Tissue Planet – Future Insights™: Toscotec gathers global Tissue industry leaders in Lucca

A global event driving the future of the sector

The second edition of Tissue Planet – Future Insights™ brought together 300 international attendees representing over 40 companies from 25 countries to Lucca, transforming the city into the global hub for sustainability, digitalization, and the future of the Tissue sector.

Key topics: strategic keynotes and technical insights

The agenda blended strategic talks with highly technical deep dives, starting with a keynote from Mariarosaria Taddeo, Professor of Digital Ethics and Defence Technologies at the Oxford Internet Institute, University of Oxford. In her presentation, titled "The Mill and the Model: Rethinking Industrial Production in an Age of Intelligent Systems," she offered an ethical and philosophical perspective on Artificial Intelligence within the manufacturing sector. She highlighted machine learning, decision-making capabilities, ethics, and sustainability to guide leaders toward increasingly informed choices.

Then, major global players took the stage to share long-term strategies, real-world case studies, and industry best practices. To highlight just a few of the event's key moments, the stage hosted an engaging panel discussion featuring Carlos Reinoso, Chairman & Director General at ETS (European Tissue Symposium); Martin Krengel, Chairman of the Management Board at WEPA Group; and Volker Zöller, President of Consumer Tissue Global at Essity, moderated by Marco Dell’Osso (founder of MDG35). The panellists highlighted the central role of the Tissue sector as a strategic pillar for Europe, focusing on how the industry is investing to reduce its environmental footprint and withstand intense global market pressures. They also presented the first comprehensive socio-economic study of the sector, which reveals that the European paper products industry generates €36.6 billion in added value, €19.7 billion in annual turnover, and creates over 421,000 jobs.

Luigi Lazzareschi, CEO of Sofidel, addressed the influx of imported products into Europe during his presentation, “Competing, Yes, but on a Level Playing Field: The New Global Challenges Facing the European Tissue Industry.” He highlighted the role of governance in managing market asymmetries, noting that the European tissue market is currently penalized by uneven regulatory standards across different countries, high energy costs, inflation, and instability. Sharing the Group’s firsthand experience and comparing the situation in the US and European growth markets, the CEO emphasized that volatility is no longer an exception, but rather the "new normality" that businesses must navigate.

Luís Bueno, Consumer Goods Executive Vice President of Suzano, provided a macroeconomic overview of the international market during his presentation, “Tissue Market Overview.” He analyzed global consumption trends and the sector's future growth drivers, bringing a Latin American perspective to the discussion.

Nuno Santos, Executive Director of The Navigator Company, presented the company’s integrated sustainability model during his session, “Driving Decarbonization in Tissue Production,” highlighting how it has already achieved a 37% reduction in direct CO₂ emissions as of 2025. In line with its target to reach carbon neutrality by 2040, the company continues to invest in renewable energy while emphasizing the need for competitive, low-carbon energy pricing. He also stressed the importance of industry-wide collaboration within the tissue sector.

Olli Härkönen, Supply Chain Sustainability & Digitalization Director at Essity, presented the company's new Global Supply Chain Enablement function during his session, “Driving Impact at Scale: Sustainability Within Essity Global Supply Chain Enablement.” The function was established to embed sustainability into day-to-day operations and accelerate target delivery across the end-to-end value chain. Central to his presentation was the principle that “everyone has a role to play” a commitment that translates into strategic collaboration with suppliers to drive affordable and scalable innovation.

Steven Sage, VP of Sustainability & Corporate Communications at Kruger Products, presented the company's “Reimagine 2030” plan, highlighting milestones already achieved. These include a 31% reduction in emissions (against a 35% target), a 40% reduction in water intensity (with the target now raised to 45%), and successfully meeting its goal of 90% FSC-certified fibers.

The Lab Stage featured specialized sessions focused on technological innovation, hosted by event sponsors Gambini, IMA, Siemens, SKF, Everllence, Solenis/Ecoverde, Meri, and BTG. A key highlight included a presentation by Stefano Pecchia, Energy Technology Director at Toscotec, titled "Electrifying tissue production through advanced heat pump steam generation." He outlined how a heat pump can capture waste heat from hood exhaust air to generate steam for the Yankee dryer. The session analyzed the initial investment against daily operational costs, providing a practical roadmap to decarbonize thermal processes while balancing technical feasibility and long-term value.

Networking and sustainability

The focus on networking and knowledge-sharing was supported by several social moments throughout the day, including two evening events in the historic and artistic heart of Lucca: Palazzo Pfanner and the National Museum of Villa Guinigi. The 300 attendees walked between the venue and the dinners, minimizing the event’s overall environmental impact.

“We are happy about the participation in the event. It has solidified its position as a vital forum for discussing the future of our industry. We believe that the only way to tackle our current challenges and keep progressing is through effective collaboration and listening closely to market needs.” – Alessandro Mennucci, Toscotec’s CEO.

With the conclusion of this edition, Toscotec reinforces its international position as a key benchmark and partner for the global supply chain. The Lucca Tissue Valley will continue to sit at the heart of industry dialogue, and the company is already planning the next edition.