SCA Tissue

SCA Tissue & Tork: A Legacy of Professional Hygiene

SCA Tissue is the manufacturer behind Tork, one of the world's most recognized brands in commercial and Away-from-Home (AfH) hygiene. Founded in Sweden in 1929 and operating for decades under the SCA umbrella before becoming part of Essity, Tork has spent more than half a century engineering professional hygiene solutions for virtually every industry — from foodservice and hospitality to manufacturing floors and healthcare facilities.

The Tork name itself traces its roots to 1968, when the brand launched one of the first disposable wiping cloths designed to replace reusable rags. The product was inspired by the Swedish word torka, meaning "to wipe" or "to dry" — a fitting origin for a brand that went on to redefine workplace hygiene on a global scale. Today, Tork products are sold in approximately 150 countries, and SCA has historically held the position of one of the world's largest suppliers of AfH tissue.

Built for the Demands of Business

What sets SCA Tissue's Tork line apart is its focus on complete hygiene systems rather than just individual products. Tork pairs its consumables — paper towels, bath tissue, napkins, facial tissue, foam soaps, and wiping cloths — with purpose-designed dispensers and smart delivery systems. The goal is to reduce waste, lower maintenance time, and ensure consistent hygiene standards across high-traffic environments.

One of the brand's standout innovations is the Tork PeakServe® continuous hand towel system, engineered specifically for high-traffic restrooms with a compressed roll design that allows one-at-a-time dispensing. Similarly, the Tork Xpressnap® napkin dispenser system is engineered to reduce overconsumption by dispensing only a single napkin at a time.

For facilities with serious cleaning demands, Tork paper towels span a wide spectrum of quality tiers — Universal, Advanced, and Premium — offering options for everything from basic hand drying in standard restrooms to high-absorbency wiping tasks in industrial maintenance settings. Many products in the lineup are made with recycled fiber content and carry sustainability certifications, aligning with Tork's broader commitment to environmentally responsible manufacturing.

Industry Reach & Sustainability

Tork has built a particularly strong reputation in North American foodservice, where its napkin products command a significant share of the market. The brand's reach extends across office buildings, universities, hospitals, hotels, long-term care facilities, manufacturing plants, and building service contractors — virtually any environment where reliable, professional hygiene matters.

Sustainability is embedded in the Tork product development philosophy. The brand's model is built around three pillars: well-being, more from less, and circularity — meaning products are designed not only to perform, but to minimize environmental impact over their entire lifecycle. From recycled fiber towels to dispenser systems engineered for lower consumption, SCA Tissue's Tork line offers professionals a way to maintain high hygiene standards while reducing their environmental footprint.