CPI, PITA Issue Joint Statement in Response to Concerns over UK Tissue Supply

Consumers in the UK tissue market can be reassured that the present coronavirus outbreak has had no immediate impact on the UK tissue industry, tissue manufacturing, wholesale stock levels, the industry supply chain or supply to retailers.

Toilet tissue: Coronavirus has no impact (or likely impact) on the actual demand for toilet tissue and it follows there is no need to panic buy or stockpile. Manufacturing and distribution continue to operate normally, and retail stocks are being replenished.

Hand tissues: Again, the coronavirus outbreak has had no impact on manufacturing or supply chains, with product still being distributed to retailers as normal. Manufacturers have increased production to cope with strong demand triggered by additional hand drying and increased hand tissue use stemming from heightened concerns over the airborne spread of disease. Additional product is now reaching retailers.

Using paper towels reduces the risk of airborne viruses that may be caused by other hand drying systems. Certainly in health care critical locations (such as hospitals, care homes and the food supply industry) disposable paper towels should always be the preferred method of hand-drying to minimize the risk of cross-contamination – a finding reinforced by a number of scientific studies.

The UK used around 1.25 million metric tons of hygiene paper in 2019; more than half in the form of toilet tissue and the remainder as hand, facial, industrial and sanitary tissues. Around half of this tissue was made in the UK (17 tissue mills) with the balance being imported. Because of the light weight and bulk of shelf-ready product, most international trade is in the form of multi-ton parent reels, ready for conversion into shelf-ready rolls and packs closer to the end market. This conversion can happen either at paper mills or separate facilities.

The Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI) is the leading trade association representing the UK’s Paper-based Industries, comprising paper and board manufacturers and converters, corrugated packaging producers, makers of soft tissue papers, and collectors of paper for recycling.

The Paper Industry Technical Association (PITA) is an independent, member-based organization, which operates for the general benefit of its members – both individual and corporate – dedicated to promoting and improving the technical and scientific knowledge of those working in the fibrous forest products industries such as pulp and paper.

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