Essity to begin production at upgraded UK recycling facility

UK – Global hygiene and tissue manufacturer Essity has confirmed that production at its upgraded recycled paper facility in Prudhoe, Northumberland, will commence in March, with an official opening scheduled for April 9.

The Swedish-headquartered group invested US$36 million in the modernization project, marking its largest capital injection across its six UK sites in the past decade.

Construction began in January 2023 and involved replacing a 50-year-old building with a new facility designed to enhance fibre recovery capabilities and long-term operational resilience.

Central to the upgrade is a new pulper engineered to process a broader range of lower-grade recovered paper streams, including old corrugated containers (OCC).

Historically, Essity’s Prudhoe mill relied heavily on sorted office paper and other higher-grade recovered fibre.

However, tightening supply and shifting collection patterns have prompted the company to pivot towards more mixed paper and packaging grades.

The investment is expected to increase Essity’s recovered paper processing capacity to more than 100,000 metric tonnes annually, strengthening its circular raw material base within the UK.

By expanding the range of acceptable feedstock, the facility is positioned to mitigate fibre supply volatility while supporting domestic recycling infrastructure.

In a statement, Essity said the project reinforces its long-term commitment to sustainability, circularity and innovation, while enhancing the capability and resilience of its UK operations.

The move aligns with wider industry efforts to localize fibre sourcing and reduce reliance on imported recovered paper amid regulatory shifts and export restrictions in global recycling markets.

The Prudhoe site is Essity’s largest UK facility, employing more than 400 people. It manufactures leading consumer and professional hygiene brands, including Velvet, Cushelle and Tork, in addition to producing private-label tissue products for UK retailers.

The start-up comes as tissue manufacturers across Europe accelerate investments in recycled fibre processing and energy-efficient operations to meet sustainability targets and evolving retailer requirements.

By modernizing its Prudhoe mill, Essity is reinforcing its position in the competitive UK tissue market while advancing its circular economy strategy.

Last week, the company announced the expansion of its coreless tissue technology across Central Europe, positioning itself as the first and only consumer goods company to produce and commercialize this type of product in Europe.

The initiative includes the launch of household towels and toilet paper under the Zewa, Tempo and Plenty brands.

As part of this expansion, the company has started up a new production line at its Mannheim plant in Germany, aimed at meeting the growing demand for high-performance and sustainable hygiene products.

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