A £1 billion investment in a former paper mill in Shotton, Flintshire, is set to "completely transform recycling levels in the UK," according to Eren Holding, the Turkish company spearheading the project. The redevelopment of Shotton Mill will establish one of the country’s largest and most advanced cardboard and tissue production facilities, expected to be operational by next year.
Currently employing up to 2,000 contractors for the project, Eren Holding is aiming to create a state-of-the-art plant capable of processing a quarter of the UK’s exported waste cardboard, converting it into containerboard for packaging and corrugated boxes. This facility, the company claims, will transform the UK from a net importer to a net exporter of recycled cardboard and tissue products.
Eren Holding purchased the Shotton Mill site from UPM in 2021. Historically used for newsprint production, the mill's workforce dwindled over the years due to declining demand for print media. The new development is expected to create 220 new jobs while safeguarding 147 existing ones.
The plant will also be energy self-sufficient, powered by a hydrogen-enabled combined heat and power plant, further aligning the facility with modern, sustainable manufacturing practices.
The transformation of Shotton Mill represents one of the most significant foreign manufacturing investments in the UK in recent years, promising a new era for recycling and manufacturing in North Wales.
