On a roll

Celebrating its 30th birthday this year, Kiwi success story Cottonsoft became a household name with a product that will never go out of style.

Most businesses in New Zealand would be thrilled to celebrate a one-year anniversary, so you know you’ve got a good thing going when 2018 marks 30 years of trading. Cottonsoft is a household name that broke the monopoly in 1988 to bring New Zealanders more options for something we all need – toilet paper.

Three decades on, the company makes, markets and distributes toilet paper, facial tissues, napkins, kitchen rolls and commercial products for hotels and restaurants through a suite of brands that includes CottonSofts, Livi, Paseo, Tuffy and Kiwisoft.

“By 2010, we had recognised the growing demand from consumers for premium tissue products,” says Kim Calvert, country manager for Cottonsoft. “We developed the Paseo brand with thick, luxury 3-Ply tissue, sustainable sourcing, and a premium look and feel that was not matched by any other product in the market.”

Nice on skin and the planet

One reason Cottonsoft is a much-loved company is down to their strict sourcing and sustainability policies. They only source fibres from internationally certified suppliers and only purchase wood fibre from sustainably-managed forestry sources. “Buying from certified sources is a fantastic way to ensure that we tread lightly on the earth for all of our products,” Calvert says. In 2009, Cottonsoft achieved the PEFC Chain of Custody certification and in 2011 they started to redesign their packs to educate consumers and businesses that the product was either PEFC or recycled. In 2013, they then completed their Environmental Choice Licence (ECNZ) for a number of retail products.

“ECNZ licensing is New Zealand’s most comprehensive environmental certification giving consumers complete peace of mind that we operate sustainably and responsibly and that they are purchasing products that are proven to be better for the environment.”

The company is also a foundation supporter of Soft Plastics Recycling and is proud to have moved alongside New Zealand in recognising the issues around single-use plastic. “The scheme has made recycling available to 70 per cent (and growing) of our population, and working alongside industry, government, retailers and competitors alike to develop other long-term solutions,” says Calvert.

A family affair

Whether Paseo, CottonSofts or KiwiSoft is your preference, “we’ve always worked to provide the best products at competitive prices that suit Kiwi families.

“With factories in both Dunedin and Auckland, we are lucky to have had a number of our team with us for the entire 30 year journey. Plus, another 20 per cent of us have given more than 20 years of service,” says Calvert.

Now that’s cause for celebration. Ahhh... bless your little CottonSofts!