Top 10 Best Paper Goods Manufacturers in Gravesham

Gravesham's Paper-Making Heritage

The banks of the Thames at Northfleet and the valleys of Kent have a long association with paper making. For much of the twentieth century, the Northfleet riverside was home to a major paper and tissue mill, and nearby towns along the Medway and Swale developed some of the largest paper operations in Britain. Although the industry has changed dramatically, Kent remains an important centre for paper and packaging production today.

Gravesham's businesses, from e-commerce sellers and food producers to offices, schools and hospitality venues, depend on paper goods every day. Corrugated boxes, tissue, printing paper and sustainable packaging are all essential. This guide profiles ten paper goods manufacturers that serve the borough.

The Paper Industry Today

Demand for paper-based packaging has grown rapidly thanks to online shopping and a shift away from single-use plastics. Tissue and hygiene products remain essential, while speciality papers serve premium packaging, labels and technical applications. The industry has become a leader in recycling, with a high proportion of fibre recovered and reused.

For businesses in Gravesham, working with established paper manufacturers ensures reliable supply, consistent quality and verified sustainability credentials, including responsibly sourced fibre and recyclable products.

Top 10 Paper Goods Manufacturers Serving Gravesham

1. DS Smith (International Paper)

DS Smith, now part of International Paper, operates the Kemsley paper mill near Sittingbourne, one of the largest recycled paper mills in Europe and a short distance from Gravesham. The company produces corrugated packaging for retailers, food producers and e-commerce businesses. Its circular design approach ensures boxes are made from recycled fibre and are fully recyclable.

2. Smurfit Westrock

Smurfit Westrock is one of the world's largest paper-based packaging companies, with UK plants producing corrugated boxes, displays and containerboard. Its design centres help brands create innovative, sustainable packaging that protects products and enhances shelf appeal.

3. Saica Pack

Saica Pack manufactures corrugated packaging across the UK and Europe. It is known for flexible production, strong customer service and sustainable practices, using recycled paper produced within its own group. Food and drink producers in Kent frequently rely on Saica for robust packaging.

4. Essity

Essity is a global hygiene and health company producing tissue, professional hygiene products and personal care items. Its professional hygiene brand supplies washroom paper, dispensers and wipers to offices, factories and hospitality venues. Gravesham businesses use its products to maintain high hygiene standards.

5. Sofidel UK

Sofidel is one of the leading tissue manufacturers in Europe, producing toilet tissue, kitchen towel and away-from-home products at its UK mills. The company is known for sustainability initiatives, including responsibly sourced fibre and energy efficiency improvements.

6. Accrol

Accrol is a UK tissue converter supplying household tissue products to major retailers and discount stores. Its competitively priced toilet rolls, kitchen towels and facial tissues are found on supermarket shelves across Gravesend and Northfleet.

7. James Cropper

James Cropper is a Cumbrian paper maker renowned for speciality papers and advanced materials. It produces coloured papers for luxury packaging and publishing, and its innovative upcycling technology turns used coffee cups into premium paper. Designers and brands seeking distinctive, sustainable papers value its craftsmanship.

8. Mondi

Mondi is a global packaging and paper group producing corrugated packaging, paper bags, speciality kraft papers and office paper. Its paper-based alternatives to plastic packaging are helping retailers and manufacturers reduce plastic use.

9. Kimberly-Clark

Kimberly-Clark once operated a major mill at Northfleet, part of Gravesham's industrial story. The company remains a significant name in tissue, personal care and professional hygiene products, with brands used in homes and workplaces across the UK.

10. Antalis

Antalis is a leading distributor of paper, packaging and visual communication materials. It supplies printers, designers and businesses with an extensive range of papers and packaging solutions. For local print shops and marketing agencies in Gravesham, Antalis provides reliable access to diverse stock.

How to Choose a Paper Goods Supplier

Identify your needs, whether packaging, hygiene products or printing papers. Check certifications such as FSC or PEFC to confirm responsible sourcing. Consider recycled content, product performance, pricing, delivery reliability and minimum order quantities. For packaging, ask about bespoke design services and testing to ensure products are protected during transit.

Why Paper Goods Matter to Local Businesses

For Gravesham's growing number of online sellers and logistics operators, packaging is no longer just a cost but part of the customer experience. Well-designed boxes reduce damage, lower return rates and reinforce brand identity. Hospitality venues along the riverside and in the town centre rely on quality tissue and hygiene products to meet customer expectations, while schools and offices continue to use significant volumes of printing paper. Choosing suppliers with strong recycled content also helps local businesses respond to customers who increasingly ask about sustainability.

Trends in Paper Manufacturing

Paper-based packaging continues to replace plastic in many applications, and innovations such as barrier coatings are enabling paper to package food and liquids. Energy efficiency and decarbonisation are priorities for mills, while digital printing is enabling shorter packaging runs and personalisation. Recycling rates remain high, and new technologies are improving the recovery of difficult materials such as paper cups.

Conclusion

Paper making remains an important part of Kent's industrial identity, and Gravesham businesses benefit from access to world-class manufacturers nearby. The ten companies above offer quality, reliability and sustainability, helping local businesses package products, maintain hygiene and communicate effectively while supporting a circular economy.