Essity, a long-term parter with the Italian Red Cross, has donated over 3.2 million Tempo masks to people in need, such as migrants in reception centers, school students, and other fragile groups, who are most affected by the pandemic.

Over 300,000 10-pack masks will be donated, for a total of 3.2 million masks, worth over 150,000 euros. The distribution began in August in various Italian cities and regions, including Bresso (Milan), Settimo Torinese (Turin), Salerno, Bari, Rome, Avezzano (L’Aquila), Sardinia and Sicily.

“We are proud of this partnership with the Italian Red Cross in the framework of an ongoing global pandemic. We believe that hygiene, health and well-being are fundamental rights that must be guaranteed to all,” states Massimo Minaudo, CEO of Essity Italia. “We are doing anything possible to support the fight against Covid-19, as we are aware of the poverty generated by the pandemic. With the donation of 3 million masks in collaboration with the Italian Red Cross, we offer concrete help and show how important it is today for companies to take action and break barriers to well-being.”

Francesco Rocca, president of the Italian Red Cross, comments, “In these times of fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, our partners have played a crucial role in supporting the most vulnerable groups in society, throughout the national territory. But the pandemic is not yet over and donations like the one Essity has just committed to enable us to be even more present everywhere for those who most need support.”

The collaboration between Essity Italia and the Italian Red Cross began in 2020, the year when the pandemic started, with the ‘Tempo della gentilezza’ (time for kindness) project. Essity donated over 72,000 personal hygiene products. Furthermore, in October 2020, a charity auction was organized at the art exhibition ‘Viva La Vulva’. The proceeds were doubled by the company and donated to the Milan and Rome Committees for the ‘Vulnerable Women Care.’

Essity has also commemorated the 10-year-long partnership with the Red Cross in Spain by donating more than 4 million diapers during the months of June and July 2021.

José Quitet, president of Red Cross in Catalonia, says: “The uninterrupted alliance with Essity, a decade later, is the paradigm of business commitment to modulate a more fair and equitable society and a model of corporate social responsibility perfectly aligned with the 2030 agenda objectives. We are very satisfied and proud to have the support of Essity to fight against the risk of exclusion of families and children with the important donation of essential products, needed in any home.”

Essity’s cooperation has contributed to improve the living conditions of families at risk of social exclusion over the last decade, especially with the program “Red Cross Responde,” created to help people during the Covid-19 crisis. During 2020, Essity contributed to the distribution of nearly 57,800 kg of essential hygiene and health products, such as diapers, household towels and feminine care products, which have helped 11,600 vulnerable families in Catalonia and the rest of Spain.

So far in 2021, the company has tripled the donations of hygiene products to the current 187,500 kg, so that the 37,500 beneficiary families affected by the socioeconomic crisis derived from the pandemic will be reached. As José Ramón Iracheta, country manager of Essity Iberia explains: “As a company, we have the responsibility to create a positive impact in the communities where we operate, and one of our objectives is to continue to break barriers to well-being.”

Essity’s sustainability and social responsibility policy is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as “Good Health and Well-being”, “Gender Equality”, and “Responsible Consumption and Production” and others.