What Cartiere Carrara does

Cartiere Carrara S.p.A. is a family-owned Italian integrated tissue paper manufacturer, founded in 1873 by the Carrara family and headquartered in Florence, with administrative offices in Capannori. The company operates seven production sites across Tuscany, Liguria, and Lazio, supported by 10 continuous paper machines and 60 converting lines, producing approximately 300,000 tons of pure-cellulose and recycled-fibre tissue annually. It employs roughly 850 staff, 98% on permanent contracts, and serves customers in 50 countries. Group revenue reached €465 million in FY2024.

The company operates four interlocking revenue streams: a Professional/Away-From-Home B2B division (Carrara Professional, BulkySoft Professional, Carind, CC Pro brands) targeting HoReCa, healthcare, community, office, and industrial buyers; a Consumer B2C division (Tuscany, BulkySoft Consumer, Maxi brands) distributed via retail; a Private Label manufacturing service for leading European GDO retailers; and a Mother Reels business supplying large tissue reels to B2B converters. Distribution combines direct sales, private-label partnerships, and regional resellers across Europe and beyond, with marquee accounts including McDonald's/TMS (European Supplier Award recipient).

Cartiere Carrara's competitive position rests on vertical integration from raw fibre to finished product, an unusually broad certification portfolio (FSC, PEFC, EU Ecolabel, Nordic Swan, Blue Angel, OK COMPOST, ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, SA 8000, IFS, FSSC 22000, ISEGA, CHSA), and a sustainability-led cost structure evidenced by polycyclic plantation forestry, 25% lower water consumption versus industry average, and a 193% increase in installed photovoltaic capacity. EcoVadis Gold Medal (79/100, top 5% globally) and EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Chairman Massimo Carrara) reinforce ESG credentials that increasingly gate access to European GDO and HoReCa procurement. The Carrara family retains control through Cartiere Carrara S.p.A. with no external institutional ownership.

Name

Cartiere Carrara

Legal name

Cartiere Carrara S.p.A.

Website

https://cartierecarrara.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1873

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cartiere Carrara is a family-owned Italian integrated tissue paper manufacturer founded in 1873, producing pure-cellulose and recycled-fibre products across Professional, Consumer, Private Label, and Mother Reels segments, serving customers in 50 countries with €465 million in FY2024 revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tissue Paper Products Manufacturing

SIC

Papers & Allied Products (2600)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer Tissue Paper (Facial, Toilet, Paper Towels, Napkins) (IMAMAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Tissue Converting & Private Label Manufacturing (IMAMAGAH)

Keywords

• Tissue paper manufacturing
• Disposable hygiene products
• Private label tissue
• Away from home solutions
• Recycled paper products

Headquarters

HQ city

Florence

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Division (Away From Home): B2B production and sale of disposable tissue products for HoReCa, Community, Office & Industrial sectors. Products sold under proprietary brands (CC Pro, BulkySoft, Carind) and private label.
2. Consumer Division: B2C production and sale of tissue products for domestic use including toilet paper, kitchen rolls, napkins, tissues, facial tissues. Products sold under proprietary brands (Tuscany, BulkySoft, Maxi) and private label through retail.
3. Mother Reels: Production of large tissue paper reels from virgin or recycled fibres for transformation into finished products by B2B and B2C converters.
4. Private Label Manufacturing: Collaboration with leading companies in large-scale retail trade (GDO) sector in Italy and Europe, offering support in product selection and customization.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cartiere Carrara is a vertically integrated tissue paper manufacturer that produces disposable hygiene products from virgin (pure cellulose) and recycled fibres. The company operates three business divisions: a B2B Professional/Away From Home division selling under Carrara Professional, BulkySoft Professional, CC Pro, and Carind brands to HoReCa, healthcare, office, and industrial markets; a B2C Consumer division selling household tissue products under Tuscany, BulkySoft Consumer, and Maxi brands through retail; and a Mother Reels business supplying semifinished tissue reels to converters. The company also offers private label manufacturing services for European large-scale retail trade customers.

Product overview

Cartiere Carrara is a family-owned integrated tissue paper manufacturer with operations since 1873, operating across three main business divisions. The Professional Division (B2B/Away From Home) offers disposable hygiene products under Carrara Professional, BulkySoft Professional, and Carind brands for HO.RE.CA, Community, Office & Industrial markets. The Consumer Division (B2C) provides household tissue products under Tuscany – The Beauty of Paper, BulkySoft Consumer, and Maxi brands for toilet paper, kitchen rolls, napkins, and facial tissues. The Mother Reels division produces semi-finished large tissue reels from virgin or recycled fibers for conversion into finished products. Additionally, Private Label services enable customization for major retail chains. The company operates seven production sites across Italy and distributes to over 50 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Carrara Professional: Professional division (Away From Home) brand offering disposable products for personal and environmental hygiene for Ho.Re.Ca, Community, Office & Industrial sectors.
• BulkySoft
• Carind
• Tuscany – The Beauty of Paper
• Maxi
• CC Pro

Products and services

• Carrara Professional Disposable products for personal and environmental hygiene in virgin or recycled fibre for Away From Home (B2B) consumption, serving HO.RE.CA, Community, Office & Industrial markets. Includes toilet paper, hand towels, napkins, and facial tissues.
• BulkySoft Professional Professional-grade disposable tissue products for Away From Home (B2B) consumption, including washrooms, healthcare settings, and workplace settings. Combines high performance, innovation, and sustainability.
• Carind Disposable hygiene products for professional and Away From Home (B2B) consumption, serving the HO.RE.CA, Community, and Industrial sectors.
• Tuscany – The Beauty of Paper Premium consumer tissue products for domestic (B2C) use, including toilet paper, kitchen rolls, napkins, and facial tissues. Positioned as an elegant and quality-focused Italian brand.
• BulkySoft Consumer Consumer-grade tissue paper products for household (B2C) hygiene, including toilet paper, paper towels, and napkins.
• Maxi Consumer Value-oriented consumer tissue products for everyday household (B2C) use, covering toilet paper, kitchen rolls, and paper towels.
• Mother Reels Production of large tissue paper reels from virgin (pure cellulose) or recycled fibres, serving as the first link in the production chain for conversion into finished professional and consumer tissue products by converters.
• Private Label Manufacturing Custom manufacturing and branding services for leading companies in the large-scale retail trade (GDO) sector in Italy and Europe, offering selection and customization of tissue products suited to specific customer needs.
• Compostable Cellulose Napkins White cellulose napkins, decorated and undecorated, certified compostable for both domestic and industrial composting (OK COMPOST TUV certified at Pratovecchio, Carraia, Rogio, Arpino sites).
• Recycled Napkins Napkins produced from recycled fibers, certified compostable for domestic and industrial composting (OK COMPOST TUV certified at Ferrania, Pratovecchio, Carraia, Rogio, Arpino sites).

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption decreased by 8.6% compared to 2022, target below 4 m³ per ton of paper
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACF FiorentinaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2025Official Supplier partnership for 2025/2026 Serie A season. Tuscany brand featured at home matches through pitchside LED advertising at Artemio Franchi Stadium, strengthening brand visibility and bond with Tuscan region.
• Rete ClimacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Collaboration on Kilometroverde Lucca linear forestation project - 1km forestation along A11 highway. Also partner in broader environmental initiatives including reforestation and CO2 absorption projects.
• Compagnia delle ForestecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for development of educational communication materials including videos and comic books for 'The Paper that Plants Trees… Goes to School' project. Specializes in forestry communication, research, and environmental innovation.
• AlberItalia FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCartiere Carrara serves on the Foundation's Steering Committee and Board of Directors. Foundation provides scientific research and studies for company's environmental initiatives and reforestation projects.
• Meyer FoundationminorOthersLong-standing charitable partnership supporting children's hospital in Florence through donations and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Near 10-year relationship focused on supporting children's wellbeing and medical research.
• FAI (Fondo Ambiente Italiano)minorOthersCorporate Golden Donor supporting FAI Autumn Days initiative. Provides employees complimentary passes and tickets to access FAI heritage sites across Italy.
• Sant'Anna School of Advanced StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership including participation in GRINS project conference on sustainability. Quality & Sustainability Director Cristiano Dutto spoke at closing event on environmental, economic, and social sustainability.
• University of PisacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Master's Degree in Paper and Cardboard Technology. Supports academic training through internships, research projects, and direct participation. Promotes development grounded in knowledge, responsibility, and innovation.
• ITS Prime FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional center of excellence for technical and industrial training. Cartiere Carrara contributes through workshops and talks as part of ITS Prime Tour, supporting skills development in paper production.
• Italian Red Cross - Lucca CommitteeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on employee training in workplace safety and first aid including courses required by Legislative Decree 81/2008 and BLSD certification, delivered by qualified Red Cross trainers.
• United Nations Global CompactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany joined UN Global Compact in 2024, formally committing to universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption. Aligned with company's 'Caring for what's next' vision.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Metsä Tissue: Finnish tissue manufacturer producing consumer (Lambí, Mola) and Away-From-Home (Katrin) products, owned by Metsä Group. Comparable as a European integrated tissue player competing in similar consumer and professional channels with comparable sustainability credentials (FSC/PEFC).
• Lucart: Italian tissue and airlaid products manufacturer producing consumer brands (Tenderly, Grazia) and Away-From-Home products. Closely comparable to Cartiere Carrara as a fellow Italian mid-market integrated tissue producer with overlapping consumer, professional, and private label channels.
• Sofidel: Italian family-owned integrated tissue manufacturer (Regina, Nicky brands) and one of Europe's largest tissue players. Directly comparable to Cartiere Carrara as a fellow Italian/European integrated tissue producer competing in the same consumer and professional tissue categories with similar private label and brand strategies.
• WEPA Industrie: German family-owned integrated tissue manufacturer producing consumer and Away-From-Home tissue products across multiple European countries. Directly comparable to Cartiere Carrara as a mid-sized European private tissue player with similar private label exposure and professional/consumer dual-channel approach.
• Industrie Celtex: Italian integrated tissue manufacturer serving professional and consumer markets with private label and own brands. Closely comparable to Cartiere Carrara as a fellow Italian mid-sized tissue producer with similar GDO/private label partnerships and Away From Home focus.

Broad incumbents

• Kimberly-Clark: US multinational consumer products company owning Kleenex, Andrex, Scottex, and Kleenex Professional brands. Operates as a broad incumbent across the same global tissue categories Cartiere Carrara serves, with prior European connection to the Carrara family through the 1987 Cartoinvest/Kleenex licence and 2002 Cartoinvest sale to SCA.
• Procter & Gamble: US multinational consumer goods company owning Charmin, Bounty, and Puffs tissue brands. Broad incumbent competing in the same global branded consumer tissue category, with substantially larger scale but overlapping end-markets and channel relationships with major retailers.
• Essity: Swedish multinational tissue and hygiene leader owning Tork, Tempo, Lotus, and Libresse brands. A broad incumbent operating across the same tissue categories (consumer + professional/Away From Home) at a global scale that dwarfs Cartiere Carrara, with Tork being a direct professional-channel competitor.

Regional players

• Royal Van Houtum: Dutch family-owned tissue manufacturer producing private label tissue products primarily for Benelux and Northern European retailers. Comparable as a family-owned European private label tissue specialist, though geographically concentrated in Northern Europe rather than the Italian market Cartiere Carrara anchors.
• SHP Group (Harman): Central European (Czech/Slovak) integrated tissue manufacturer producing own-label and branded tissue products mainly for Central and Eastern European markets. Comparable as a mid-sized European private tissue player; does not directly compete in Cartiere Carrara's core Italian/Western European footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cartiere-carrara

Compliance15 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cartiere Carrara