A Glasgow-based sustainable packaging business has revealed expansion plans that could make it one of the world’s biggest fibre packaging manufacturers.
Cullen Eco-Friendly Packaging is investing £15m in a new innovation and design hub, as well as an additional factory to meet soaring global demand for its moulded fibre and corrugated cardboard alternatives to single-use plastic packaging.
This is set to create more than 120 new jobs at its site on the Dawsholm Industrial Estate.
Openings range from product design specialists to engineers and operators of Cullen’s bespoke machines that power its 15 production lines, which already produce 470 million pieces per year.
The expanded manufacturing facility grows the physical site to 14 acres and means Cullen can double its output to more than one billion pieces per year. The products are everything from the ubiquitous supermarket avocado trays, coffee shop cup carriers and healthcare products made of moulded fibre, to more intricate packaging that protects everything from fine wines to high end electricals.
Earlier this year the Cullen team developed the Fibre Bottle - of which the company now produces 270 million units per year - which helps remove plastic bottles or pouches from shelves.
Cullen owner David MacDonald said: “The world’s biggest companies, across multiple industries, are looking to moulded fibre to solve many of their sustainability challenges faster than seems possible.
“This expansion further enhances our ability, enabling Cullen to deliver more than one billion compostable and recyclable products per year.
“We have customers in over 34 countries, and our exports have tripled in the last five years, so I’m glad to be able to continue to increase capacity in Scotland.
“We have talent here, an incredible workforce, so are excited to create green careers that people can be truly proud of.”
Cullen’s self-funded investment comes on the heels of fast rising global demand for its products.
It supplies companies in 34 countries in the medical, food and drink, produce, retail and industrial sectors, using the offcuts in its on-site closed loop recycling facility to make moulded pulp, an environmentally-friendly ‘fibre’ used in turn for packaging that can be disposed of on a compost heap.
Cullen are unique in that they operate a bespoke, closed loop recycling system that utilises the waste from their 30million sqm of corrugate cardboard packaging as the raw material to form their secondary product, their moulded fibre range.
The company's client list includes the NHS, Morrisons, Asda, Aldi, Lidl, M&S, McDonald’s, Costa, Greggs and Numatic.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
