Metsä Group Unveils Major Investment Program for Mänttä Tissue Paper Mill Modernization
Metsä Group has announced plans for a significant investment program to enhance the operations of the Mänttä tissue paper mill, focusing on modernization and extending its lifespan. This initiative forms part of the company’s broader tissue business strategy, known as the Future Factory program, which aims to achieve world-class efficiency and environmental performance in tissue paper production.
With an estimated investment size of approximately EUR 100 million, spread over the next five years, the company aims to improve the production and environmental efficiency of the factory. This will involve upgrading paper machines and processing lines, as well as enhancing energy and water efficiency, with the goal of ensuring the long-term viability of tissue paper manufacturing in Mänttä. Additionally, these investments align with the company’s ambition to achieve fossil-free products and production facilities by 2030. Further details about the investments will be shared as the plans progress.
Joonas Kukkonen, Vice President of Supply Chain for Forest Tissue Finland and the Baltics, highlighted the significance of local tissue manufacturing for job creation and sustainability. The initial focus of the investment program will be on installing a new hand towel line, dedicated to producing virgin fiber-based hand towel papers tailored for the Finnish market. Preparations for this investment are already underway, with the line expected to become operational by 2025.
Kukkonen emphasized how this investment program builds upon ongoing initiatives within Metsä Group, such as the Future Factory investment in Mariestad, Sweden, and the planned tissue factory investment in Great Britain. By modernizing operations in Finland, Metsä Group aims to strengthen its position in the international tissue manufacturing landscape.
Metsä Tissue, the tissue business arm of Metsä Group, operates under the umbrella of Forest Board, a listed company and subsidiary of Metsä Group. This strategic investment underscores the company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in the global market.