Essity AB

What does Essity own?
Essity owns globally leading brands including TENA (incontinence care), Tork (professional hygiene), Libero (baby care), Libresse and Bodyform (feminine care), Knix and Modibodi (leakproof apparel), JOBST (compression therapy), Leukoplast (medical adhesives), Cutimed (wound care), and Actimove (orthopedics). In February 2026, Essity added Carefree, Stayfree, o.b., and Playtex through the Edgewell feminine care acquisition in North America. In August 2026, Essity agreed to acquire Kenvue's feminine care business in Brazil, adding Carefree, Sempre Livre, and o.b. in Brazil. The company also owns regional brands including Lotus, Saba, Nosotras, Tempo, Zewa, and TOM Organic.

Is Essity publicly traded?
Yes, Essity AB is publicly traded on Nasdaq Stockholm under ticker symbol ESSITY B. The company was listed on June 15, 2017, following the demerger from SCA. It has a dispersed shareholder base with institutional investors holding the majority of shares.

Who founded Essity?
Essity was not founded by an individual but was created in 2017 through the demerger of SCA, a Swedish forest products company founded in 1929. SCA's shareholders voted to split the group into two listed companies: SCA (forest products) and Essity (hygiene and health). Magnus Groth, previously CEO of SCA, became Essity's first President and CEO.

Where is Essity headquartered?
Essity is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. The company maintains its global corporate headquarters in Stockholm with major operations and manufacturing facilities across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia.

How many brands does Essity own?
Essity owns more than 15 major brands across hygiene and health categories, including TENA, Tork, Libero, Libresse, Bodyform, Knix, Modibodi, JOBST, Leukoplast, Cutimed, Actimove, Lotus, Saba, Nosotras, Tempo, Zewa, TOM Organic, the Carefree, Stayfree, o.b., and Playtex brands in North America, and the Carefree, Sempre Livre, and o.b. brands in Brazil.

Who owns Essity?
Essity is publicly owned with a dispersed shareholder base. Institutional investors, including Swedish and international investment funds, hold the majority of shares. No single shareholder holds a controlling stake. The company is governed by a Board of Directors overseeing strategy and major corporate decisions.

What is Essity's revenue?
Essity reported FY2025 net sales of SEK 138,494 million (approximately EUR 13 billion), with EBITA excl. IAC of SEK 19,572 million and an EBITA margin excl. IAC of 14.1%. In Q1 2026, net sales were SEK 33,177 million with EBITA margin excl. IAC of 13.9%. The Board proposed a 6% dividend increase to SEK 8.75 per share for FY2025.

What is the Edgewell feminine care acquisition?
In February 2026, Essity completed the acquisition of Edgewell Personal Care's feminine care business in North America for USD 340 million (approximately SEK 3 billion). The acquisition includes the Carefree, Stayfree, and o.b. brands in North America and global feminine care rights for the Playtex brand, along with a production facility in Dover, Delaware. The acquisition nearly doubles Essity's Personal Care presence in North America.

Essity's origins trace back to Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), a Swedish forest products company founded in 1929. Over decades, SCA expanded from its forest products base into paper products, personal care, consumer tissue, and away-from-home tissue. By 2016, the hygiene business accounted for approximately 86% of SCA's net sales, while the forest products business represented approximately 14%. Synergies between the two operations had diminished over time, prompting the board to propose a separation.

In April 2017, SCA closed the acquisition of BSN medical, a leading medical solutions company with brands including Leukoplast, Cutimed, JOBST, Delta Cast, and Actimove, for a purchase price of EUR 1,394 million plus net debt of approximately EUR 1,321 million. BSN medical was integrated into SCA's Personal Care business area, forming a new Health and Medical Solutions business unit alongside the existing incontinence care business.

On April 5, 2017, SCA's Annual General Meeting resolved to distribute all shares in Essity Aktiebolag to SCA's shareholders. The Essity share was listed on Nasdaq Stockholm on June 15, 2017. The name Essity stems from the words 'essentials' and 'necessities', reflecting the everyday nature of its products. Magnus Groth, previously President and CEO of SCA, became Essity's first President and CEO.

Following the demerger, Essity pursued a strategy of portfolio strengthening through acquisitions and organic growth. In 2022, the company acquired Knix Wear Inc., a Canadian direct-to-consumer leakproof apparel brand, acquiring 80% of shares with founder Joanna Griffiths retaining 20%. In the same year, Essity acquired Modibodi, an Australian leakproof apparel brand, becoming the global market leader in leakproof apparel, the fastest growing segment in intimate hygiene.

In 2025, Essity launched a comprehensive program to strengthen conditions for profitable growth. The initiative included an organizational change that split the former Consumer Goods business area into separate Personal Care and Consumer Tissue business areas, integrated global functions into the business areas, and initiated a cost savings program targeting approximately SEK 1 billion in annual savings with full effect by the end of 2026. Ulrika Kolsrud, who succeeded Magnus Groth as President and CEO, led the transformation.

In February 2026, Essity completed the acquisition of Edgewell Personal Care's feminine care business in North America for USD 340 million, adding the Carefree, Stayfree, o.b., and Playtex brands along with a production facility in Dover, Delaware. The acquisition nearly doubled Essity's presence in Personal Care in North America, the world's largest hygiene market.

On August 20, 2026, Essity agreed to acquire Kenvue's feminine care business in Brazil for USD 284 million on a cash and debt-free basis. The deal includes the market-leading brands Carefree, Sempre Livre, and o.b. in Brazil. The acquisition strengthens Essity's position as the market leader in feminine care in Latin America and consolidates Essity's ownership of the Carefree and o.b. brands across multiple continents, following the February 2026 Edgewell acquisition that added the same brands in North America. The Brazil deal also adds Sempre Livre, a market-leading Brazilian feminine care brand. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Sustainability is at the heart of Essity's strategy and daily operations. In 2025, Essity was awarded the prestigious EcoVadis Platinum medal, placing the company among the top 1% of all companies assessed worldwide for sustainability performance, with an overall score of 88 out of 100. Essity was also recognized on CDP's A List for forests and climate, demonstrating leadership in environmental transparency and action.

Essity's sustainability program spans environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical business conduct. The company has set science-based targets for emissions reduction and has committed to reducing its environmental footprint across production facilities. Tork has reduced the carbon footprint of key hand towel and napkin products by up to 21% through investments in renewable electricity and manufacturing efficiency.

The company is a leader in reusable hygiene products, offering washable and sustainable alternatives through TENA, Knix, Modibodi, Bodyform, and Libresse brands. Essity is committed to reducing single-use products through innovation in reusable hygiene solutions, leveraging advanced technology and material science.

Essity publishes an annual Sustainability Report with independently assured performance data. The company's sustainability ratings cover all key areas, including disclosure on progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

• EcoVadis Platinum Medal (2025): Placed Essity among the top 1% of all companies assessed worldwide for sustainability performance, with a score of 88 out of 100
• CDP A List (2025): Recognized on CDP's prestigious lists for forests and climate, demonstrating environmental leadership
• Dow Jones Sustainability Index: Consistent constituent, assessed by S&P Global for ESG performance
• Fortune Most Admired Companies: Included in Fortune's ranking in the consumer products category
• Forbes World's Best Employers: Recognized for employee satisfaction across the global workforce

Essity operates in the highly regulated hygiene and health products industry, facing scrutiny regarding environmental impact, supply chain practices, and product safety.

As a major tissue products manufacturer, Essity faces ongoing scrutiny regarding its environmental footprint, particularly deforestation and sustainable forestry practices in its supply chain. The company has invested in sustainable sourcing, renewable energy, and reduced carbon emissions to address these concerns. Its CDP A List rating for forests reflects progress in this area.

The company faces competitive pressure from private label products in Consumer Tissue, which has led to pricing pressure and volume declines in some markets. Essity has responded by focusing on branded products and innovation to differentiate from private label alternatives.

In 2025, Essity initiated a cost savings program targeting approximately SEK 1 billion in annual savings, primarily in sales and administrative expenses. The program includes workforce reductions as part of the organizational restructuring, which has drawn attention from labor unions in several European markets.

Essity is subject to extensive regulatory oversight regarding product safety, environmental compliance, and medical device regulations for its Health and Medical products. The company maintains compliance programs across all operating regions.