Essity Invests in New R&D Center in France

Originally published on Essity Newsroom

Hygiene and health company Essity is investing in a new global center for research and development, in Alsace, France, dedicated to tissue hygiene products. The state-of-the-art facility will focus on tissue to meet the evolving demands of branded tissue in both Consumer and Professional Hygiene markets. 

Essity is continuously developing new methods to provide the market with sustainable and user-friendly products. The company’s current R&D center in Kunheim, France, has filed 25 patents in recent years for ground-breaking innovations such as Lotus Aqua Tube (flushable toilet roll core), Lotus and Okay Sans Tube (coreless toilet paper), Tork SmartOne (dispenses one sheet at a time) and paper hygiene products based on alternative fibers.

“Essity's research and development is re-shaping paper making to contribute to a more sustainable and circular society, while improving people’s hygiene and health. The new global R&D center in France, will enable us to continue to develop innovative new paper hygiene products and solutions that meet the needs and high expectations of customers and consumers,” says Magnus Groth, President and CEO of Essity.

The new R&D center, strategically located near the current facility, ensures the retention of Essity’s more than 80 experts and engineers working there today. Essity aims to create a larger, more efficient center equipped to address future challenges.

In addition to France, Essity has R&D centers in Mexico, Sweden, Germany and in the USA, led by the company’s global unit focusing on brands, innovation and sustainability. In 2023, Essity invested SEK 1.7bn (approximately 1.2% of net sales) in research and development.

Essity is the world’s largest supplier of hygiene solutions in Professional Hygiene with the globally leading Tork brand. Essity is also the world’s third largest supplier of consumer tissue, with a presence primarily in Europe and Latin America. Essity’s brands such as Lotus, Tempo, Zewa, Cushelle, Plenty and retailer brands lead the European market, while Regio and Familia are key players in Latin America.

For additional information please contact:

Karl Stoltz, Media Relations Director, +46 709 426 338, karl.stoltz@essity.com

About Essity 

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2023, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 147bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.