H9. Packaging, plastics and waste

The packaging target for 2025 is that Essity is striving for 100% recyclability and 85% renewable or recycled material in the company’s packaging. This target applies to both paper and plastic packaging for Essity’s brands. Most of Essity’s packaging comprises corrugated board and board for paper packaging and bags and flexible plastic film from polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) for plastic packaging. In 2021, Essity’s packaging volume for its brands amounted to 172,800 tons (171,000 tons).

The proportion of renewable or recycled materials was 78% (77; 68). Of this figure, 81% (83) was recyclable. For plastic packaging, which accounts for about 23% of total packaging volume, 7% (3) was manufactured from renewable or recycled materials. Of this figure, the proportion of recovered plastic was 5% (2). The proportion of recyclable plastic packaging was 73% (77).

In 2021, Essity estimated the technical recyclability of a large portion of the company’s packaging. Essity has thereby improved packaging design to facilitate recycling using existing infrastructures. Essity will continue to assess the technical recyclability of the remaining packaging in 2022 and 2023. Fossil-based plastic in the company’s plastic packaging can be replaced with renewable plastic, recycled plastic or paper. When Essity develops new packaging, it assesses function, safety and environmental performance.

Read more about how Essity works with packaging in the chapter Reduced environmental impact – Recycling and less plastic use.

Share of packaging manufactured from renewable or recycled material

Share of technical recyclability

Waste in production and after use

Essity’s target is that all production waste will be subject to material and energy recovery by 2030. By reducing the amount of production waste sent to landfill and instead recycling the waste or extracting energy from it, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, thereby helping Essity to achieve its Science Based Targets (Scope 3). In 2021, the total volume of waste decreased. The recycling rate from Essity’s production facilities varies due to differences in national legislation. Volume changes in 2021 had a negative impact on the mix of material and energy recovery (–1%).

In Essity’s production process, particularly when recycled fiber is used as input goods, waste is generated in the form of ash, sludge, organic waste and plastic. The production sites work to reduce waste and to find alternative solutions for their waste. Waste that cannot be recovered, is sent to landfill or composted. In 2021, 64% (65; 63) of Essity’s waste was recovered. The target applies to wholly owned companies and the Australian hygiene company Asaleo Care and the Latin American hygiene company Familia were integrated in 2021. A small proportion, 0.2% or 3,080 tons, is hazardous waste, which is primarily waste oil, but also includes organic solvents, batteries and strip lights.