Essity Donates 3.3m Hygiene Products To 80 Welsh Charities 2026

Key Points

• Essity donated 3.3 million hygiene items through In Kind Direct in the first half of 2026.
• These donations benefited 2,780 charity organisations across the UK, 80 in Wales.
• Essity has a manufacturing facility in Oakenholt, Flintshire and produces such brands as Tork, Bodyform, Cushelle and TENA.
• 1.76 million Bodyform period pads were donated to be able to handle about 88,005 menstrual cycles.
• Essity donated 538,740 toilet rolls, referred to as being equal to one month supply of estimated 33,671 families.
• In total, 292,338 TENA items were donated to help people handle incontinence and hygiene issues.
• Five charities received free Tork washroom and hygiene dispensers and nine more charities are expected to receive this gift in the second half of 2026.
• Essity and In Kind Direct partnership started in 2002.
• Each year Essity is committed to donate 1.2 million Bodyform period pads and 1 million toilet rolls to the charity through this partnership.
• These donations included products unlocked by the “Buy 2 and we’ll Donate 1” campaign at Tesco.

Wales (Wales Times) October 25, 2026 – Essity, the hygiene and health company behind brands including Tork, Bodyform, Cushelle and TENA, supported 80 charitable organisations across Wales with hygiene product donations in the first half of 2026, according to reporting by Claire Pierce of the Rhyl Journal.

The Welsh charities were among 2,780 organisations across the UK supported through Essity’s partnership with product-giving charity In Kind Direct. As reported by the Rhyl Journal, Essity donated 3.3 million hygiene products nationally between January and June 2026.

The company, which has a base at Oakenholt in Flintshire, said the donations were intended to help charities provide essential products to people affected by hygiene poverty. Hygiene poverty refers to situations in which people cannot afford everyday personal hygiene items such as period products, toilet roll and other basic essentials.

What products did Essity donate?

Essity’s first-half donations included more than 1.76 million Bodyform period pads. According to the Rhyl Journal, this included donations made through In Kind Direct’s “Buy 2 and we’ll Donate 1” campaign in Tesco stores.

The company said the period pads could help people manage an estimated 88,005 periods with dignity. The figure was provided by Essity and reported by the Rhyl Journal.

Essity also donated 538,740 toilet rolls during the same period. The company said this was equivalent to a month’s supply for an estimated 33,671 families.

In addition, 292,338 TENA products were donated. Essity said these products were intended to help people manage incontinence and meet everyday hygiene needs with dignity.

How did the Tesco campaign contribute?

The donations included products generated through In Kind Direct’s “Buy 2 and we’ll Donate 1” campaign with Tesco. Under the campaign, shoppers who bought two nominated products in one transaction at participating Tesco stores, on Tesco.com or through the Tesco app triggered a donation of one hygiene product to In Kind Direct.

According to Tesco’s campaign terms, the campaign ran from April 15 to June 8, 2026. Essity UK Limited was listed as one of the participating promoters, with Bodyform products included among the nominated items.

Tesco said the campaign had a maximum donation volume of 1.6 million product donation units across all promoters. In Kind Direct said the campaign involved 17 hygiene brands and more than 50 products.

What support was given to charity washrooms?

Essity also installed free Tork washroom and hygiene dispensers for five charitable organisations during the first half of 2026. The installations formed part of the company’s charity washroom fit-out programme.

According to the Rhyl Journal, installations for a further nine charitable organisations are planned in the second half of 2026. Essity said the programme is intended to help charities improve facilities for the people they support.

What did Essity say about the donations?

Gareth Lucy, communications director for the UK and North East Europe at Essity, said nobody should have to struggle to afford basic hygiene products.

As reported by the Rhyl Journal, Mr Lucy said: “Nobody should have to struggle to afford basic hygiene products, but charities are seeing people forced to make difficult choices about everyday essentials that many of us put in the shopping basket without a second thought.”

He added:

“Going without these products can have a real impact on people’s health, dignity and confidence. Donating 3.3 million products in the first half of 2026 shows the scale of our partnership with In Kind Direct and the practical support it provides. By working together, we can help ensure charities have a reliable supply of essential products to get to people who need them most.”

What did In Kind Direct say?

Michael Gidney, chief executive of In Kind Direct, said charitable organisations in the charity’s network were seeing the impact of hygiene poverty every day.

As reported by the Rhyl Journal, Mr Gidney said:

“Charitable organisations across our network are feeling the impact of hygiene poverty every day. When household budgets are stretched, essential products such as period products and toilet roll can quickly become another cost people have to find a way around.”

He said:

“Our long-term partnership with Essity helps ensure that people can access the everyday essentials they need, when they need. We see first-hand how consistent access to these essentials can have a significant impact on health, wellbeing and confidence.”

Mr Gidney added: “Tackling hygiene poverty takes a collective effort. We’re incredibly grateful for Essity’s continued commitment and proud of the difference we’ve made together, helping people and communities across the country.”

How long have Essity and In Kind Direct worked together?

Essity and In Kind Direct have worked together since 2002. According to Essity’s website, the partnership has resulted in more than 35 million essential hygiene and health products being donated to benefit a network of more than 7,000 local community charities across the UK.

Under the partnership, Essity commits annually to donating 1.2 million Bodyform period pads and one million toilet rolls. The company said these commitments help maintain a consistent supply of essential products throughout the year.

In Kind Direct describes itself as a UK charity working to end hygiene poverty by distributing products to charitable organisations. Its website says it supported 9,280 charitable organisations in 2025 and reached an estimated 930,000 people each week.

Why does hygiene poverty matter?

The reported figures highlight the practical pressures faced by households when essential hygiene products become unaffordable. According to In Kind Direct’s campaign information, hygiene poverty can force people to make difficult decisions between basic needs such as food and keeping clean.

Essity said its donations were intended to provide charities with a reliable supply of products that can be passed on to people who need them. The company said access to such products can affect health, dignity and confidence.

The latest donations follow Essity’s wider product-giving activity. In Kind Direct reported that Essity donated more than 5.5 million essential hygiene products in 2024, supporting 3,322 organisations in its network.

Background of the development

Essity is a global hygiene and health company with a base at Oakenholt in Flintshire. Its brands include Tork, Bodyform, Cushelle and TENA, which produce products ranging from professional washroom supplies to period care and incontinence products.

In Kind Direct is a UK product-giving charity that distributes donated goods to charities, community groups, schools and other organisations. Its website says it works with more than 9,000 charitable organisations nationwide.

The partnership between Essity and In Kind Direct began in 2002. Since then, Essity has made annual commitments to donate period products and toilet rolls, while also supplying professional hygiene products and funding washroom installations for charities.

The first-half 2026 figures were reported by the Rhyl Journal and LeaderLive, with both titles citing the same donation totals and product breakdowns. The donations also formed part of a wider Tesco and In Kind Direct campaign involving multiple hygiene brands.

Prediction: What could this mean for Welsh charities?

For Welsh charities, the donations may provide a more predictable supply of high-demand hygiene products at a time when organisations continue to support people facing financial pressure. The inclusion of 80 Welsh organisations suggests that local charities could use the products to support people who might otherwise go without period products, toilet roll or incontinence care.

The planned installation of a further nine Tork washroom and hygiene dispensers in the second half of 2026 could also help charities improve on-site facilities. For organisations supporting families, older people, or people experiencing hardship, reliable access to washroom supplies may reduce the need to purchase these items from limited budgets.

For the wider Welsh charity sector, the development may reinforce the importance of corporate product-donation partnerships. If Essity maintains its annual commitments of 1.2 million period pads and one million toilet rolls, charities could continue to plan around a recurring supply of essential items rather than relying solely on one-off donations.