Essity, a hygiene and health company, is initiating a trial project to run a paper machine CO2-free using green hydrogen at the company’s Mainz-Kostheim manufacturing facility.

During continuous production, natural gas is gradually replaced with green hydrogen in the site’s largest paper machine. This is the industry’s first project of this magnitude. Essity has committed EUR 4 million to the trial project (approximately SEK 40m).

Essity has begun utilizing green hydrogen in its manufacturing operations. The Essity plant in Mainz-Kostheim is evaluating the extent to which green hydrogen can be used in place of Essity Kostheim natural gas in the tissue manufacturing process without sacrificing product quality.

Essity will gradually add green hydrogen to its energy supply after completing the necessary installations and rebuilding the paper plant. By autumn 2022, it is intended to run the paper machine’s drying hood entirely on green hydrogen.

“We will be the first in the world to use green hydrogen for tissue production. This is a clear commitment towards our ambitious climate agenda and a big step towards a decarbonized society. We are creating a sustainable process that is setting a new benchmark for the industry”, says Magnus Groth, President and CEO, Essity.