Forest and Fiber

Nature consideration and protection of biodiversity through responsible forest and fiber management is a priority for Essity. As a global buyer of fresh and recycled wood-based fiber materials, Essity is dependent on healthy and resilient forests.

Our impact on forest biodiversity is primarily through use of wood-based fresh fiber. Thus, responsible sourcing is central to Essity, and responsible forest management is an integral part of our fresh fiber sourcing. Our work to ensure responsible forest and fiber management is directly linked to SDG 12 Responsible consumption and production, SDG 13 Climate action, as well as SDG 15 Life on land.

Targets and transparency

Essity’s target is that 100% of our fiber should be FSC™ or PEFC™-certified fresh fiber. In 2022, CDP recognized Essity for it leadership in sustainability, with Essity claiming a place on CDP’s prestigious A List for its work in combating deforestation. Each year, Essity reports according to the agreed targets in the Forest Positive Coalition of Action that is part of the CGF. This report is available on our website and is included in CGF’s annual aggregated report. Our joint targets form an essential part of our CGF commitment together with other coalition members. Essity reports and follows up on these targets to drive a Forest Positive change within our own supply chains, our industry, and beyond.

Learn more about our fiber sourcing

Landscape-of-a-large-hay-field-with-numerous-straw-bales-1920x1080.jpg

Reduced material use and alternative materials

Essity works to reduce fresh wood fiber purchases by investing in new technologies to develop alternative materials and to use a larger share of recycled materials. One example of this is our investment in wheat straw, an agricultural by-product that often remains unused. Essity’s plant in Mannheim, Germany, began producing tissue from wheat straw pulp in 2021, with the first products launched on the market in 2022 under the brand Zewa. This is the first plant of its kind in Europe and the first plant in the world that uses wheat pulp on a large scale to produce tissue. This breakthrough innovation increases circularity and reduces our climate footprint.

Read more about alternative materials

Cooperation to combat forest degradation and deforestation

Responsible sourcing is central to Essity, and sustainable forest management is an integral part of our fresh fiber sourcing. Essity encourages non-certified suppliers and forest owners to become certified. This secures our sourcing of certified materials while increasing the availability of certified raw materials to other users. To promote responsible forestry at the global, regional, and national levels, Essity supports the further development of international certification systems. Essity participates in the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) together with other leading consumer goods companies in the Forest Positive Coalition of Action initiative to combat global forest degradation, deforestation and to preserve biodiversity.

Certification of sustainable forestry

Essity provides millions of people worldwide with hygiene and health products, and renewable wood fiber materials make up a substantial component of these. Our long-standing work with responsible fiber sourcing is an important part of our sustainability strategy. We ensure responsible fiber sourcing through certifications such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and can thereby prevent deforestation and promote biodiversity.

Read more about Essity’s sustainable fiber procurement

Select region

Quick results

Company

Brands

Sustainability

Innovation

Careers

Investors

Media

Forest and Fiber