Nordic business leaders join forces with UNFPA to advance reproductive justice at work

STOCKHOLM, Sweden – In May 2025, UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, met with global hygiene and health company Essity and Nordic business and policy leaders to accelerate corporate action on sexual and reproductive health and rights in the workplace. 

The event showcased the growing recognition that women’s health and workplace well-being are not just social responsibilities, but are foundational to sustainable and resilient businesses – and societies as a whole.

Advancing reproductive justice through business leadership

In her opening remarks, Sweden’s Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life, H.E. Nina Larsson, emphasized the dual urgency and opportunity for the private sector to lead in advocating for change. She highlighted that gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights are under threat globally, and that businesses must engage actively to prevent this, rather than watching from the sidelines. 

Former UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem said, “When women feel seen and supported, they bring their full selves to work. That’s where innovation happens. That’s how you build loyalty and trust. Investing in women’s health isn’t charity – it’s strategy.”

UNFPA’s Return on Investment Tool helps corporations to quantify the business performance benefits from increased investments in sexual and reproductive health and rights in the workplace. For example, organizations can boost workplace attendance by over 60 per cent, reduce staff turnover by almost a quarter, and enhance overall productivity by over 20 per cent.

As the first global company to champion and pilot the sexual and reproductive health and rights-focused metrics developed by UNFPA and Accenture, Essity demonstrated how health-focused corporate policies, including menstrual and menopause support, can drive both employee well-being and business value.

From Essity, former Chief Executive O Magnus Groth, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer Sahil Tesfu, and CHRO Anna Sävinger presented on the company’s strategic commitment to gender equity, menstrual health specifically, and the benefits of embedding sexual and reproductive health and rights in business operations. For example, their workplace initiative Courageous Conversations, is designed to foster awareness, open dialogue and employee engagement on key aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion – including menstrual health and menopause.

A coalition gaining momentum

The event was part of broader efforts under the UNFPA-led Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, a global multi-stakeholder initiative that helps companies adopt and implement sexual and reproductive health and rights metrics and advance accountability for women’s health across workplaces and supply chains.

Real-world impacts of integrating women's reproductive rights in diverse sectors, from healthcare to apparel manufacturing, were prioritized. 

For example, Shahi Exports is India’s largest apparel manufacturer, employing more than 70,000 skilled women across its factories and corporate headquarters – one of the largest private employers of women in India. To address menstrual health needs, Anant Ahuja, Director of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Sustainability, explained how the company developed Project Pravah to improve access and understanding in the workplace. Notably, the initiative has led to a 15% decrease in women feeling unwell during the menstrual cycle and a 21% estimated reduction in absenteeism.

From Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Matthew Worrall, Global Director, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs explained how his organization is supporting family planning needs through the Building Families at Ferring initiative. Employees are provided with financial support, parental leave for both birthing and non-birthing parents and awareness programmes in the workplace. 

Next steps: Prioritizing women’s health across the Nordic private sector

The event concluded with a call to action: To scale up private sector leadership in sexual and reproductive health and rights by leveraging existing tools, sharing good practices, and building a regional community of corporate champions. Read more about UNFPA’s Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business here.