Consumers are also demanding more sustainable solutions. Our own Global Hygiene and Health Survey 2022 revealed that 61% of respondents found themselves responsible for consuming more consciously, and that one in three are willing to pay nearly 13% more for sustainable hygiene and health products.
Over the last few decades, we’ve seen a much clearer picture of circularity emerge, but it's important to understand the definition, and what it looks like in practice. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which Essity has partnered with since 2010, outlines the three characteristics of a circular economy that place human well-being at the core:
Designing out waste and pollution from the production process
Keeping products and materials in use longer
Regenerating natural systems and resources
The need to transform businesses and product life cycles to be circular is greater than ever, so let’s take a look at what progress has been made in the pillars of circularity, and what opportunities lie ahead.