German Toilet Paper Industry

The toilet paper industry in Germany is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. According to the Atlas of Economic Complexity, the gross exports of toilet paper from Germany equaled $2.69B in 2020. Some of the leading manufacturers of toilet paper in Germany are Essity, Wepa, and Metsä Tissue. The energy crisis in Europe, however, has left the industry struggling in recent months. Manufacturing toilet paper is a natural gas intensive process. According to the financial times, “Making a single 2-meter-wide ‘mother roll’ of toilet paper at Germany’s Essity plant in Mainz-Kostheim uses 700 kilowatt-hours of natural gas.” Some toilet paper manufacturers have even transitioned to coffee production in order to maintain profits. Like many other industries in Germany, toilet paper manufacturers are renowned for their focus on sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. For example, many German companies produce toilet paper made from recycled materials, and some even use renewable energy sources to power their production facilities. This year, Essity became the first company to produce toilet paper using a “CO2 emission-free production process using renewable hydrogen.” Overall, the toilet paper industry in Germany remains an essential sector of the economy, and its future looks promising with continued innovation and investment.