A role model in circular economy: recycling materials beyond the paper-based fibres

The hygiene and health company Essity has inaugurated in 2023 on its Hondouville site (France) its first production line 100% dedicated to the recycling of used food and milk cartons for professional hygiene tissue products.

Potential future developments

• This new technology opens up future recycling possibilities for the remaining solid waste (polyal). The Hondouville site is currently having advanced discussions with several companies able to value and recycle this ultimate waste into products such as street furniture, construction bricks…
• The investment in the production line is fully in line with the transformation of Essity’s industrial facilities in favour of a reduced environmental footprint and greater circularity, it also contributes to the EUs commitment of becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050.
• The Hondouville site initiated this change over 15 years ago. In 2008, the site pioneered the first transformation, enabling it to manufacture its Tork-branded products for professionals no longer from virgin paper pulp, but 100% from recycled paper pulp made from paper waste and food cartons.
• The final transformation carried out by the site’s teams should enable Hondouville to gradually move towards zero waste. In this respect, between 2008 and today, the site’s continual transformation shows its capability to maintain and develop its activity while anticipating and adapting to new requirements.

Current contribution

The project is innovative for the following reasons:

– The new technology in place makes it possible to recover almost all the fibres contained in the food cartons. Previously, with only 70% of the fibres recovered, the remaining waste was too wet to allow the recycling of the remaining parts combining 30% fibre and polyal.

– The recovery of almost 100% of the fibres contained in each of the recycled food cartons allows to reduce the quantity of waste previously sent to landfill (-8,000 tons per year).

– This new technology opens up future recycling possibilities for the remaining solid waste (polyal). The Hondouville site is currently having advanced discussions with several companies able to value and recycle this ultimate waste into products such as street furniture, construction bricks.

– Finally, the investment made by Essity will allow to recycle more food cartons – from 18,000 to 24,000 tons per year – and possibly beyond as the new line has a higher recycling capacity.

The investment in the production line is fully in line with the transformation of Essity’s industrial facilities in favour of a reduced environmental footprint and greater circularity, it also contributes to the EU’s commitment of becoming the first climate neutral continent by 2050.