Currently, the Mänttä mill has three tissue paper machines, 10 converting lines and one greaseproof paper machine. The mill also has a deinking plant that handles recycled paper used in the tissue production process.

Metsä Tissue to Cease Recycled Pulp Production at Mänttä Mill; Shut One Tissue Machine

March 26, 2025 (Press Release) - Metsä Group announced plans to cease producing recycled pulp at its Mänttä mill in Finland and to shut down one of the mill's tissue paper machines, which is at the end of its life cycle.

Currently, the Mänttä mill has three tissue paper machines, 10 converting lines for tissue paper and one greaseproof paper machine. The mill also has a deinking plant that processes recycled paper used in the tissue production process.

The move away from recycled fiber is in line with Metsä Group strategy to produce high-quality hygiene papers using wood fiber as the main raw material. The company said it will now continue to focus on the production of fresh fiber-based tissue papers and invest significantly in the processing of fresh fiber and the modernization of the water circulation systems of two tissue paper machines.

In addition, the Mänttä mill's EUR 100 million investment programme, the company has an ongoing EUR 100 million investment program in a new hand towel line for the production of fresh fibre-based hand towel papers at the Mänttä mill. The new line is expected to be operational in 2026.

"We reinforce our focus on fresh fiber-based, locally produced hygiene products, of which main raw material comes from Northern forests," said Joonas Kukkonen, SVP, Finland and Baltics, Metsä Tissue. "We have already earlier implemented the investment program 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 modernization 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," Kukkonen added.

With the planned changes, the Mänttä mill aims to reduce water consumption by about 75-80% compared to the current situation, as well as to improve the energy consumption of tissue paper production by 25%.

Due to the announced plans, Metsä Tissue will start change negotiations at the Mänttä mill. If implemented, the planned changes could lead to changes in tasks and responsibilities and termination of an estimated maximum of 35 jobs. At the same time, there are plans to open 5 new positions at the mill. The scope of the planned changes includes a total of 331 people.

The employees of the greaseproof paper business at the Mänttä mill are not included in the scope, the company said.

Metsä Tissue's Mänttä mill produces Serla, Lambi and Katrin tissue paper products and customers' own brands, as well as SAGA baking and cooking paper products.

Metsä Group's Tissue and Greaseproof Papers business, or Metsä Tissue, produces hygiene products for households and professionals, and greaseproof papers for food preparation and packaging.

SOURCE: Metsä Group