Snell congratulates one of our key partners, Essity, on the opening of their Kawerau paper mill which uses renewable geothermal steam.

Like many industries, tissue making is energy-intensive. The decarbonisation project, which required a temporary closure of a paper machine, replaced a natural gas component of the machine with a new drum dryer that uses geothermal steam for heat and drying.

Essity has been on a program of continuous improvement at Kawerau to reduce its emissions for more than a decade. With this transition from natural gas to geothermal steam, the total carbon footprint for Essity’s Kawerau site will be about 66% lower in 2025 than it was in 2009.

The emissions reduction delivered by this shift to geothermal steam will be equivalent to removing over 2,200 cars from Kiwi roads.

Essity’s Kawerau plant is the only manufacturer of toilet tissue, paper towel, and kitchen towel in New Zealand. The site produces Tork paper products which are used in hospitals, schools, hotels, and workplaces throughout the region. Each year, around 55,000 tonnes of tissue and paper towel rolls out of the plant.

A paper machine that is wholly using geothermal steam for tissue drying is a world first in the paper manufacturing industry.

Investing in renewable energy sources is an important part of Essity’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and 2030 science-based carbon reduction targets.

The rebuild at Kawerau by Essity, a global hygiene and health company, will mean consumers will be able to access locally produced, sustainable and low carbon tissue products.

The geothermal project at Kawerau will improve the paper machine efficiency, product range capability and, importantly, continue the journey of reducing carbon emissions from the plant.

With the plant being located in Kawerau, it has unique access to geothermal steam, a renewable energy source which is sustainably managed by Essity’s geothermal steam partner and supplier, Ngāti Tūwharetoa Geothermal.

The partnership with Ngāti Tūwharetoa is contributing to the socio-economic health of the local community and the supply contract helps fund local marae, housing and education. The significant steam supply contract will increase by approximately half following this rebuilt of this paper machine.

Around 80 contracting staff have been involved in the project as well as 25 Essity employees from engineering, operations, safety and management teams.

With a total investment of $20 million NZD, the Paper Machine Project is largely funded by Essity alongside industrial co-funding from EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority).

“With the rise of Governance, we have seen New Zealand businesses become increasingly interested in every stage of the supply chain.

Due to this shift, we are committed to partnering with businesses whose values match our own in relation to ESG.

Essity is a leader in this space so we look forward to continuing our partnership this year”, says Casey Brown, Snell’s Procurement Manager – Local.