The 4,150 square metre plant replaces the former Unifibres complex on the same site and has been built to process a wider range of recovered paper, including lower-grade material and board. Essity says it will improve the segregation of contaminants such as plastics, reduce the risk of waste going to landfill and lift the company's total UK recycled fibre capacity to around 190,000 tonnes a year. The brands supplied include Cushelle, Velvet and Tork.

Martin Hallissey, site manager at Essity's Prudhoe mill, said: 'The opening of this recycled fibre facility is a proud moment for everyone at Prudhoe. It's a significant investment in our site and our people, and it strengthens our ability to source recycled fibre while improving efficiency and reducing waste.'

The consultation, which ran from December 2025 to March 2026, received 447 responses from citizens, businesses, NGOs and public authorities. A fifth of respondents specifically called for additional measures or bans on tobacco filters, the single most frequent demand in the open-text answers. Nearly two-thirds reported seeing banned single-use plastic items still available through online marketplaces and retail.

Nine in 10 respondents considered EU-level action on single-use plastics important or very important, and 75 per cent said member states could not address the issue better individually. The results will feed into the Commission’s formal evaluation of the Directive, due by July 2027.

The company handles waste for clients in highly regulated sectors, with capabilities including WEEE processing, battery recycling, and secure product destruction. Ben Clarke, on behalf of the management team, said the buyout came "at an exciting stage in its development," Business Link Magazine reports. The MBO was supported by Breeze Corporate Finance, with legal advice from AG Corporate Law.