Our Barton facility, which manufactures paper products under our global Tork® brand and employs more than 550 Shoals-area residents, was directly impacted by the incident. Thanks to the courage and professionalism of more than 40 local emergency response organizations, the fire was successfully contained without injury.

“Back in August 2024, our employees watched anxiously as a fire broke out in one of our paper storage warehouses,” said Steve Edwards, Site Manager at Essity Barton. “Thanks to the bravery and tenacity of local first responders, the fire was quickly contained, and our people and operations were protected. Today, we are proud to extend our deepest gratitude and recognize these heroes for their selfless service.”

As part of the event, we presented plaques to each department, provided a gift for crews to enjoy together, and made a financial reimbursement to the participating organizations as a way of giving back for their extraordinary service to the Barton community.

Shane Taylor, Interim Chief of the Barton Volunteer Fire Department, also shared remarks on behalf of the local fire services:

“When the call came in, nearly 400 people across 40 agencies came together with one mission: to protect lives and contain the fire. Their professionalism and teamwork made all the difference, and we couldn’t have done it without every department that answered the call. It’s an honor to be recognized by Essity, and we’re proud to serve this community.”

About Essity

Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, Leukoplast, Libero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2024, Essity had net sales of approximately $14B and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm.

Essity employs more than 550 Shoals-area residents in the Cherokee region. Its papermaking and converting facility in Barton manufactures Essity’s Tork® brand toilet paper, napkins and paper towels. In addition to Alabama, Essity has U.S. operations in Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Learn more at essityusa.com and connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.