Tissue products with more sustainable packaging to hit shelves in New Zealand
Handee, Purex e Sorbent, market leading brands in their categories, contain 20% recycled plastic in its packaging
Essity is a world leader in hygiene and health dedicated to improving the well-being of people through its essential products and solutions for everyday life, with a sustainable business model that creates value for its consumers and nature.
The company’s market leading brands in their categories, Handee paper towel, Purex and Sorbent toilet paper packaging will hit shelves in New Zealand containing 20% recycled plastic. This will be the first recycled plastic packaging seen in the paper towel and toilet paper aisles of New Zealand’s supermarkets. Recycled plastic has been used before and reduces the amount going to landfills, supporting the development of New Zealand’s circular economy.
After 18 months of research and trials investigating sustainable packaging options, Essity invested into recycled plastic packaging at Kawerau Mill. Handee, Sorbent and Purex product range transitions to 20% recycled plastic packaging from October 2021.
“We know New Zealanders are concerned about plastic waste, so we are excited to be making our products available to our customers and consumers with more sustainable packaging. Our research into sustainable packaging options shows that using 20% Post Consumer Recycled (PCR) content in Handee paper towel, Purex and Sorbent Toilet plastic packaging, reduces the carbon footprint of our packaging, contributes to the circular economy and reduces plastic waste.” said Fiona Baxter, General Manager Sustainability for Essity’s Australasian operations.
“We are confident that the recycled content in our packaging will further encourage consumers to recycle their plastic waste through the Soft Plastics Recycling Scheme,” she said.
Essity’s “forest to flush” product lifecycle for these products has been independently reviewed, confirming that packaging contributes less than 10% to the carbon footprint for these products. 20% recycled content in our packaging reduces our carbon footprint further and moves us closer to our sustainable packaging target of 85% recycled and/or renewable content in our packaging by 2025.