Sofidel – Transition to Paper Packaging for Sofidel’s Tissue Brands
Sofidel has chosen to adopt paper primary packaging for Regina brand products as part of a broader strategy to reduce environmental impact and align with its sustainability goals. The decision stems primarily from the group's commitment to significantly reduce the use of conventional plastic, replacing it with renewable and more easily recyclable materials. Paper represents a solution derived from certifiable and responsibly managed bio-based and renewable resources, preventing the production of plastic waste and the dispersion of microplastics in terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The material's high recyclability also benefits consumers and helps strengthen circular economy models, making packaging consistent with the environmental expectations of modern retailers and end customers. This choice is also part of Sofidel's journey towards reducing climate-altering emissions and achieving its Net Zero 2050 targets, confirming the company's commitment to integrating sustainability as a competitive factor and a lever for creating shared value. The introduction of paper packaging for Regina, in addition to responding to the growing demand for more responsible solutions, strengthens the brand's reputation and makes tangible the group's commitment to a more attentive approach to resources and the future of the planet.
Potential future developments
Although paper packaging currently represents a smaller share of Sofidel’s overall product range, its introduction marks an important step toward broader transformation. Some challenges still need to be addressed before paper can be adopted on a larger scale in the tissue sector—such as higher material costs, the need to ensure adequate strength for very large formats, and the fact that consumers are still more familiar with plastic‑wrapped products. Yet these are areas where innovation, scale effects and clear communication can make a significant difference. Encouragingly, many retail partners already value this transition, recognising that it supports their own sustainability strategies and strengthens shared environmental commitments. Sofidel is confident that, as technology evolves and consumer awareness grows, paper packaging can become a mainstream solution for our category. This shift would deliver meaningful benefits for the environment, enhance circularity, and reinforce the European value chain that supplies both the fibres and the packaging itself.
Current contribution
Sofidel’s decision to introduce paper‑based primary packaging for Regina products delivers measurable benefits in terms of decarbonisation, natural‑resource management and circularity. Replacing fossil‑based plastics with European‑sourced paper reduces emissions linked to raw‑material extraction, production and end‑of‑life treatment, supporting the company’s long‑term climate commitments. Using fibres from responsibly managed European forests ensures a traceable and renewable supply, strengthening a resource model based on regeneration and reduced environmental impact across the product life cycle. From a circular‑economy perspective, paper enables high recovery rates within Europe’s mature recycling systems, increasing the likelihood that packaging is effectively collected and reintroduced into new production cycles. This shift reduces non‑recyclable waste and reinforces an already advanced circular infrastructure. The fact that both the paper and the packaging are produced entirely in Europe adds strategic value: it supports regional industrial autonomy, enhances local supply chains and demonstrates the capacity of the European paper industry to deliver competitive, sustainability‑driven innovation. As a result, Regina’s paper packaging becomes not only an environmental improvement but also a meaningful contribution to the resilience and sustainability of the European manufacturing ecosystem.
