South Africa's Tissue Value Chain Continues to Operate during Lockdown

The pulp, paper, packaging, recycling and tissue value chains will continue to operate as a “critical business continuity service” supporting the manufacturing, processing and distribution of essential goods and services during the lockdown, says the Paper Manufacturers Association of South Africa (PAMSA).

The sector provides wood and recycled paper fibre for the production of essential goods such as tissue, toilet paper, paper packaging, hospital gowns and masks, and personal hygiene products.

The outbreak of COVID-19 has caused a global phenomenon in recent weeks: the stockpiling and “panic buying” of items such as toilet paper. “Never before has toilet paper enjoyed such publicity,” says Jane Molony, PAMSA executive director. “Any perceived shortage of toilet paper in the shops is more a consumer behavioral issue than it is a production issue.”

Molony explains that South African tissue mills produce toilet paper continuously and the risk of shortage is minimal. “There is availability of product further up the supply chain ‒ the challenge is getting it to the consumer amid tissue manufacturers also trying to limit COVID-19 exposure for their own workers.

“Buying more than you need only fuels the panic buying cycle and disrupts supply chains.”

South African tissue manufacturers make almost all of the toilet tissue consumed in the country and they have ramped up production to meet increased demand with many operating at full capacity.

Smaller tissue mills that rely on recovered office paper – a common ingredient in tissue products – may be faced with a shortage as offices and businesses shut down. Molony urges consumers to continue separating paper and cardboard at source during the lockdown.

According to preliminary figures that PAMSA collects on an annual basis, 248,153 metric tons of tissue were produced locally during 2019. This went into the production and conversion of toilet tissue, facial tissue, industrial towelling and kitchen towelling.

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