Essity is expanding its coreless technology to new product categories and markets in Europe. The innovation eliminates the need for a central cardboard tube, allowing for double rolls with greater capacity while reducing waste and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. In France, the company is applying the technology to Lotus Just-1 toilet paper, a product recognized for its quality and thickness, with a single sheet designed to be sufficient for use. The product also features paper packaging.
Introduced in 2018 following seven years of research and development, Essity’s proprietary and patented coreless technology has gradually been incorporated into different product categories, including toilet paper and household towels. By removing the cardboard tube, the solution eliminates a component that would otherwise be discarded after use and increases the amount of product per roll, offering twice the capacity of conventional rolls.
The technology has already been introduced in several European markets, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Benelux region, Finland and Switzerland. In 2025, Essity launched Lotus Just-1 coreless toilet paper in France, with a rollout under the Zewa brand in Germany planned for the fourth quarter of that year. The company also outlined plans to expand the technology to additional European markets in 2026 and 2027.
According to Essity, the technology contributes to reducing the environmental impact of its products. Coreless toilet paper and household towels can achieve CO₂ emissions reductions of up to 6%. In addition, their compact format can reduce by one-third the number of trucks and the amount of warehouse space needed to transport and store the same quantity of products.
For Lotus Just-1, the removal of the cardboard tube is combined with the replacement of plastic packaging with paper made from renewable materials. The changes are intended to address consumer needs while supporting Essity’s climate targets and efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
Essity states that it is the first and only company to have established coreless toilet paper and household towels in consumer markets. The company positions the technology as part of its strategy to drive profitable growth and expand its market presence through sustainable innovation, product quality and consumer experience.
