Essity: A Leading Force in Sustainable Procurement

The CDP has once again named Essity in its Supplier Engagement Leaders (SEA) report, recognising Essity’s continued commitment to a positive environmental impact.

Essity, a leading brand in hygiene and health, has, for a sixth-consecutive year, earned recognition for its sustainable procurement strategies. 

With a determination to maintain responsible sourcing, cut emissions and build a more sustainable value chain, Essity is providing far more than just healthcare.

Essity's sustainability mission

Essity operates in 150 countries with a wide portfolio of health and hygiene brands, relying on its procurement function to align environmental targets across a complex global supply chain.

Formed in 2017 following its split from the Swedish paper and forestry group SCA, Essity has pursued sustainability as a central business objective. 

It now aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, with a clear interim target to cut Scope 3 emissions—which include supplier-related emissions—by 35% by 2030.

With sourcing central to its decarbonisation goals, Essity’s procurement teams have focused on supplier engagement as a primary tactic to bring about emissions reduction. 

Scope 3 accounts for the majority of its carbon footprint, so collaboration with suppliers is critical.

Jessica Nordlinder, Vice President of Global Procurement at Essity, explains: "Our approach to supplier collaboration is built on clear expectations, robust support and the fostering of innovation. 

“We communicate our environmental targets, provide the necessary tools and training and encourage new solutions to reduce emissions."

This focus has contributed to CDP’s repeated acknowledgment of Essity’s procurement-led strategy. 

The Supplier Engagement Assessment (SEA) by CDP is the only independent global system that scores how well companies engage with their suppliers on climate issues. 

It evaluates governance, targets and supplier actions related to environmental transparency and impact. 

To remain on the leader list year after year, companies must show measurable progress.

Environmental procurement strategies

Essity’s procurement function is structured to support decarbonisation along the value chain.

The company sources raw materials and medical products across multiple sectors and geographies, and its 70 production facilities worldwide require coordinated procurement strategies to ensure environmental goals are met.

In 2024, Essity achieved a 21% reduction in Scope 3 emissions, progress that is directly tied to how its procurement teams work with supply partners. 

Procurement teams assess environmental performance when selecting suppliers and provide support in the form of tools and training. 

They also measure results and adjust sourcing practices based on progress.

Jessica adds: “Open communication and strong partnerships ensure our suppliers are fully engaged and committed to our shared climate action mission.”

This supplier-first model encourages innovation from vendors themselves.

By embedding environmental criteria into sourcing decisions and contract terms, Essity creates long-term partnerships focused on emissions reduction, not just cost or delivery.

Global reach, local impact

As a company with a global supply chain, Essity’s procurement strategy needs to adapt to different regulatory environments and supply market conditions. 

Its model prioritises local engagement and collective action.

Nicole Anderson Brodin, Sustainable Procurement Manager at Essity, explains: "We are very proud to be recognised by CDP for our efforts in supplier engagement, or rather, partner collaboration. 

“We are far from finished, but together with our supply partners we continue to forge ahead toward what is imperative: a low-carbon economy. The spirit of collaboration is alive and well.”

This framing of procurement as a function of partnership and collaboration marks Essity’s approach as distinctive. Rather than treating suppliers as external actors, the company brings them into the decision-making process and sets shared environmental goals.

With year-on-year recognition from CDP, Essity shows how procurement-led engagement can deliver measurable results. As it continues towards its 2030 and 2050 targets, supplier collaboration will remain at the core of its emissions strategy.