Aldar Tissue, Ireland’s largest household and commercial tissue paper manufacturer and part of the Zeus Group, has officially opened its new €15 million, purpose-built manufacturing facility in Rathcoole, Dublin. The 100,000 sq ft facility will see the workforce at Aldar Tissue double by 2026, creating 30 new full-time jobs.
Both Aldar Tissue and Zeus are committed to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050, actively reducing carbon footprints by prioritising local manufacturing and sustainable raw materials. Aldar Tissue supplies major customers such as Musgrave, Lidl, Aldi, and Essential Supplies. The state-of-the-art Dublin plant features fully automated, high-speed production lines, robotic packing, and wrapping technologies. These innovations will enable Aldar Tissue to transition from a 24/5 to a 24/7 operation by 2026, further increasing capacity. Aldar Tissue was acquired by Zeus, Europe’s leading independent packaging manufacturer and distributor, in 2019.
Speaking at the facility’s opening, Keith Ockenden, CEO of Zeus, commented: “Our goal is to help our customers reduce their packaging usage and lower their carbon emissions by providing innovative products and services. By processing industrial production rolls into smaller, finished products on-site in Ireland, Aldar Tissue significantly reduces the need for long-distance transportation of raw materials, thereby cutting carbon emissions from shipping bulk materials from mainland Europe. This streamlined approach not only lowers our carbon footprint but also enhances supply chain efficiency, ensuring products are delivered to customers more sustainably and cost-effectively.
“Currently, 80% of the Irish tissue market is supplied from the UK and mainland Europe. This new facility increases our production capacity and will enable us to fulfil up to 40% of Ireland’s bathroom tissue and kitchen towel needs. This will allow us to meet the evolving demands of local markets while driving sustainability within the industry.”
Ockenden further commented: “With the addition of 30 new jobs, Aldar Tissue is doubling its workforce to meet growing demand. We have plans to further expand production capacity by 2026. Our products adhere to the highest standards of performance, offering a real alternative to imports and supporting the Irish economy. Aldar Tissue’s investment aligns with Ireland’s broader sustainability goals, with the new production lines capable of using paper-based wrapping materials. At Aldar, we are not just producing tissue products; we are building a sustainable future for Ireland.”
The plant’s cutting-edge technology enables high-speed production of consumer and professional tissue products at a rate of 600 meters per minute, or 200 packs per minute, offering more than 60 variations of kitchen towels and bathroom tissue. As of 2023, the Irish toilet tissue market is valued at approximately €155 million, driven by demand from both retail and away-from-home sectors.
