberly-Clark as client since 2009Boycott Directory: Kimberly-Clark — Historical supply chain included Avgol Industries tied to Barkan settlement zone until 2019-2020Inminds: Kimberly-Clark profiting from the occupation — Products manufactured in Barkan Industrial Zone (July 2010)
2. Direct Commercial Presence in israil via Hogla-Kimberly (Kimberly-Clark israel): Kimberly-Clark invested $49.9 million in 1996 to buy a 49.9% stake in israeli sanitary paper products manufacturer Hogla, forming Hogla-Kimberly Ltd. In 2000, Kimberly-Clark increased its share to 50.1% for an additional $5 million. In 2015, Kimberly-Clark acquired the remaining 49.9% stake for approximately $151 million, making Hogla-Kimberly (now known as Kimberly-Clark israel) a wholly-owned subsidiary. The company is based in Hod Hasharon, israil, and operates manufacturing plants in Nahariya, Afula, and Hadera. According to israeli BDI data, Kimberly-Clark israel generated $381.1 million in turnover in 2024, with 913 employees, and is the leading company in israil for tissue and hygiene products.Kimberly-Clark Investor Relations: Hogla-Kimberly acquisition (1996, 2000, 2015)BDI israel: Kimberly-Clark israel — Turnover $381.1M, 913 employees (2024)Globes: Kimberly-Clark buys Hogla diapers from Hadera Paper (January 2015)
3. Historical Suppliers in Barkan (Plasto Polish and Ofertex): According to documented reports, Kimberly-Clark had products manufactured in two factories located in the Barkan Industrial Zone in the West Bank. Plasto Polish Ltd manufactured household cleaning products such as scouring sponges and pads for Kimberly-Clark, while Ofertex Industries Ltd manufactured cleaning cloths for Kimberly-Clark. These factories used PO Box addresses in Petach Tikva inside israil to conceal their true location in Barkan out of fear of boycott. Thus, Kimberly-Clark directly benefited from the infrastructure of illegal settlements in the West Bank.Inminds: Kimberly-Clark profiting from the occupation — Plasto Polish and Ofertex factories in Barkan (July 2010)Trócaire: Ofertex Industries — Factory in Barkan settlement industrial zone
4. Primary Institutional Shareholders: Vanguard and BlackRock - Largest Investors in israeli Weaponry: According to shareholder data, Kimberly-Clark's largest shareholders are Vanguard Group Inc. (12.2%) and BlackRock, Inc. (7.6%), along with State Street Corporation (5.4%). Both Vanguard and BlackRock are explicitly named in an official United Nations report (OHCHR) by Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese, identified as being "among the largest investors in arms companies pivotal to the genocidal arsenal of israel." Specifically: BlackRock is the second largest institutional investor in Palantir and third largest in Lockheed Martin and Caterpillar; Vanguard is the largest institutional investor in Caterpillar and second largest in Lockheed Martin and Elbit Systems. Consequently, the profits Kimberly-Clark generates from the israeli and global markets flow partly to these two funds, which channel billions of dollars into the weapons industry used by israil in its genocidal war on Gaza.Kimberly-Clark Investor Relations: Vanguard 12.2%, BlackRock 7.6%, State Street 5.4%Yahoo Finance: Kimberly-Clark Major Holders — BlackRock 9.10%, Vanguard 6.49% (March 2026)UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)
5. Stark Double Standards in Crisis Response: Although Kimberly-Clark has taken clear public stances on issues such as environmental sustainability and labor rights in global supply chains, it has issued no statement condemning the genocide in Gaza or the illegal settlement enterprise in the West Bank. Instead, the company has chosen "strict silence" on these issues, while continuing its profitable commercial operations in israil and in illegal settlements through its suppliers. This stark contradiction exposes the company's claims of social responsibility.Boycott Directory: Kimberly-Clark — Environmental Harm, Human Rights Violations, Military & Conflict ComplicityOpenIntel: P&G — Settlement Laundering (Avgol Barkan sourcing context)

🌐 Sources

Official and verifiable sources detailing Kimberly-Clark's and its shareholders' involvement with israil:

• AFSC Investigate: Indorama Ventures PCL — Avgol's Barkan factory, Kimberly-Clark as client
• Boycott Directory: Kimberly-Clark — Historical Avgol supply chain, Hogla-Kimberly presence in israel
• Inminds: Kimberly-Clark profiting from the occupation (July 2010)
• Kimberly-Clark Investor Relations: Vanguard 12.2%, BlackRock 7.6% (2025)
• Yahoo Finance: Kimberly-Clark Major Holders — BlackRock 9.10%, Vanguard 6.49% (March 2026)
• BDI israel: Kimberly-Clark israel — Turnover $381.1M, 913 employees (2024)
• Globes: Kimberly-Clark buys Hogla diapers from Hadera Paper (January 2015)
• UN OHCHR: Report of the Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese (2025)

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