Social sustainability matters equally: the facility will maintain over 400 high-quality jobs, including former newsprint employees. It will actively participate in local education and training, creating opportunities for future workers.
“Sustainability is fundamental to Eren Holding’s corporate culture and ethical responsibility,” notes Dr. Ilhan. “Our business model minimizes environmental impact, promotes social development and adheres to ethical practices, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. This includes protecting natural resources, investing in people and adopting sustainable technologies. The group has long supported social development in Turkey through education, female employment, public health and cultural activities—a commitment we will maintain in Britain.”
The financial pillars of sustainable industrial transition
Work on Shotton Mill’s refurbishment is making good progress, with the opening expected in early 2026. The facility will occupy over 85 hectares, producing more than 750,000 tonnes of recycled cardboard and 67,000 tonnes of tissue paper annually with the total investment exceeding £1BN.
Seventeen European institutions participated in the financing process. The BBVA Group’s Turkish franchise played a key role as green loan coordinator and security agent. The project recently won a Sustainability Global Award 2025, recognizing sustainable businesses. The Welsh Government contributed €15m in form of incentive, while UK Export Finance provided nearly £200m as loan.
All efforts aim to keep Britain’s industrial heart alive, strengthening North Wales’s employment and social fabric while driving the transition towards environmentally sustainable industry that generates less waste, consumes cleaner energy and contributes to a greener, more circular British economy. “Our short-term goals are clear,” adds Dr. Ilhan. “Create over 400 skilled jobs, operate Britain’s largest recycled paper plant, significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions throughout the process and strengthen local supply chain resilience.”
Medium and long-term challenges prove more ambitious. “We see ourselves operating as a leading European paper production centre in the circular economy, a plant where renewable energy and full wastewater recycling are fully integrated into all operations, and an industry capable of creating hundreds of new jobs through operational expansion, promoting green sector employment and consolidating Shotton’s role in sustainable British manufacturing.”
