Metsä Group has announced plans to further invest in the production of fresh fibre-based tissue papers and modernise the water circulation systems of two tissue paper machines.
As part of the company’s Future Mill programme and the previously announced Mänttä mill’s €100m investment programme, the company also has an ongoing investment in a new hand towel line to produce fresh fibre-based hand towel papers, which is expected to be operational in 2026.
With the planned changes, the mill aims to reduce water consumption by about 75-80%, and improve the energy consumption of tissue paper production by 25%.
The company is also planning to end the recycled fibre production at the Mänttä mill and adjust the production capacity by shutting down one tissue paper machine at the end of its life cycle.
Metsä Tissue will start change negotiations at its Mänttä mill, which could lead to the loss of 35 jobs.
Joonas Kukkonen, Senior Vice President, Finland and Baltics, Metsä Tissue, said: “We reinforce our focus on fresh fibre based, locally produced hygiene products, of which main raw material comes from Northern forests.
“We have already earlier implemented the investment programme by renewing the hand towel line, and now we are consistently continuing our strategy by investing in the mill’s production equipment.
“Improving the mill’s environmental performance through modernisation of paper machine water systems is at the same time a significant step towards our company’s 2030 sustainability targets for fossil-free mills and reducing the use of water.”
Metsä Tissue’s Mänttä mill produces Serla, Lambi and Katrin tissue paper products and customers’ own brands, and SAGA baking and cooking paper products.
The mill currently has three tissue paper machines, one greaseproof paper machine and 10 tissue converting lines.
