Innovation

Innovation is a prerequisite for retaining and strengthening market shares, building strong brands and creating new values for customers and consumers. They are also a tool to move up the value chain and produce products and solutions with higher value and margins.

Some examples of SCA innovations:

• In 2009, SCA launched its new tissue dispenser system, Tork Elevation, for the AFH segment. The dispenser system functions in all sorts of toilets, as well as being functional and easy to maintain. Tork Elevation was awarded two international design distinctions in 2009 – iF Product Design Award and the Reddot design award.
• Tempo Complete Care paper handkerchiefs contain a unique combination of lotion and ethereal oils. The lotion treats the skin and reduces the “red nose” risk, while the oils make it easier to breathe. The product has proved a major sales success and was ranked “Product of the year 2010” in Italy.
• Plenty Active Wipe (marketed under the name Zewa Aktiv Wisch­Tuch in Germany) is the world’s first household tissue to include a cleanser. Even when wet, the paper is resilient, as well as being biodegradable and has been dermatologically tested.
• WooDi is a project aimed at developing a diaper based on wood fibre. In a bid to remove the oil-based super absorbents from diapers, attempts are in progress to develop a chemical pulp with higher absorption capacity and a superior ability to retain liquids.
• During 2009, SCA launched a complete new range of baby-care products in the Nordic market. This is an example of a category expansion, which includes baby lotion, nursing pads and wet wipes. The products carry the Nordic Swan environmental label.
• In the incontinence care area, under the Tena brand, and in the baby diapers segment, a major e-trade venture aimed at customers and consumers is under way.
• The Mira System is a module based, uniform packaging solution for flat products, which is designed to increase availability and sales in stores. The system links a new packaging design with a new store system for which SCA has exclusive rights.
• The SCA Packaging Design Challenge challenges students throughout Europe to come up with innovative ideas for the packaging industry. 500 students from 23 countries participated in the 2008 event. The 2009 event involved identifying a simple and sustainable packaging design for existing products sold via retail outlets.   
• The PowerPot plant is a new, smaller plant supplied by SCA NorrPlant. PowerPot conducts cultivation, transport and planting cheaper, since almost twice as many plants can be accommodated per case compared with SCA’s normal-size plants, or what are referred to as JackPot plants.
• At the Laakirchen paper mill in Austria, SCA has developed a high-quality SC-paper grade, Grapho­Verde, designed for magazines and catalogues, and based on more than 50% recovered fibre. In the past, the view was that it was impossible to manufacture top-quality paper grades using such a high proportion of recycled fibre.
  

 Read more about innovation at SCA (pdf)