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North Wales factory where 200 staff worked has closed

North Wales factory where 200 staff worked has closed

A factory in North Wales that had employed around 200 workers has now closed. In 2024 Kimberly-Clark announced a consultation over a proposal to shut down wet wipe mills in Flint.
The owners said the decision was due to an upcoming UK plastics ban. The then Conservative-run UK Government, along with the devolved Labour and SNP administrations in Wales and Scotland, decided to prohibit the sale of baby wipes containing plastic from mid-2026.
Kimberly-Clark said that their Flint plant cannot be reconfigured in time to meet the deadline. At the time the plant employed around 200 staff with a further 100 in the local supply chain.
The closure of the factory took place this week.
Unite the union said: "After decades of dedication, the Kimberly-Clark site in Flint, North Wales, closes its doors for the final time today. We stand in solidarity with every worker affected — past and present — whose skill, loyalty, and hard work made this site a cornerstone of the local community.
"The dignity and solidarity our members have shown in the last thirteen turbulent months has been phenomenal.
"It is a true testament to them in that 95% of the employees have been able to secure alternative employment ensuring that valuable skills and experience will not be wasted.
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