SCA has invested £15 million in new state-of-the-art equipment at its Tyne Valley production site.

The move will inject vital funding into the local economy while securing jobs and creating new employment.

The £15 million has been used to fund two separate projects. The first is a new production line that enables SCA to produce Tork zigzag-fold towels in the UK for the first time. This will significantly cut down on transport emissions when delivering Tork zigzag-fold towels to UK customers - a move that will result in major carbon footprint reductions throughout the supply chain.

The second project concerns a new de-inking plant which will increase the capacity of recycled tissue fibre in the UK. Tony Richards, factory and site manager at Prudhoe, said: “This project is the latest in a long line of key investments designed to improve efficiency to ensure that we remain on a path towards achieving a long-term, sustainable future for the mill.

“This will in turn help to provide new employment and keep existing jobs safe while providing support for the local economy.” The well-known Triple Velvet and Asda Shades brands of toilet tissue are manufactured at Prudhoe mill.

Kevin Starr, SCA sales director UK and Ireland, said: “Our new de-inking plant will increase the amount of recycled fibre being produced in this country. Meanwhile, our new manufacturing facility will help to reduce the carbon footprint involved with supplying Tork zigzag towels to customers. This underpins our recently-launched ‘A sustainable choice is in your hands’ campaign.”

Prudhoe mill has a range of accreditations including ISO 14001, ISO 9001, FSC and BRC. In 2008 the mill won an Environmental Management Award at the North East Business Awards competition.