19 May 2026: Swedish hygiene and tissue producer Essity has officially opened a new recycled fibre processing facility at its Prudhoe tissue mill in Northumberland, UK. According to the company, the investment exceeds £30m and marks Essity’s largest investment in the UK in around a decade.
With the new Unifibres facility, Essity is increasing its recycled fibre processing capacity at Prudhoe to more than 105,000 tpy. The company’s total annual recycled fibre processing capacity in the UK thus rises to around 190,000 tpy, according to Essity.
The new 4,150 m² facility replaces the former Unifibres complex at Prudhoe, which is regarded as Essity’s largest manufacturing site in the UK. The upgraded technology is designed to enable the more efficient processing of a wider range of recovered paper grades, including lower paper and board grades. The investment is also intended to improve the separation of contaminants such as plastics and enhance energy efficiency.
According to Essity, the new facility is expected to help reduce reliance on woodpulp and increase the use of recycled and alternative fibre sources in tissue production. At the same time, it is intended to strengthen domestic recycled fibre supply in the UK. The facility will also serve as a platform for testing new fibre solutions.
Already in early April, Essity had stated that the new recycled fibre facility in Prudhoe was in the commissioning phase. At the same time, the company postponed the official opening ceremony originally scheduled for 9 April, citing ongoing optimisation work. A formal launch is expected later this year
According to Essity, the company is the largest user of recycled fibre for consumer tissue products in the UK and the leading user of recycled fibre in European tissue production. The facility supplies products for brands including Cushelle, Velvet and Tork.
Völker Zoller, president, consumer tissue at Essity, commented: “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 asopportunity. 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 customersand ultimately a clear sustainable choice for consumers.”