Glasgow based Cullen Packaging is doing just that. The company manufactures trays for fruit and vegetables which are moulded from a pulp made from recycled paper.
Cullen Packaging also manufacture this type of packaging in other sectors to further reduce the waste.
“Our recycled paper is 100% off-cuts from our corrugate packaging business. All the corrugated board brought into the company has FSC traceability, therefore all the paper used for creating our pulp trays is ethically sourced”, explained David Mackinnon from the company, "Working with our customers we have created several different designs for various fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. We add natural wax to the trays to make them waterproof which improves shelf life”.
The company works in the UK in partnership with Produce Packaging, but also exports to mainland Europe, the US and is now entering the Australian market.
"At Cullen's we have our own in-house designers and toolmakers who can design and manufacture exactly to the customer's specifications, which is something not many companies have the resources to deliver in short timescales."
Cullen Packaging has a 14 acre manufacturing plant, and use economies of scale to maximise price benefits to keep pulp competitive against plastic.
Consumers want to know that they are helping the environment in some way, and they can easily see that this product is paper and not plastic and so more eco friendly. Even if this product goes to landfill instead, it decomposes naturally.
Cullen Packaging will be at this year's Fruit Logistca where they will also show their horticultural plant pots and propagation trays as part of a new project with Modiform of the Netherlands.
The moulded pulp horticultural pots and propagation trays come in a variety of different sizes and shapes and are suitable for various applications.
The UK Government is calling for a phase-out of peat in compost material, so to assist growers in complying with this legislation, Cullen Packaging have introduced this “Peat Free” plant pot and propagation tray range to the market.
You can visit Cullen Packaging at Fruit Logistica in Hall 8.2 Stand A-02
For more information:
David MacKinnon
Cullen Packaging
Tel: +44 (0)141 945 2222
Email: Davidm@cullen.co.uk
www.cullen.co.uk