Keeping Tissue Packaging Efficient in a Changing Market
The tissue packaging sector has grown fast in recent years and that momentum is still going. But the pressure is also building. Companies are facing stricter rules, more demand for eco-friendly solutions and the ongoing problem of not having enough staff. These challenges aren’t easy, but they also open the door to new ways of working and improving how things are done.
A Market on the Rise
Market value is rising quickly. In 2022, the global tissue paper market was worth about $82 billion USD. By 2030, it's set to grow to over $135 billion USD, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 6.5%.
The numbers reveal the reality that tissue consumption is increasing everywhere, all over the world. From households to healthcare facilities, demand is growing in quantity, quality, hygiene, presentation and regulation – not to mention speed and efficiency.
As operations inevitably scale up to meet these market needs, businesses are also facing a shift in the labour market. While we know that staffing challenges aren’t unique to the tissue sector, we also understand that in an industry where efficiency and cleanliness, reliability and consistency are not negotiable, maintaining output has become far more complex in recent years.
In response, packaging machinery manufacturers are innovating and working more closely than ever before with modern tissue producers to deliver high-speed, flexible, and scalable solutions that can meet their needs and relieve some of the pressure.
Hygiene Awareness and Product Diversity
The COVID-19 pandemic brought hygiene to the forefront, and its influence on consumer habits continues with no real sign of slowing. Tissue products, especially those related to personal care and cleaning, have become household essentials all over the world. This significant shift has since opened new doors for tissue production lines and offering an opportunity to bring a wider range of products to a much bigger consumer audience.
Tissue packaging machines have been innovating alongside to accommodate this need for diversity and to help meet the demand and workforce challenges head-on. At Jacob White, with a history spanning more than a century, we understand that during times of growth, packaging technology must be designed with the realities in mind – and comprehensively enhance how businesses operate day-to-day.
Adapting to Changing Workforce Dynamics
Tissue manufacturers are improving how their operations run day to day. Many are focusing on packaging lines to get more reliable performance, better flexibility and easier operation; alongside speed.
Modern systems require less manual intervention, offer faster format changes, and can run for longer. This not only helps operations remain smooth during periods of lean staffing but also ensures that quality standards and consistency continues without interruption.
Focussed on user-friendly design and intuitive interfaces, modern tissue packaging machines also accelerate the onboarding process and reduce the learning curve for new operators. In a currently high-turnover industry where training resources are at a premium, this kind of built-in support makes a real difference.
There’s a growing realisation across the industry that a well-thought-out investment in packaging machinery doesn’t replace the human skillset, it supports it. With advanced tissue packaging systems taking on more repetitive, labour-intensive tasks, skilled and trained staff can help to increase quality control, optimise processes and accelerate distribution, for example. This change can not only improve job satisfaction and employee retention but contributes to vital future-proofing against continued labour market fluctuations for businesses of all sizes.
Sustainability, Shaping the Future of Tissue Production
One of the biggest changes shaping the tissue industry is the push for sustainability. Customers and regulators want greener products, and packaging is often where they expect to see change first. This has led to more use of recyclable and biodegradable materials, and companies now face the challenge of using them without slowing down or losing quality.
Historically, tissue packaging machinery has faced challenges in handling the typically delicate tissue paper products, flyaway in nature and difficult to control. Today, this type of packaging equipment is expected to deliver not just performance, but to also tick sustainability boxes. This means a smaller environmental footprint, greater energy efficiency and lower resource usage, to name but a few and operators that can meet sustainability demands and maintaining product quality and output are quickly establishing a competitive edge.
Building Resilience Through Automation
Tissue producers that are embracing these efficiencies are finding that the right technology enables them to stay ahead, maintaining consistency and output and staying competitive, regardless of increased demand and even amid staffing challenges. The result is a more resilient production line, where operational continuity is supported and improved by automation.
How We Can Help
The tissue industry is growing and changing. Companies are adapting to a faster-moving market by building new partnerships and using more automation. At Jacob White, we focus on quality and efficiency while helping our customers meet modern needs like sustainability, flexibility and scale. Get in touch if you'd like to talk about improving your tissue packaging setup.
