ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Tork manufacturer Essity has opened a recycled fibre processing facility in the UK, at its Prudhoe mill in Northumberland, following an investment of more than £30 million.

The new Unifibres facility increases recycled fibre processing capacity at the Prudhoe site to more than 105,000 tonnes per year, taking Essity's total annual recycled fibre capacity in the UK to around 190,000 tonnes.

Built alongside the company's existing Prudhoe mill, the 4,150m² facility replaces the former Unifibres complex and introduces updated processing technology designed to handle a wider range of recovered paper grades, including lower-grade paper and board.

According to Essity, the development is intended to strengthen domestic recycled fibre supply for tissue manufacturing and support more circular production processes within the UK tissue sector.

The company says the facility will also improve the removal of contaminants such as plastics, reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill and contribute to improved energy efficiency across operations.

The Prudhoe mill is Essity's largest manufacturing site in the UK and forms part of the company's European tissue production network. Products manufactured using recycled fibre at the site support the supply of the professional hygiene brand Tork and consumer tissue brands Cushelle and Velvet.

Essity said the investment represents its largest capital project across its five UK sites in the past decade and reflects a longer-term focus on domestic manufacturing and recycled fibre development.

The company also intends to use the facility to test alternative fibre sources and recycled fibre innovations aimed at reducing reliance on virgin wood pulp while maintaining tissue quality and hygiene standards.

Martin Hallissey, site manager at Essity's Prudhoe mill, said: "The opening of this recycled fibre facility is a proud moment for everyone at Prudhoe. It's a significant investment in our site and our people, and it strengthens our ability to source recycled fibre while improving efficiency and reducing waste."

Olivia Slater, vice president, professional hygiene at Essity, added: "Behind every reliable hygiene product is a supply chain that has to be resilient and fit for the future. For our professional hygiene customers, whether they are managing washrooms in offices, schools, healthcare settings, hotels or busy public spaces, they need products they can trust, from a supplier that is investing in more responsible ways to make them.

"This new facility at Prudhoe strengthens the recycled fibre capability behind our tissue production and supports the long-term development of our Tork portfolio. It gives us more flexibility to use recovered paper, keep valuable materials in use for longer, and support customers who want to make practical, measurable progress on sustainability without compromising on hygiene standards."