With the strategic review of Essity's Consumer Tissue business segment, different alternatives will be evaluated and may lead to separation, although no such decisions have yet been taken.
May 6, 2026 - Essity today announced that it has initiated a strategic review of the Consumer Tissue business area's global operations.
Essity said the review will evaluate strategic alternatives with the aim of creating the best possible conditions for the Consumer Tissue business and the Group to develop to their full potential and maximize value creation.
"Essity continuously evaluates its product portfolio to increase long-term value creation, and accordingly, Essity's Board of Directors has decided to initiate a strategic review of the Consumer Tissue business area. With the review, different alternatives will be evaluated and may lead to separation, although no such decisions have yet been taken," the Stockholm-based company said.
Ulrika Kolsrud, Essity's President and CEO, stated, "Essity's Consumer Tissue business has a strong offering under its own brands, retailer brands, and through private label, with leading market positions and an efficient supply chain. The strategic review will evaluate different options for the ownership of Consumer Tissue and is part of our efforts to optimize Essity's product portfolio and maximize value creation."
In 2025, net sales for the Consumer Tissue business area amounted to SEK 43,537 million, corresponding to 31% of the Group's net sales.
Essity's Consumer Tissue business includes products such as toilet paper, household towels, handkerchiefs, facial tissues, moist tissue and paper napkins under brands such as Lotus, Tempo, Zewa, Cushelle, Plenty, Regio and Familia. Essity also produces consumer tissue for retailer's own brands and private label.
In Consumer Tissue, Essity is the market leader in Europe and the second largest player in Latin America. The business area includes approximately 13,000 employees and 29 production facilities.
In February of this year, Essity completed the $340 million (approximately SEK 3 billion) acquisition of Edgewell Personal Care's feminine care business, including the Carefree, Stayfree and o.b. brands in North America and global feminine care rights for the Playtex brand.
"The acquisition supports Essity's strategy to focus on high margin categories and to grow market positions in the US, the world's largest hygiene market," the company said at the time of the acquisition.
The company also noted, "Essity is a fast-growing player in the feminine care category, with several strong regional brands such as Libresse, Bodyform, Nana, Saba, Libra, Nosotras, Knix and Modibodi offering a broad product portfolio of pads, liners, tampons, intimate soaps, intimate wipes, leakproof apparel and menstrual cups."
Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. 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.
SOURCE: Essity