Essity strengthens its commitment to well‑being and performance in sport

Opening the season in Milan: sport as emotion and expression

From March 6 to 8, an immersive artistic installation titled Healing will take place in Largo la Foppa, in the heart of Milan, Italy, showcasing how sport can serve as a powerful space for emotional expression. Essity will bring together a sport champion and the designer Greg Goya, creator of a limited-edition Tempo handkerchief collection for the 2026 winter sport season. Visitors will be invited to interact and share, in writing, the emotions that sport in general evokes for them.

Through Healing, Essity opens the 2026 winter season with a clear message: sport is not only about performance, but also emotional expression, dignity, individual and collective well-being, values that underpin Essity’s long-term engagement in enabling sport activities through hygiene and health solutions.

Allying product innovation, sports performance and people well-being

Across sports partnerships worldwide, Essity supports daily well-being by embedding hygiene and health solutions directly into sporting environments and experiences. In Canada, JOBST compression garments support people living with venous or lymphatic conditions by helping them remain active and confident, through a partnership with the Toronto Raptors basketball team. Together, they promote awareness of living an active lifestyle with medical support. In the United States, Tork, Essity’s world leading professional hygiene brand, works with the Philadelphia Eagles to maintain high standards of cleaning, hygiene and comfort in stadium and training facilities, enhancing conditions for fans, players and staff while also extending hygiene access beyond the stadium through community-focused initiatives.

At consumer level, initiatives such as TENA’s global focus on helping women remain active despite bladder leaks further reinforce sport as a space where physical comfort, dignity and confidence can thrive.

Essity’s role in sport also extends to product innovation that enables athletes to train, recover and compete more effectively. In elite cycling, Leukotape by Actimove is trusted by worldclass rider Jonas Vingegaard, while in climbing, the Leukotape Classic Alex Megos Edition is designed to protect the skin and support high-precision movement.

When sport becomes a voice for breaking health taboos

Beyond performance and well-being, Essity leverages the visibility and emotional power of sport to address sensitive health topics that remain taboo. In French rugby, TENA Men partners with the national federation to encourage open conversations about male bladder weakness. In Germany, TENA works with the national handball federation to normalize discussions around incontinence.

In women’s sport, Essity supports greater awareness of menstruation and the female cycle. Through its collaboration with the Swedish cross-country ski team, Tork makes period products visible and accessible in training environments, helping dismantle stigma and inspire younger generations.

This commitment also extends to football. Libresse has entered a four-year partnership with the Danish Football Association as the official sponsor of the Women’s National Team, aiming to strengthen body awareness, well-being and confidence for girls and women in the sport.

Across sports globally, TENA further draws attention to the fact that one in three women quit sport due to bladder leaks, pushing for open dialogue and better support.

“With our global portfolio of hygiene and health brands, Essity is committed to advancing a more inclusive and high-performing sports environment. We are elevating standards for athletes, sports enthusiasts, fans in stadiums and staff, while fostering a broader societal dialogue, helping to remove barriers to participation and enabling more people to engage in sports with confidence,” said Sahil Tesfu, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Essity.