Kimberly-Clark's ambitious push to decarbonize its UK tissue manufacturing hinges on green hydrogen projects at Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria and Northfleet near Gravesend in Kent facilities that produce Andrex toilet rolls and Kleenex tissues.
The initiative traces back to early partnerships in 2022, evolving through planning consents and funding shortlists by 2023, with off-take agreements secured last July, alongside partners Carlton Power and HYRO. Late last year brought boiler retrofit contracts with Ameresco and an electrolyser supply deal with ITM Power focused on Northfleet.
Early 2026 marks the start of site work at both locations, paving the way for operations in the first half of 2027.
This timeline positions Kimberly-Clark as a frontrunner in scaling green hydrogen for energy-intensive consumer goods production.
Kimberly-Clark is a global leader in tissue and personal care products, known for brands like Kleenex and Huggies, with a strong focus on fiber efficiency, innovation, and sustainable manufacturing.
Source: Kimberly-Clark
