3 min read - 18 May, 2026
Production starts at tissue giant’s Prudhoe recycling plant
Tissue manufacturer Essity has started production at its new £35m wastepaper recycling plant in Prudhoe, Northumberland.
Representing Essity’s largest capital investment across any of its UK sites in the past decade, the state-of-the-art recycled fibre facility, opened at the largest of its five UK manufacturing sites, marks a major milestone in the company’s long-term commitment to sustainable tissue production in the UK.
The investment replaces older infrastructure with modern, high-efficiency technology, supporting its ambition to reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining high-quality tissue production for UK consumers.
Increasing capacity at the site to over 105,000 tonnes per year, it brings the company’s total annual capacity for recycled fibre in the UK to approximately 190,000 tonnes. With the opening of the facility, Essity has reinforced its position as the UK’s largest user of recycled fibre in consumer tissue products and the leading user of recycled fibre for tissue production in Europe.
Tissue giant Essity has opened a new £35m recycled fibre facility at its Prudhoe Mill in Northumberland / Picture: Essity
The Prudhoe plant is designed to process a wider range of recovered paper, including lower-grade paper, helping to keep valuable materials in use for longer. The site also improves the segregation of contaminants such as plastics, reduces waste sent to landfill and delivers improved energy-efficiency across operations.
A formal official opening will take place later this year, but the start of production was marked by a visit from Prudhoe Castle First School, with Year 3 and Year 4 pupils invited to bring in waste paper and card from home to be recycled into toilet paper.
Martin Hallissey, site manager at Essity Prudhoe Mill, said: “The opening of the Unifibres recycled fibre facility is a proud moment for the region. 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.
“We are Essity’s largest manufacturing site in the UK and a cornerstone of its European tissue production network. This facility puts Prudhoe Mill at the forefront of sustainable tissue manufacturing in the UK.”
The facility increases Prudhoe’s annual capacity to over 105,000 tonnes, bringing Essity’s total UK recycled fibre capacity to around 190,000 tonnes / Picture: Essity
Volker Zoller, president, consumer tissue at Essity, added: “This investment demonstrates Essity’s clear commitment to sustainability and circularity. Being the UK’s largest user of recycled fibre for consumer tissue, and the leading user in Europe, brings responsibility as well as opportunity.
“The Prudhoe facility strengthens our recycled fibre supply, supports our customers’ sustainability ambitions and reinforces our leadership in sustainable tissue production. In short, we are delivering genuine sustainable solutions for our customers and ultimately a clear sustainable choice for consumers.”
