Essity

About Essity

The story of Essity isn't about a garage startup, but a strategic separation from a century-old Swedish giant. Essity was born from Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), a company founded in 1929 that began as a forestry operation. Over decades, SCA expanded into the hygiene sector, making its first major move by acquiring Swedish company Mölnlycke in 1975. This acquisition laid the groundwork for what would become a global hygiene and health powerhouse. By 2016, SCA had built a massive hygiene business, but it existed alongside its traditional forestry operations. Recognizing that the two divisions had different needs and strategies, the company announced its intention to split into two independent, publicly traded entities. This move was designed to unlock value and allow each company to focus on its core business. This significant event culminated on June 15, 2017, when Essity AB was spun off from SCA and listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm stock exchange. Unlike a traditional startup with specific founders, Essity was established through this corporate action, with its ownership distributed among the shareholders of its former parent company, SCA. The name itself, a blend of "essentials" and "necessities," reflects its mission to provide crucial hygiene and health products. Today, Essity operates globally, owning well-known brands like TENA and Tork.