Paper poppies mark strategy refocus at James Cropper

Plastic-free poppies that commemorate Remembrance Day in the UK every November have been developed by James Cropper in collaboration with the Royal British Legion (RBL).

Made entirely of paper, the poppies are part of the charity’s commitment to reducing singleuse plastic in all its activities in a drive to be economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment.

Marking 45 years of partnership with the RBL, the paper provided for the new design is made from a blend of renewable fibres from responsible sources, 50 per cent of which has been recovered from paper coffee cup production at James Cropper’s CupCycling facility in Cumbria in the Lake District.

James Cropper, which is reorganising itself into four segments one of which is Technical Fibres, has collaborated with fellow luxury packaging specialist Rissman to create this Middle Eastern-inspired paper carrier bag using 100 per cent postconsumer waste recycled paper from James Cropper’s Rydal Packaging Collection

The new poppy design comes as James Cropper revealed a strategy to accelerate growth throughout the group, which is reorganising itself from three divisions (James Cropper Paper, Technical Fibre Products and Colourform) into four market-facing segments, all under the James Cropper name.

The four segments are Creative Papers, Luxury Packaging, Technical Fibres and Future Energy. These will be managed under two managing directors covering paper products and advanced materials respectively, reporting to Steve Adams, who was appointed chief executive in August 2022.

A key element of the new strategy will be significant changes

Craft brewer takes up WestRock’s paperboard can collars

First installation of WestRock’s CanCollar Corsair, a machine that automatically applies paperboard-based multipack holders to 24-pack trays of cans, at a craft brewery is at Ska Brewing in Durango, Colorado. The machine enables Ska to offer all of its beers in packaging that reduces plastics consumption by up to 95 per cent. to the Paper division, including a proposal to reduce the number of operating paper machines from four to three, with two machines in production at any one time.

“The CanCollar, which promotes circularity, will immediately reduce the amount of plastic Ska contributes to the environment by approximately four tons per year,” says Ska’s operations chief Steve Breezley.

With the reorganisation and streamlining, this will lead to job losses, which will affect about a tenth of employees in the paper and group function. A 90-day consultation period has been started.

Adams commented: “We’re a purpose-driven business built on strong values and announcing potential job loses is not a decision taken lightly. We will work collaboratively with our employees, unions, and representatives throughout this process. Change is difficult yet it is essential to ensure the sustainability and growth of James Cropper.

“Our strategic realignment will drive margin improvements by bringing greater focus on our customers and allow us to take better advantage of our size and remain agile and dynamic in our markets. Combined with our wealth of manufacturing knowledge, sustainability alternatives and pioneering abilities we will strengthen our position across multiple sectors as the preferred global partner of choice.”