Essity’s Tork PaperCircle recycling service collected more than 500 million used paper hand towels in 2025, as the number of participating customer sites increased by 33%.

The service collects used paper hand towels from participating customer sites and recycles them into new tissue products, such as toilet paper, at Essity manufacturing plants. By giving used hand towels a second life, Tork PaperCircle helps customers advance their sustainability ambitions while supporting the transition to a more circular economy.

Tork PaperCircle has expanded across 15 European markets. Customers range from major corporate headquarters in France, Poland, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom to airports in Sweden, universities in Germany and public-sector facilities in Norway.

Today, Tork PaperCircle recycles more than 35 million hand towels each month, helping organizations reduce waste while extending the useful life of recycled fibers. The service has gained external recognition over the years, including awards for innovation, eco-design and sustainability in Europe, underlining its role as a practical circular solution for customers.

“At Essity, we believe innovation should solve real customer needs, lead the market and deliver meaningful sustainability outcomes,” said Pablo Fuentes, President Professional Hygiene at Essity. “Tork PaperCircle is a strong example of that approach. By turning used paper hand towels into new hygiene paper products, we help customers reduce waste, make better use of resources and advance their circularity ambitions. The continued growth of the service reflects the increasing demand for solutions that deliver measurable sustainability benefits while supporting business performance.”

Tork PaperCircle supports Essity’s broader sustainability ambitions by promoting resource efficiency and increasing the use of recycled fibers in tissue production. As Europe's largest user of recycled fiber in tissue manufacturing, Essity continues to invest in innovations that help customers reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency and advance circularity across value chains.

Given the success of Tork PaperCircle, Essity has launched the Tork DispenserCircle pilot program, exploring business opportunities and waste reductions. Resulting so far in 240.000 soap, toilet paper, hand towels dispensers getting a new purpose.