Innovation and product development in the business areas

Personal Care

In 2011, SCA continued to develop new products
at an increasingly rapid pace, advanced its positions in both mature and emerging markets and strengthened the global brand TENA as well as its regional and local brands.

Innovation is a core element of strategy and a prerequisite for driving sales, increasing market shares, strengthening brands and building customer loyalty.

Innovation is based on customer and consumer insight and SCA invests substantial resources in deepening insight into consumer and customer needs. These insights comprise the foundation for SCA’s work with innovation and product development.

Sustainability aspects and product safety are important factors for SCA’s customers and consumers and, consequently, comprise two central drivers of SCA’s innovation efforts. Demand for these types of products and services increased in 2011.

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Tissue

Innovation in the Tissue business area is based on the ability to understand the demands of tomorrow’s consumers and customers.

SCA is investing major resources in insight and innovation, with all product development taking place on the basis of in-depth customer and consumer insight.

In recent years, a large number of new and upgraded products have been launched and the service level enhanced. Focus is directed to the development of materials and functions to ensure a broader range, improved strength, softness and absorption capacity, and different types of dispensers to offer more comfortable and effective use.

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Forest Products

Innovation is an integral part of the business area’s strategy to move its operations towards increasingly advanced products in high-value segments and towards more attractive customer offerings. The focus is directed to profitable growth through further processing and customisation in segments with favourable price trends. Efforts in this respect permit Forest Products to move up the value chain and produce products and solutions with higher value and margins. By this means, SCA differentiates itself from the rest of the industry, while also meeting requirements of business partners and customers.

Publication papers are developed continuously to satisfy the needs and requirements of newspapers or magazines in relation to profile and image.

In solid-wood products, SCA develops and further processes purpose-designed products for interiors, carpentry and the building trade. To an ever-increasing degree, products are customised for the next stage in the processing chain and are supported by services and warehousing integrated into the customer’s distribution and sales network.

Development programmes are not solely focused on products, but also focus on the development of business models, service and distribution solutions in close collaboration with SCA’s customers.

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Packaging

SCA seeks to develop optimal packaging solutions with regard to function, design, logistics, transport, and environmental footprint. Another key area of innovation is utilising innovative packaging solutions to strengthen retail points of sale and reduce logistical complexity for the industry.

The creation of attractive opportunities for product display in stores is a key factor for strengthening brand recognition for customers. The aim is to adapt and optimise the functionality of packaging based on logistical requirements and deliver a complete solution for each step of the packaging chain.

Innovation is driven by SCA’s central innovation centre in Brussels and by 16 design centres in Europe. These centres develop new packaging solutions, test new material solutions and design tools in close collaboration with customers.

SCA analyses the entire delivery chain to minimise material consumption and maximise material and energy recovery. Decisions on packaging designs can have a high environmental impact. The right design allows SCA to provide its customers with packaging that ensures optimum performance without unnecessary waste. The right design also ensures better volumetric utilisation. If goods can be shipped more densely, less transport is required, less fuel is consumed and fewer emissions are generated.
The right design requires the right tools and SCA uses a number of its own tools and experts during the design process.

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