Essity’s industry first solution replaces natural gas with green hydrogen to create tissue
Essity, a hygiene and health company, has made another step towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. In a recently completed pilot, Essity became the first company in the industry to produce tissue in a CO2-free production process using renewable hydrogen at its Mainz-Kostheim, Germany, facility.
In the second half of 2021, Essity launched a pilot for CO2-free tissue production. The pilot, which included efficiency programs and electrification via renewable energy, used hydrogen as a final building block to replace natural gas in the papermaking process's hood dryer. As a result, Essity has achieved a CO2-free tissue production process.
“With this initiative, we have become the first in the world to use renewable hydrogen for tissue production. 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,” says Donato Giorgio, President of Global Supply Chain at Essity.
To achieve the required high temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius, the paper drying process has previously relied on natural gas. In this stage of the process, renewable energy has not been a viable option. Essity has demonstrated that energy-intensive manufacturing processes can also be CO2-free by using hydrogen in the drying process. The company intends to continue implementing cutting-edge technologies in order to significantly reduce its environmental footprint.
Essity's Mainz-Kostheim plant places a strong emphasis on sustainability and circularity, converting recycled paper into high-quality tissue that is marketed under the company's leading Tork brand. Every year, the production facility produces 152,000 tons of tissue.
In the second half of 2021, Essity launched a pilot for CO2-free tissue production. The pilot, which included efficiency programs and electrification via renewable energy, used hydrogen as a final building block to replace natural gas in the papermaking process's hood dryer. As a result, Essity has achieved a CO2-free tissue production process.
“With this initiative, we have become the first in the world to use renewable hydrogen for tissue production. 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,” says Donato Giorgio, President of Global Supply Chain at Essity.
To achieve the required high temperatures of 600 degrees Celsius, the paper drying process has previously relied on natural gas. In this stage of the process, renewable energy has not been a viable option. Essity has demonstrated that energy-intensive manufacturing processes can also be CO2-free by using hydrogen in the drying process. The company intends to continue implementing cutting-edge technologies in order to significantly reduce its environmental footprint.
Essity's Mainz-Kostheim plant places a strong emphasis on sustainability and circularity, converting recycled paper into high-quality tissue that is marketed under the company's leading Tork brand. Every year, the production facility produces 152,000 tons of tissue.
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