Kimberly-Clark Becomes First UK Consumer Goods Giant to Commit to Green Hydrogen at Scale
Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, the manufacturer behind trusted household brands such as Andrex® and Kleenex®, has become the first major consumer goods company in the UK to make a significant and transformative investment in green hydrogen. This landmark decision reflects the company’s growing commitment to sustainable manufacturing and achieving net-zero emissions in line with global climate targets.
In partnership with energy innovators Carlton Power and HYRO—a joint venture between Octopus Energy Generation and RES—Kimberly-Clark has announced a £125 million investment to develop green hydrogen energy infrastructure at its manufacturing facilities in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and Northfleet, Kent. These sites collectively produce nearly one billion Andrex toilet rolls and more than 150 million Kleenex tissue boxes each year, making them vital hubs of the company’s UK operations.
The investment will fund the installation of green hydrogen production facilities directly adjacent to the two plants. The Barrow project, developed by Carlton Power, will deliver 100 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of hydrogen annually, while the Northfleet site, developed by HYRO, will generate 47 GWh per year. These facilities will allow Kimberly-Clark to reduce its dependence on natural gas by 50% across its UK operations starting in 2027.
The green hydrogen projects have been officially selected under the UK Government’s Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) and Net Zero Hydrogen Fund (NZHF)—the world’s first such allocation round, known as Hydrogen Allocation Round One (HAR1). This milestone not only marks Kimberly-Clark as an industry first-mover but also places it at the forefront of national decarbonisation efforts.
Planning permissions have already been secured for both sites. The Barrow facility received local planning consent in June 2023, while HYRO’s Northfleet project was approved in August 2024. The combined projects are expected to reduce Kimberly-Clark’s carbon emissions by approximately 28,500 tonnes annually—the equivalent of removing around 20,000 petrol-powered cars from UK roads each year.
Green hydrogen is produced via electrolysis, using renewable electricity (such as wind or solar) to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. When burned or used in fuel cells, hydrogen emits only water vapour, making it a powerful alternative to fossil fuels—especially for industrial processes that are difficult to electrify, such as the steam generation used in Kimberly-Clark’s paper production.
Dan Howell, Vice President and Managing Director at Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland, described the initiative as a game-changing step toward the company’s long-term sustainability goals. “This is a significant investment into a green hydrogen solution, and alongside other investments, it supports our ambition to move UK manufacturing operations to 100% renewable energy by 2030,” Howell stated.
“Now is the right time for us to tap into hydrogen’s potential—supporting energy security and helping us decarbonise our operations. We are proud to be the first UK consumer goods manufacturer to adopt green hydrogen at scale. This move highlights that even energy-intensive industries can lead the way in transitioning to a cleaner future.”
Support for the initiative also came from the UK Government. Sarah Jones, Minister for Industry, emphasised that hydrogen will be a cornerstone of the country’s clean energy transition. “This government is rolling out hydrogen at scale for the first time, with ten of the first projects now shovel-ready—from Teesside to Devon,” Jones said. “Hydrogen will help us cut industrial emissions and support Britain’s industrial renewal, creating thousands of jobs in our heartlands.”
The energy partners working with Kimberly-Clark also hailed the significance of the projects. Keith Clarke, Founder and CEO of Carlton Power, called the company’s commitment “a bold and ambitious move” and noted that the Barrow project will serve as a blueprint for other industrial users to transition away from fossil fuels. “Our Barrow facility is just the first of several green hydrogen projects we plan to bring online over the next few years,” he added.
Alex Brierley, co-head of Octopus Energy Generation’s fund management team, praised the Northfleet initiative and Kimberly-Clark’s leadership. “This is an exciting milestone for HYRO and the wider hydrogen economy. The Northfleet paper mill project is ready to deliver, with contracts and planning permissions in place. Green hydrogen will be crucial in decarbonising hard-to-electrify industries, and Kimberly-Clark is setting the standard.”
Lucy Whitford, Managing Director for RES UK & Ireland, echoed the sentiment. “Green hydrogen, made using British low-carbon energy, will revolutionise industrial energy. We’re proud to see HYRO’s Northfleet project moving forward and excited about the real-world impact it will make.”
This latest investment builds upon Kimberly-Clark’s broader clean energy strategy. In September 2023, the company entered into a power purchase agreement supporting a £75 million onshore wind farm in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. Managed by Octopus Energy Generation on behalf of Octopus Renewables Infrastructure Trust (ORIT), and maintained by RES, the wind farm has been supplying renewable electricity to Kimberly-Clark’s UK operations since commissioning.
By 2027, Kimberly-Clark UK & Ireland expects to have cut its operational greenhouse gas emissions by over 80% compared to its 2015 baseline. Globally, the company is on track to halve its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, in line with its science-based targets.
Kimberly-Clark’s move is not just a company milestone—it’s a defining moment for the UK’s consumer goods sector and a strong signal to other manufacturers that large-scale decarbonisation through green hydrogen is now viable and actionable. With two hydrogen projects backed by public and private investment and full planning approval, the company is poised to become a case study in clean industrial transformation.
