Essity Now Producing Tissue Using Renewable Hydrogen at Its Mainz-Kostheim Plant

The project, which included efficiency programs and electrification through renewable energy, used hydrogen as a final building block to replace natural gas in the hood dryer of the papermaking process.

March 9, 2023 - Essity announced that in a recently concluded pilot project at its tissue paper production plant in Mainz-Kostheim, Germany, the company has become the first in the industry to produce tissue in a CO2 emission-free production process using renewable hydrogen.

Essity's investment in the pilot project, which began in October of 2021, amounts to EUR 4 million (approximately SEK 40 million).

The project, which included efficiency programs and electrification through renewable energy, used hydrogen as a final building block to replace natural gas in the hood dryer of the papermaking process.

As a result, Essity has successfully achieved a CO2-free production process for tissue.

"With this initiative, we have become the first in the world to use renewable hydrogen for tissue production," said Donato Giorgio, President of Global Supply Chain at Essity. "This is a major milestone in our ambitious climate agenda and a big step toward a decarbonized society. We are creating a sustainable process that is setting a new benchmark for the industry."

According to Essity, the paper drying process has relied on natural gas to achieve the required high temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius, and renewable energy has not been a viable alternative in this part of the process. By using hydrogen in the drying process, Essity's pilot project has demonstrated that energy-intensive production processes can also become CO2 emission-free.

Essity's plant in Mainz-Kostheim has a strong focus on sustainability and circularity, transforming recycled paper into high-quality tissue, marketed under the company's leading Tork brand. A total of 152,000 tons of tissue are produced at the production facility each year.

Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Essity is a global producer of consumer tissue, professional and personal hygiene and health products.

SOURCE: Essity