Finnish firm Metsä Tissue has selected Goole as the location for constructing the largest state-of-the-art tissue paper mill in the UK. This significant investment of several hundred millions of pounds will result in a substantial reduction in the importation of tissue products to the UK and Ireland. Furthermore, the establishment of the new mill will generate a minimum of 400 job opportunities within the facility and thousands more throughout the entire supply chain and local economy.
According to Esa Kaikkonen, the CEO of Metsä Tissue, the choice of Goole is ideal for this proposed investment due to its strategic position as a gateway to the entire United Kingdom. Moreover, the region’s commitment to pioneering green technology and job creation aligns perfectly with Metsä Tissue’s vision of sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing.
Currently, up to 45% of tissue products utilized in the UK and Ireland are imported. Metsä Tissue aims to replace almost half of these imported products with locally-produced goods, utilizing sustainable and responsibly-sourced fresh fibre pulp from forests managed in the Nordics. This reduction in import reliance will have a positive impact on the UK’s productivity, carbon footprint, and self-sufficiency in essential tissue products.
The Goole facility will employ sustainable production technologies to establish an efficient and modern site with exceptional environmental performance. Metsä Tissue is committed to sustainability, with a goal of manufacturing all products from fully fossil-fuel-free raw materials by 2030 as part of its endeavors towards achieving a net-zero society.
Subject to receiving planning and environmental permits, as well as a final investment decision, the mill will occupy a substantial area of approximately 200 acres and will have the capacity to produce 240,000 tons of tissue paper. This capacity will be built in multiple phases over the next decade and will cater to both professional and consumer markets. The planned facility is unrivaled in the UK in terms of production scale. Furthermore, this project represents the first major investment in the proposed Goole tax site within the Humber Freeport, which aims to attract increased inward investment to the Humber region.
Esa Kaikkonen expressed enthusiasm regarding this exciting investment, emphasizing that it will strengthen the partnership between the UK and Finland. The combination of sustainable raw materials sourced from fresh wood fibers in the Nordics and world-class local tissue production in the UK will contribute significantly to sustainable local tissue manufacturing in the UK, offering alternatives to currently imported products. Moreover, this project underscores the UK market’s importance to Metsä Tissue’s future business endeavors.
In order to build a connection with the community in which it plans to invest, Metsä Tissue has arranged public events hosted by Esa Kaikkonen. These events will take place on Thursday, November 2nd at 3 pm and 6 pm in the RaisE Building, Tom Pudding Way, Goole DN14 6BS. The event will also be accessible on Metsä Tissue’s website.
The local Member of Parliament, Andrew Percy, expressed his excitement about the news and revealed his prior meetings with Metsä Tissue to ensure that employment opportunities are prioritized for local residents. The selected site is strategically situated alongside the motorway on Rawcliffe Road, near Glews, and will require a comprehensive planning application. Discussions have also taken place with Metsä Tissue regarding the implementation of appropriate screening, tree planting, and environmental enhancements, which they fully support.
This development is not a coincidence, and one of the reasons Metsä Tissue was drawn to the area is the fact that the site is classified as a ‘Freeport,’ offering investment incentives.
