H3. Innovation
Essity wants to improve well-being for consumers and customers while reducing its impact on the environment with focus on More from less and Circularity. Essity’s target is that at least 33% of the company’s innovations are to yield social and/or environmental improvements. In 2020, 64% (69; 59) of Essity’s innovations yielded social and/or environmental improvements. This refers to the percentage of sales of innovations measured over 36 months. Variations between the years are a natural result of the product categories’ various launches. Examples of innovations in 2020 include packaging made from recycled or renewable plastic, face masks and washable absorbent underwear.
Sustainable innovations
A product range’s life cycle assessment (LCA) encompasses most of the products sold in a region. This allows Essity to measure environmental performance for innovations and gradual improvements in the company’s daily operations for entire product ranges over several years.
Products |
Year |
Carbon footprint reduction % |
|---|---|---|
Incontinence Products |
2008–2019 |
|
TENA Flex |
|
–18 |
TENA Pads and Liner |
|
–33 |
TENA Comfort |
|
–19 |
TENA Men |
|
–20 |
TENA Pants and Underwear |
|
–33 |
TENA Slip |
|
–20 |
TENA Bed |
|
–11 |
|
|
|
Feminine Care |
2008–2019 |
|
Feminine Ultra towels |
|
–17 |
|
|
|
Baby Care |
2008–2017 |
|
Libero and Lotus open diaper |
|
–25 |
Libero and Lotus pant diaper |
|
–16 |
|
|
|
Professional Hygiene |
|
|
Tork napkins |
2011–2019 |
–9 |
Tork paper hand towels |
2011–2017 |
–18 |
|
|
|
Consumer Tissue |
2011–2018 |
|
Toilet paper |
|
–10 |
Household towels |
|
–19 |
Handkerchiefs and facial tissues |
2011–2020 |
–8 |
The life cycle assessments performed by Essity have been subject to third-party reviews. A product range’s LCAs are updated every second or third year.
Read more about how Essity works with innovation in the chapters Well-being and More from less and Circularity.