Raw material for Essity’s newly inaugurated production line for professional hygiene tissue products consists of used food and milk packaging; facility recycles 25,000 tons/year, equivalent to 60% of all collected, sorted, recycled cartons in France

October 19, 2023 (press release) –

The hygiene and health company Essity has inaugurated the world’s first production line for professional hygiene tissue products where the raw material consists of used food and milk packaging. The facility recycles 25,000 tons per year, equivalent to 60% of all collected, sorted and recycled food and beverage cartons in France. 

Since 2008, Essity’s plant in Hondouville has been the leader in recycling paper fiber from food and beverage packaging in France. The latest expansion has increased the recycling capacity by 40%. In addition to increased recycling capacity, the process also enables the recycling of almost all the materials in the packaging, including plastic and aluminum. Essity uses the fiber raw material to manufacture tissue products under the Tork brand.

Essity is constantly developing new methods to reuse materials and optimize resources, with the aim of achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The company has similar recycling initiatives in Germany, the Netherlands and most recently in Ecuador, where Essity is collaborating with McDonald’s and the company ReciVeci to recycle paper cups from fast-food restaurants.

“A truly circular society can only be achieved if there is integrated collaboration between all members of the value chain, and our production plant in Hondouville is a role model in end to-end circular economy. The production facility provides cost-efficient and sustainable production while we take important steps toward a world with zero landfill,” says Donato Giorgio, President, Global Supply Chain at Essity. 

France is Essity’s second largest market in Europe with approximately 2,300 employees and annual sales of SEK 11.7bn. Essity manufactures and sells hygiene and health products under leading brands, such as Actimove, Cutimed, Delta-Cast, Demak’Up, JOBST, Leukoplast, Lotus, Nana, Okay, TENA and Tork.

For further information, please contact:
Karl Stoltz, Media Relations Director, +46 709 42 63 88, karl.stoltz@essity.com 

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. We are dedicated to improving well-being through our products and services. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands, such as Actimove, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic, Vinda and Zewa. Essity has about 48,000 employees. Net sales in 2022 amounted to approximately SEK 156bn (EUR 15bn). The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. Essity breaks barriers to well-being and contributes to a healthy, sustainable and circular society. More information at www.essity.com.

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