About this report

This report aims to address topical societal issues, showcase different perspectives and discussions. It also raises awareness about the pivotal role hygiene, sanitation and health can play in well-being for individuals and communities and provides solutions to some of the challenges and opportunities society faces in these areas.

By combining research findings, statistical evidence, successful case stories as well as testimonies from people who can contribute to advancing progress on hygiene and health issue, this report offers new insights. It also highlights solutions and action that can be critical for improving hygiene and health standards around the globe. Our ambition is to inspire and invite more actors to collaborate, share insights and expertise and accelerate action to ensure hygiene and health for all.

The global Essity survey

Essity conducts a global survey called the Essentials Initiative Survey (hereafter referred to as ‘the Essity survey’) every second year, to provide knowledge about attitudes, preferences and habits around the world. Some of the key findings from the Essity survey are highlighted in this report.

The questionnaire was conducted digitally with about 15,000 respondents from 15 country markets between December 2019 and January 2020. Just over 1,000 responses were gathered from each market and national quotas were used to obtain a balanced representation of age and gender. A mean average for each question was calculated to obtain the survey figures. The countries surveyed included Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

An additional survey was conducted in July 2020 with hygiene and health questions concerning COVID-19. There were about 10,000 respondents in ten countries – France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States. Quotas were used to obtain a balanced representation of age and gender.

The full results of the two surveys