Harper Hygienics S.A. was established in 1990. Over the years it has been building up its market position in personal hygiene, baby care and household categories  becoming a leader not only in Poland but also in export markets where it offers brand products and  private labels for retail chains. The main product categories include cosmetics pads, buds, wet wipes, wet toilet papers, dry wipes, diapers and hygienic underpads.

Harper Hygienics S.A. owes its strong market position to tracking consumer’s trends and meeting the ever-increasing needs connected with changing lifestyles. The company also meets demand for the highest quality products and is continuously investing in new production lines and innovative technologies. Since 2010 Harper has been listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. The company manages the total production chain from nonwovens to manufacturing of the final product with constant focus on innovation.

Much of Harper Hygienics’ recent efforts have focused on increasing its sustainability profile. The company has continued to increase its use of natural raw materials in its nonwovens production and its new Eco-design Strategy was introduced in 2019.

Please tell me some of the steps that you have taken to become more sustainable?
In 2019 we introduced our new “Eco-design Strategy” and we have decided to focus on eco-design at every stage of product creation. We, Harper Hygienics, strive to be in harmony with nature. We are focused on the development of products made from 100% natural nonwovens and we develop also eco-friendly packaging: recyclable or biodegradable.

Harper Hygienics S.A. uses many 100% natural nonwoven substrates like cotton, bamboo viscose, organic cotton and cellulose. Cleanic is the first Polish brand in the buds and pads category with certificates GOTS by Ecocert and Vegan meaning it is made with cotton that comes from certified and controlled crops with no pesticides used. These certificates also confirm that the product does not contain ingredients of animal origin. Additionally, step-by-step we develop with our suppliers eco packaging materials. Harper Hygienics is the first company in Poland in the category of pads with a unique, single-material packaging for recycling.

The company has developed also a new unique paper box with paper lid for buds.

How has this focus on sustainability changed your product lineup?
In March 2020, we launched the first products in the Cleanic Naturals line with Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) by Ecocert, Vegan and Cotton Incorporated certifications as well fully recyclable packaging. After market success we launched in September 2020 next products of Cleanic Naturals line and now there are pads, buds, make-up removal wet wipes, sanitary pads and pantyliners. Also, in 2020 we launched the Cleanic Baby Eco line of wet wipes, organic cotton pads and buds for infants and babies. These products are made of 100% cotton with Cotton Incorporated and Vegan certificates.

Recently we launched Kindii Bamboo wet wipes made of bamboo viscose and pads and buds with mixed cotton and bamboo and new products in categories intimate wet wipes biodegradable, flushable with Vegan certificate. Soon, we will launch biodegradable baby underpads—an innovative product made from cotton, cellulose and bio foil from natural resources. All our new products are made in fully recyclable packaging. We have also introduced ecological labeling solutions together with UPM Raflatac. Month by month our range of natural eco products in all categories and we are proud of this.

Do you feel that your customers are interested in a more sustainable product?
Yes, consumers are more and more interested in sustainable products. They want to use natural products that are friendly for the skin and friendly for the planet. Consumers examine them based on the ethics around the ingredients sourced, packaging and the manufacturing company.

Tell me more about your partnership with UPM Raflatac? How does this work?
To match this new eco-design, Harper Hygienics has been searching for new labeling solution. Subsequently, the company discovered UPM Raflatac’s RAFNXT+ paper label material. It is the world’s first label material verified by the Carbon Trust to reduce carbon footprint. Additionally, the paper backing includes recycled content. It is originating from label release liner waste collected from brand owners through recycling service RafCycle by UPM Raflatac. All these solutions have helped Harper Hygienics close the recycling loop and take positive climate action. It helps us not only move from linear to the circular economy but also play our part in mitigating climate change.

How is Harper Hygienics preparing for the Single Use Plastics directive? What will the impact of this legislation be on the personal hygiene industry?
Every day, on every stage of the production process, we have to be extremely careful and follow every rule to make our products safe for our customers. Everything we do, we do for our customers. In 2019 we started changing our portfolio of buds and wipes. We replaced the plastic in our ear bud sticks with a unique sugar cane material. We are also regularly changing the nonwoven we use in our wet wipes. The green economy is the driver of our main portfolio changes. The new Single Use Plastics directive will have a major impact on the personal hygiene industry. It is visible now. Many producers are changing nonwovens to be biodegradable. The main goal of the new regulations which is to reduce the negative environmental impact of single-use plastic products and this goal is in progress.

Please tell me more about Harper Hygienics’ scope? In which global markets are you most present? Do you have a plan to expand further globally? How so?
We are the most present in the EMEA market. We sell brands, private labels and our nonwovens. We have a plan to expand further globally especially South America and the United States.
In terms of end uses markets, which is the most important to you—wipes, baby diaper, incontinence, fem hy, etc? Explain.

Due to the current market demand, we focus on portfolio of antibacterial products which we are producer over eights years. We plan to develop the distribution of this category and we have Cleanette Antibacterial range products. In the next step we will offer this technology to other categories.

Can you tell me about your nonwovens operations? What types of nonwovens do you make? Are they only serving your products or do you sell them externally?
We are a producer of cotton webs for cosmetics pads and we produce a unique Arvell nonwoven dedicated for wipes and underpads. These nonwovens serve our products and also we sell them externally.