Wepa (company)

Headquarters in Arnsberg-Müschede

WEPA (Westfälische Papierfabrik) was founded in 1948 by Paul Krengel as a wholesale company for lining, wrapping, and gift wrap paper. It was not until 1953 that the processing of hygiene papers began in Arnsberg. In 1958, the company's own paper production began with the construction of the first paper machine for crepe paper in Müschede.[6][7]

Construction of the plant in Marsberg-Giershagen in 1963 marked the beginning of further processing for the manufactured paper. In 1980 the company started to develop its first private labels. In 2001 WEPA took over Kriepa GmbH in Kriebethal (today WEPA Saxony),[7] where a joint venture with the paper factory Kübler & Niethammer had already existed since 1990.

From 2004 onwards the company expanded. WEPA consequently founded the joint venture GC & WEPA S.L. in Ejea de los Caballeros, Spain, and took over the majority shares of the Polish hygiene paper manufacturer Fabryka Papieru Piechowice SA (today WEPA Piechowice) and the Mainz mill of Kimberly-Clark.[7] In 2009, the operating establishments of an Italian competitor in Italy (Lucca and Cassino), Germany (Leuna) and France (Lille) were also integrated into the WEPA Group.[8]

In 2015, WEPA sold its shares in the Spanish joint venture and bought a further site in Troyes, France.[9] 2 years later, with the takeover of the family business Van Houtem, a site in Swalmen, Netherlands, for the manufacture of AfH products was incorporated.[7][10]

In 2018 WEPA took over all shares of the joint venture UK Northwood & WEPA LTD (now WEPA UK), which was founded in 2014 in Bridgend.[7]

In 2019, WEPA expanded its locations with the acquisition of the Greenfield plant in Château-Thierry, France. WEPA Greenfield only produces recycled fibres (DIP) cleaned of printing ink.[11] WEPA is therefore represented with thirteen locations in six European countries.[12] Today, the WEPA Group is managed by Martin Krengel (Chairman of the Board), Ralph Dihlmann, Andreas Krengel and Dr. Hendrik Otto. The Supervisory Board comprises Friedrich Merz (Chairman), Hans-Joachim Körber, Wilken von Hodenberg and Hartmut Wurster.[3]

Today, the WEPA Group is the third largest manufacturer of hygiene paper in Europe.[4][5] According to current information, the company secures 25% of the market share in Germany and 8% in Europe.[3]

The 21 paper machines have a production capacity of 780,000 tonnes, which are processed into toilet paper, tissues, cosmetic tissues, paper towels, napkins and industrial rolls at more than 90 automatic converting machines.[3] In the consumer sector, WEPA sells the manufactured hygiene papers mainly as private label products (trademarks) to the European food retail trade.[13] In addition, the WEPA Professional division offers complete washroom solutions (hygiene paper and dispenser systems) with the brands BlackSatino and Satino by WEPA typically for public washrooms, industry, offices or health care facilities.[14]

Plant Marsberg-Giershagen

Production facility Kriebstein

With thirteen locations in six European countries,[3] WEPA reaches millions of consumers. In addition, WEPA invests in training and the new generation of staff at all locations. The WEPA Group operates its plants at the following locations:

• Arnsberg-Müschede, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Marsberg-Giershagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
• Kriebstein-Kriebethal, Saxony, Germany
• Leuna, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany
• Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
• Lille, France
• Troyes, France
• Château-Thierry, France
• Bridgend, Great Britain
• Cassino, Italy
• Lucca, Italy
• Swalmen, Netherlands
• Piechowice, Poland [12]

Since its foundation in 1948, the WEPA Group has been a family-owned business oriented towards sustainability. Sustainability is anchored in the corporate culture and is an integral aspect of company strategy. The holistic approach encompasses all facets in economic, ecological and social terms. WEPA only uses fair trade fibres for the production of its hygiene papers. This includes recovered paper and certified pulps from sustainable forestry.[15]

In the field of environmental hygiene papers, WEPA is active in the market with its hybrid private label products as well as products of the WEPA “mach m!t” brand. Made 100% from waste paper, the latter are characterised by reduced energy and water consumption and are certified with the Blue Angel label. The products are toilet paper, kitchen towels and (facial) tissues. The hybrid products newly developed by WEPA are similar in appearance and quality to conventional fresh fibre hygiene papers, but integrate recycled fibres by up to one third. The remainder of the fresh fibres are FSC certified. This paper is intended to replace existing fresh fibre products, while enhancing the acceptance of recycled paper in the market thanks to its comparable quality. The WEPA Professional brand Black Satino works on solutions that are as sustainable and circulation-friendly as possible. BlackSatino is CO₂-neutral in production and bears the quality seals Cradle to Cradle, FSC Recycled and European Ecolabel. In addition to this, no harmful chemicals are used in the production process, making BlackSatino completely safe for people and the environment.[16]

WWF Germany and WEPA have been partners for sustainability since 2017 and are working together to promote the use of recycled fibres in private label sanitary paper. Another goal is to make energy-intensive paper production more climate-friendly. Within the framework of the 2-degree climate targets, potential measures for the company are analysed and implemented.[17]

As part of the non-profit initiative "Lean & Green", WEPA was able to reduce CO₂ emissions in the warehouse and logistics sector by 20% in 2016. In the spring of 2017, the company received the "Lean and Green First Star" award from the standardisation organisation GS1Germany GmbH.[18]

WEPA also supports the WWF's "Wilde Mulde" nature conservation project in Saxony-Anhalt to improve the vitality of the Elbe tributary.[19] This serves as a pilot project for reclaiming functional waterscapes, riverbanks and forestation along rivers.[20]