Materiality Analysis and Process

The materiality analysis helps us report on the material sustainability issues that matter most to our business and stakeholders. This is also a key component in external reporting framework Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and a prerequisite in the assurance of the Annual and Sustainability Report.

The materiality analysis is a survey of our sustainability work with the purpose to prioritize and provide insights into subject areas considered to be material, i.e., most important from the perspectives of external stakeholders and employees. This is also an important tool to meet expectations of external stakeholders and comply with reporting standards, including external assurance. Our materiality analysis and risk assessment are linked to each other as both assessments look at topics and issues relevant to the company’s business.

At Essity, the Materiality Analysis is facilitated by Group Finance, Sustainability Reporting. Previous surveys were done 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021. The latest materiality analysis can be found in Essity’s Annual and Sustainability Report 2022.

In the second stage, the company distributes a web-based survey every second year to Essity’s stakeholder groups: customers, consumers, suppliers, employees, investors, analysts, non-profit organizations and decision-makers. The survey asks the stakeholders to rank the most important topics. The latest survey was conducted in 2021 and resulted in approximately 600 answers. 

In addition to the materiality analysis, Essity maintains a continuous dialogue at Board of Director meetings, meetings with shareholders and in daily contacts with customers and consumers, employees, suppliers and decision-makers, among others. The materiality analysis and these dialogues form part of supporting documentation in Essity’s strategy work. The results of the materiality analysis from 2021 are presented in the graph below. This summarizes and ranks all topics that are considered strategically important for the company. Interest increased for topics such as digitalization, health and well-being, as well as responsible sourcing and product safety. These topics received the highest ranking, together with innovation, climate action and business ethics, which stakeholders also considered most important in previous years.