About - Paper and Packaging

Who we are

English Lakes Paper Mill

James Cropper has a rich heritage, respectfully manufacturing on the same site in the English Lake District since 1845 . Our clients choose us because of our award-winning dedication to fulfil their needs whilst still maintaining the highest sustainability standards. Our premium paper mill in the UK is located in Burneside, Kendal.

Our mill, surrounded by the natural beauty of this World Heritage Site, has been used for various industries for years, from grain to textiles and finally, as makers of the highest quality papers in the UK.

James Cropper acquired the lease of the Burneside mills in 1845 and began a long, profitable future for the company as a custom papermaker and advanced materials manufacturer. You can learn more about the rich history of our illustrious paper mill and the products we supply below.

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Redefining Paper Since 1845

James Cropper - Making a material difference

Sustainable Manufacturing

Vision to Action

At James Cropper, sustainability spans every area of our business and is integral to the way we add value to our customers. We care deeply about delivering greater positive impact; for our planet, the environment, our neighbours and society in general.

Our rich papermaking heritage has always celebrated natural, renewable materials. Today, our strategic goal for sustainable growth takes on many more forms.

Whether that is from upcycling or recycling materials for our sustainable fibre packaging, lightweighting, decarbonisation, or innovative solutions in the green energy sector, we continue to evolve our business as we work to reduce our effect on the environment.

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Bonded by a vision for a better future

With over 178 years of experience in paper, James Cropper Paper & Packaging combines generations of craft with cutting edge material science to create brand new solutions for customers. Pioneering sustainability, colour science, and moulded fibre packaging, James Cropper is a leader in meticulously crafting unique paper products for luxury brands around the world.

Our impact

700,000,000

CUPCYCLING – CAPACITY TO UPCYCLE 700 MILLION COFFEE CUPS PER YEAR INTO LUXURY PAPER AND PACKAGING

100%

RYDAL – AN INNOVATIVE RANGE OF PAPER THAT IS 100% RECYCLED. MADE UP OF 20% POST CONSUMER DENIM FIBRE AND 80% RECYLCED FIBRE

16,000,000

16,000,000 LUXURY RETAIL SHOPPING BAGS LAST YEAR

Our strategy

Growth for good

Decarbonisation and Energy

Decarbonisation is seen as one of the most urgent and important actions to undertake. We have a robust decarbonisation roadmap in place for our manufacturing sites and we are already implementing the changes needed to cut our natural gas use by 25% by 2025. Work is also commencing to understand how we will fully decarbonise and support our ambition to be net zero by 2050 across our entire supply chain.

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Water Management

River project set to provide a 44% biodiversity net gain

The Lake District’s rivers are the beating heart of Britain’s waterways. They have been shaped by industry and land management over many centuries, and all watercourses have at some point been modified or altered to create space for farming practices or industry. Removing Bowston weir has helped to re-naturalise this section of the River Kent – an internationally important site of special scientific interest and the primary water source for our operations – improve navigation for migratory species, reduce flood risks for residents and is set to provide a 44% biodiversity net gain.

Waste and Resource Management

More than 185 Million disposable cups upcycled into paper products and packaging

James Cropper continues to be recognised as a leading innovator in the recovery of valuable fibre resource, thanks to our CupCycling™ initiative. A new partnership with one of the best plastic reprocessing companies in the UK, now means that the 5% waste plastic removed by CupCycling is being recycled locally into new products rather than going to energy from waste. This technological step forward, means we have now been able to closed the loop on our CupCycling technology, and achieved our pledge on plastic to the Ellen MacArthur Global Commitment.

Forward-thinking

We are proud of our heritage but not stuck in the past
We ask questions that matter and are always open to new ideas
We are inventors, not afraid to experiment
We anticipate our customers’ needs and think about what’s best for the long-term
As pioneers, we forge new paths ahead

Responsible

We face reality and own our actions
We believe in using materials resourcefully
We are tenacious and committed to delivering quality products and service to our customers
We are guardians of this business for future generations

Caring

Family and community is at the heart of our business and makes us stronger
We treat each other how we would like to be treated, and pull together when the going gets tough
We care about each other’s wellbeing, our customers, suppliers and the planet we share

At James Cropper, we are pioneers, we always have been.

Whether it is crafting bespoke coloured and textured papers, creating specialist materials that support the advancement of green energy or developing next-generation sustainable packaging as an alternative to single-use plastics, we never stop evolving.

We have led the way in manufacturing materials since 1845 and are proud of our pioneering heritage. Today our products reach far and wide, forming the fibres of daily life around the world.

Our People