CPMG Appointed to Design the Largest Tissue Mill in the UK

Having won a competitive tender process to join the project team, we have been appointed to design Metsä’s new tissue paper mill in Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire.

Assuming the necessary approvals are achieved, the proposed advanced manufacturing facility will boast the largest tissue production capacity in the UK, the latest in sustainable production technology and world-class environmental performance standards, acting as an exemplar for the industry.

This is a hugely exciting scheme for not only for us, but also for Metsä, East Yorkshire and the manufacturing industry. Designing the facility to meet Metsä UK’s ambitions to be fossil fuel free by 2030 and using cutting-edge sustainable production technologies is a challenge we are delighted to accept.

The site itself is more than 200 acres and will have the capacity to produce 240,000 tonnes of tissue paper, so the scale of the project is self-evident. CPMG’s role is to make Metsä’s vision a reality, something which will bring us great pride when the wider positive impacts of job creation, manufacturing capability and economic growth are realised.

The leading Finnish tissue paper manufacturer’s first venture into the UK is set to create more than 400 direct local jobs over the next decade, and many more indirectly generated across the supply chain, through planned investment totaling several hundreds of millions of pounds. The result will be the UK’s self-sufficiency increasing by more than 30 per cent in the production of essential tissue products.

Esa Kaikkonen, CEO at Metsä Tissue, said: “We are delighted to announce our plan to invest in a world-class production site in Goole. This exciting investment would bring the UK and Finland together through combining the sustainable raw material of fresh wood fibres grown in the Nordics with world-class local production of quality tissues in the UK.

“We are thrilled about how these plans can contribute to more sustainable local tissue production in the UK, offering alternatives to the currently imported tissue products. The project will significantly enhance Metsä Tissue’s presence in this country and underscores the importance of the UK market to our business in the years ahead.

“Goole is the perfect location for this proposed investment. The Humber region provides a crucial gateway to the whole of the United Kingdom and the region’s ambitions to bring cutting-edge green technology and jobs to the UK matches our ambitions in clean, sustainable manufacturing.”

Speaking recently, following his speech on the UK’s net zero ambition, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “Metsa Tissue’s investment is good for Yorkshire, good for our economy and good for sustainability. This announcement is another example of the UK being the first choice for European investment and delivers on my commitment to grow the economy, creating better-paid jobs and opportunity right across the country.”

Up to 45% of tissue products are currently imported into the UK and Ireland. Metsä Tissue aims to replace almost half of the imported products with local British production.