Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, the manufacturer behind household brands such as Andrex and Kleenex, has become the first major consumer goods company in the UK to secure long-term offtaker agreements for green hydrogen. This move aims to decarbonise the production of products including toilet and facial tissues.
The company is collaborating with Carlton Power and HYRO—a joint venture between Octopus Energy Generation and RES—to invest over £125 million into green hydrogen infrastructure at its manufacturing facilities in Kent and Cumbria. Green hydrogen, generated via electrolysis using renewable energy, will replace natural gas for steam generation at these sites. This initiative plays a crucial role in Kimberly-Clark’s strategy to cut operational greenhouse gas emissions by over 80% in the UK by 2027, compared to a 2015 baseline.
Currently, the Northfleet and Barrow-in-Furness sites produce nearly one billion Andrex toilet rolls and over 150 million boxes of Kleenex tissues annually. The new investment is expected to achieve a 50% reduction in natural gas consumption across Kimberly-Clark’s UK production lines from 2027.
The two long-term offtaker hydrogen supply agreements will facilitate the installation of a green hydrogen facility adjacent to the Barrow plant, with a separate facility planned for the Northfleet plant. Dan Howell, Vice President and Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, expressed enthusiasm for the project, highlighting the significant potential of green hydrogen to enhance energy supply and decarbonisation efforts in the industry.
Kimberly-Clark estimates that the Barrow project will deliver 100 GWh of green hydrogen annually, while the Northfleet facility will supply 47 GWh. Combined, these projects aim to reduce carbon emissions by 28,500 tonnes per year.
Both projects have been selected under the UK Government’s Hydrogen Allocation Round One (HAR1), receiving backing through the Hydrogen Production Business Model and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund. Planning approval has been obtained, with Barrow receiving consent in June 2023 and Northfleet in August 2024.
Sarah Jones, UK Minister for Industry, emphasised the government’s commitment to hydrogen, noting the rollout of ten initial projects to power businesses with clean energy across the UK. This initiative is seen as a step towards cutting industrial emissions and supporting Britain’s industrial renewal.
This milestone contributes to Kimberly-Clark’s broader sustainability initiatives, including a 2023 power purchase agreement associated with a £75 million onshore wind farm in Scotland. The company remains dedicated to halving its global Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio across Europe and Africa.
