Michael Chen

May 14, 2024 - 06:25 am

Essity Announces Groundbreaking Investment in New Global Research and Development Center in France

STOCKHOLM, May 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Essity, a prominent hygiene and health company, has made a significant stride in the sector by announcing its investment in a newly-established global center for research and development. Located in Alsace, France, this cutting-edge facility is set to specialize in tissue hygiene products, elevating the company's dedication to both the Consumer and Professional Hygiene markets. This establishment aims to address the ever-evolving branded tissue demands through innovative and sustainable methods.

The current Research and Development (R&D) center of Essity in Kunheim, France, has been a hub of innovation, registering 25 patents in recent years. These patents include pioneering products such as the Lotus Aqua Tube, a flushable toilet roll core, the coreless Lotus and Okay Sans Tube toilet paper, the Tork SmartOne tissue dispenser which issues single sheets for use, and other hygienic paper products made from alternative fibers. This consistent stream of innovations demonstrates Essity’s commitment to advancing paper hygiene products while focusing on sustainability and user-friendliness.

Magnus Groth, the President and CEO of Essity, emphasized the company's role in revolutionizing paper making to foster a sustainable and circular society. "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 Groth. His statement underlines the intention to further progress in creating market-leading hygiene solutions that cater to the dynamic needs of the global market.

Essity is strategically positioning the new R&D center close to its existing facility, ensuring that it retains the talent and expertise of over 80 specialists and engineers who currently work there. The key objective is to establish a bigger, more advanced center that is well-equipped to take on future industry challenges and drive innovation even further.

Beyond France, Essity has R&D centers in Mexico, Sweden, Germany, and the USA, all of which operate under the company's global unit. This unit focuses on brands, innovation, and sustainability, underscoring Essity's international footprint in the hygiene and health industry. In the year 2023, the company allocated SEK 1.7bn (approximately 1.2% of its net sales) to research and development endeavors, showcasing the hefty investment Essity pours into innovation and advancement of its product range.

Essity has forged its position as the world's largest supplier of professional hygiene solutions, headlined by its globally leading Tork brand, and as the third-largest supplier in consumer tissue. The company has a robust market presence primarily in Europe and Latin America, where its brands like Lotus, Tempo, Zewa, Cushelle, and Plenty, along with retailer brands, dominate the European sector. Meanwhile, in Latin America, brands like Regio and Familia serve as significant contributors to the market.

For more information and inquiries, contact Karl Stoltz, Essity's Media Relations Director, via email at [email protected] or through the phone at +46 709 42 63 88.

This press release has been made available by Cision and can be accessed at http://news.cision.com. Additionally, further details regarding Essity's investment in the new R&D center in France can be found at https://news.cision.com/essity/r/essity-invests-in-new-r-d-center-in-france,c3977804.

The company also provides downloadable files for additional reference:

• For a summary of the press release, the document can be retrieved from https://mb.cision.com/Main/15798/3977804/2792830.pdf.
• A visual of the Centre de recherches Kunheim is available at https://news.cision.com/essity/i/centre-de-recherches-kunheim,c3299094.
• An image showcasing the Essity R&D Center can be downloaded at https://news.cision.com/essity/i/essity-r-d-center-2,c3299095.

Essity's progress and efforts in the industry are continually documented and updated, contributing to their ambition of leading the market in sustainable hygiene solutions.

SOURCE: Essity