Kimberly-Clark to close UK factories after missing plastics deadline
Unite condemned the decision as “catastrophic”, urging the government to intervene and save jobs as production moves to Germany
Kimberly-Clark, a leading manufacturer of nappies and wet wipes, announced that it has failed to meet the UK government’s mid-2026 deadline to eliminate plastics from wet wipes. As a result, the company will close its UK factories, which produce a variety of paper products, in 2025. The production of bathroom wipes will be relocated to Germany.
The decision has sparked significant backlash from trade unions, with Unite, the largest union body, expressing strong opposition. Unite described the factory closures as “catastrophic” for the affected town and called on the government to grant more time for the transition to environmentally friendly alternatives.
Unite’s general secretary, Sharon Graham, criticized the move, stating: “Unite will fight to reverse this decision and calls upon the government to intervene to try and save these vital jobs. This decision, taken so rashly, cannot be accepted”.
Kimberly-Clark defended its decision, citing the inability to adapt its Flint manufacturing processes in time to meet the government’s requirements. The company acknowledged the impact on its employees, saying: “While phasing out plastics from our baby wipes is a key part of K-C’s sustainability plans, it isn’t possible to adapt our manufacturing processes in Flint in time. Decisions that involve our employees are the hardest to make, and we know this is a challenging period for our team”.
The union continues to advocate for an extension, arguing that more time is essential to avoid job losses and support the development of sustainable manufacturing practices.
