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Cullen Sustainable Packaging is scaling up manufacturing operations following rising demand for sustainable fibre-based packaging solutions.
The Glasgow-based business is targeting a doubling of production capacity through continued investment in machinery and infrastructure.
The company currently produces around 0.5 billion packaging products annually and says further investment will support expansion across both existing and emerging markets as demand for moulded fibre and corrugated packaging continues to grow.
The expansion comes amid increasing regulatory pressure on plastic packaging, with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation reshaping packaging economics across the UK and prompting food and beverage brands to accelerate the shift toward recyclable and plastic-free alternatives.
At the centre of Cullen’s latest investment programme is the launch of its new Moulded Fibre Machine 8000, a proprietary production line designed and built entirely in-house by the company’s engineering team. Developed over six months, the machine was brought online to increase throughput and support rising customer demand across key sectors, including food and drink, ecommerce, medical and industrial packaging.
Unlike many packaging manufacturers that source equipment externally, Cullen designs and manufactures much of its own machinery internally, allowing greater control over production speed, output and product specifications.
Machine 8000 incorporates the company’s latest belt technology, improving both efficiency and product quality, according to the business. The investment forms part of a wider £2 million infrastructure upgrade programme, which also includes enhancements to existing production lines and the installation of a new Kasemake X5 corrugate sample table aimed at accelerating packaging prototyping and customer sample development.
A Cullen representative said the investment has also supported job creation at its Glasgow facility, where the workforce has expanded steadily alongside business growth over the past decade.
The company operates what it describes as a closed-loop recycling system, processing more than 8,000 tonnes of corrugated waste annually and feeding the material directly back into moulded fibre production. The approach is designed to embed circularity into the manufacturing process while reducing material waste.
The business is also reporting strong growth in newer market segments, where brands are increasingly seeking plastic-free packaging.
Maureen Stevenson, head of marketing at Cullen Sustainable Packaging, said: “This investment is a response to real, sustained demand from our customers. The new machine ramped up quickly following launch, and we are already planning the next phase of expansion. That is what growth-led investment looks like in practice, not speculation, but response.”
Serving customers across 35 countries from its 14-acre Glasgow manufacturing base, Cullen said additional capacity investments are already planned in anticipation of continued growth across sustainable packaging categories.
