Swedish hygiene group Essity earns finalist position at the World Procurement Awards 2026 for its inclusive sourcing and social responsibility efforts, highlighting a shift towards value creation that blends commercial and social goals.
Essity has been named a finalist in the Social Impact category at the World Procurement Awards 2026, a nod to the company’s efforts to make procurement serve not only commercial priorities but also wider social goals.
According to the announcement, the Swedish hygiene and health group has been pushing an inclusive sourcing approach designed to strengthen resilience across its supply chain while widening opportunity for a broader range of suppliers. The company says that its procurement work is intended to do more than control costs and secure supply, with a focus on equity, sustainability and long-term value creation.
The recognition comes as Essity has collected a series of external endorsements for its wider responsible-business agenda. In 2025, the company said it was ranked among Europe’s Top 5 Diversity Leaders for 2026 by the Financial Times, based on an independent survey of more than 100,000 employees in 16 European countries. It was also named a 2025 Impact Sourcing Top Global Champion by WEConnect International for its work with underutilised suppliers, including women-owned businesses.
Separately, Essity said it received EcoVadis’ Platinum medal in 2025, placing it in the top 1% of companies assessed globally for sustainability performance. The company reported an overall score of 88 out of 100, with top-tier ratings across environment, labour and human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement.
Essity’s procurement team describes its role as building value for the company, suppliers, customers and society, while also supporting cost efficiency, supply continuity and lower environmental impact. The World Procurement Awards nomination suggests that, in the company’s telling, those aims are increasingly being linked rather than treated as separate agendas.
The finalist recognition also underlines the importance of internal collaboration, with Essity crediting the work of teams and partners across the business. Deniz Yordanov was singled out as playing a key role in advancing the programme, reflecting the growing emphasis on leadership and execution in corporate procurement strategies that are now judged as much by their social footprint as by their financial results.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article was published on April 22, 2026, and reports on Essity's recent recognition as a finalist at the World Procurement Awards 2026. No earlier versions of this specific content were found, indicating high freshness. The content does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The narrative is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article includes a direct quote from Deniz Yordanov, identified as playing a key role in advancing the programme. However, no independent verification of this quote was found online. The absence of online matches raises concerns about the verifiability of the quote. Further efforts to confirm the authenticity of this quote are recommended.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The article originates from Tissue Online North America, a niche publication within the tissue industry. While it may be reputable within its niche, its broader reach and independence are limited. The source's limited reach and potential biases due to its niche focus warrant a cautious approach.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the article align with Essity's known initiatives and recent recognitions, such as being named among Europe’s Top 5 Diversity Leaders 2026 by the Financial Times and receiving the EcoVadis Platinum medal for outstanding sustainability leadership in 2025. However, the absence of independent verification for some claims, particularly the direct quote from Deniz Yordanov, raises concerns about the overall reliability of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article reports on Essity's recent recognition as a finalist at the World Procurement Awards 2026. While the content is fresh and the claims are plausible, the reliance on a press release from Essity and the lack of independent verification for key claims, particularly the direct quote from Deniz Yordanov, raise concerns about the reliability and independence of the information. Further independent verification is recommended before publishing.
