Manufacturing companies producing toilet paper are ramping up production as consumers stock up in response to the new coronavirus pandemic, according to a report from Wisconsin Public Radio.
As they increase production, many plants are preparing for potential impacts to their workforce as the virus spreads. Many popular toilet paper brands are manufactured in northeast Wisconsin, including Charmin, Quilted Northern, and Cottonelle, and the companies report demand is outpacing supply.
Clearwater Paper, which has production facilities in Neenah, is the country’s leading maker of store-brand paper products for grocery stores. The company reports it is doing everything possible to keep its factories up and running, including implementing sanitation, sick leave, and remote work policies.
Wisconsin’s paper industry accounted for 30,000 jobs and $18.2 billion in economic output in 2018. Paper production was the state’s fifth-largest industry.
