Lucca once again became the global meeting point for the tissue sector as Tissue Planet – Future Insights™ 2026 gathered 300 international attendees from more than 40 companies across 25 countries to explore the industry’s next chapter.

Hosted by Toscotec, the event highlighted how tissue producers are navigating a new era defined by artificial intelligence, sustainability, digitalization, energy transition, and geopolitical uncertainty.

AI Moves from Theory to Industrial Strategy

The conference opened with a keynote from Mariarosaria Taddeo, Professor of Digital Ethics and Defence Technologies at the Oxford Internet Institute.

In her presentation, “The Mill and the Model: Rethinking Industrial Production in an Age of Intelligent Systems,” Taddeo examined the ethical implications of AI adoption in manufacturing, emphasizing that future competitiveness will depend not only on technological capability but also on responsible decision-making.

Her message underscored a growing reality across the tissue sector: intelligent systems are becoming strategic tools rather than experimental technologies.

European Tissue Industry Faces Growing Pressures

A high-profile panel featuring leaders from European Tissue Symposium (ETS), WEPA Group, and Essity addressed the industry’s economic significance and mounting challenges.

The discussion revealed that Europe’s tissue sector currently generates:

• €36.6 billion in added value
• €19.7 billion in annual turnover
• More than 421,000 jobs

At the same time, executives warned that rising costs, regulatory complexity, and global competition continue to test the sector’s resilience.

Decarbonization Becomes a Competitive Necessity

Several presentations focused on climate strategies and operational emissions reduction.

The Navigator Company reported achieving a 37% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions by 2025, while maintaining its ambition of reaching carbon neutrality by 2040 through investments in renewable energy and industry collaboration.

Meanwhile, Kruger Products highlighted progress under its Reimagine 2030 strategy, including:

• 31% emissions reduction
• 40% lower water intensity
• 90% FSC-certified fibre sourcing

The message from industry leaders was clear: sustainability targets are increasingly integrated into core business strategy.

Innovation Targets Thermal Decarbonization

Technical sessions showcased practical pathways toward lower-carbon production.

Among the highlights, Toscotec demonstrated how advanced heat pump systems could recover waste heat from hood exhaust streams to generate steam for Yankee dryers.

The technology offers tissue producers a potential roadmap to:

• Lower fossil fuel dependence
• Improve energy efficiency
• Reduce thermal emissions
• Balance investment costs with long-term savings

Collaboration Emerges as the Industry’s Common Theme

Across presentations from Essity, Suzano, and technology suppliers, a shared principle emerged: no company can tackle future challenges alone.

Supply chain partnerships, supplier engagement, and cross-industry cooperation were repeatedly identified as essential to scaling innovation and accelerating sustainability performance.

Industry Outlook

Tissue Planet 2026 highlighted a sector adapting to what many executives described as the “new normal”—an environment shaped by volatility, decarbonization pressures, and rapid technological change.

For tissue manufacturers, future competitiveness may increasingly depend on the ability to combine operational efficiency with digital intelligence and collaborative sustainability strategies.

Source: Toscotec

Last Updated on 16/06/2026 by Jota Machinery