During the visit, Coveris representatives met with Ian Sollom MP to discuss its role as one of Europe’s largest manufacturers of paper and plastic packaging with 28 locations in eight countries, its contribution as a local employer, and continued investment to support growth in sustainable formats.
A key focus was the potential impact of the UK’s new Extended Producer Responsibility (pEPR) legislation on packaging producers and the wider supply chain. The MP and Coveris discussed how, while the aims of pEPR are clear - making producers responsible for collecting, sorting and recycling all packaging and incentivising the use of recyclable materials - the current format may lead to unintended consequences. Of particular concern is that it will penalise innovative recyclable fibre-based composite packaging such sandwich skillets produced at Coveris’ St Neots site, which are designed to maximise fibre yield recovery in recycling and reduce plastic consumption. These solutions extend product shelf life yet may be disadvantaged compared to less sustainable plastic alternatives for certain applications in sectors such as food-to-go and fresh produce.
To address this, the discussion included proposals for a new sub-category for high-fibre content fibre composite packaging (enhanced paper) within EPR classifications, which would help maintain investment in these more sustainable solutions.
Coveris outlined its ongoing work with the Alliance for Fibre-Based Packaging to highlight these concerns and press for action from DEFRA and pEPR administrators, PackUK. The meeting also touched on the need for better recycling infrastructure, with suggestions that pEPR fees should be partly ringfenced to support such improvements.
As part of its No Waste strategy, Coveris is focussed on reducing waste, advancing circularity, and developing protective, sustainable packaging. Through technological advancements on an evolutionary journey, Coveris’ St Neots (Cromwell Road) site has already halved the amount of cartonboard and plastic in its sandwich skillet packaging used by leading retailers and brands, while maintaining robust food protection, product visibility, and consumer functionality.
As a sector that supports innovation-led growth and skilled employment, the discussion covered the need to grow technical skills and create career pathways to support Coveris’ growing workforce in St Neots. The MP was also given a guided tour of the site and met local employees.
Ian Sollom MP said, “It was fascinating to visit the facilities of Coveris in St Neots and learn more about their innovation in the sustainable packaging sector both nationally and internationally. I was particularly impressed by their recent Learn2Print Apprentice Employer of the Year award as well as a win at the Women in Packaging Excellence Awards. New investment in the Cromwell Road site will be a huge boost to the local job market, especially for young people looking to learn new vocational skills and build careers in a range of specialisms. I look forward to supporting Coveris in working even more closely with local education providers and work coaches to bring more visibility to the fantastic career and development opportunities they are offering.
“I also appreciated hearing about their work on sustainable packaging formats and the regulatory challenges they face. I'll be following up on the important points they raised about ensuring our packaging regulations properly recognise and incentivise genuinely sustainable innovations.”
Jo Ormrod, Coveris’ BU Paper Chief Operating Officer, commented, “We were pleased to welcome Ian Sollom MP to Coveris. As one of the UK’s largest packaging manufacturers and a major employer locally, we are proud to introduce our operations and champion the essential role packaging plays in protecting food, reducing waste, and supporting supply chains globally. We are committed to driving sustainable change through our award-winning No Waste strategy, which is helping to reduce our environmental impact and lead progress across the packaging industry. Engagement with our Member of Parliament to raise awareness of the new pEPR legislation is key to shaping packaging and governance that works for the environment, the industry and consumers.”
Coveris operates two sites in St Neots, employing over 220 people. Manufacturing award-winning cartonboard and lined board packaging, the sites’ key markets include food-to-go, foodservice, and fresh produce. The £5M investment at Coveris’ St Neots Cromwell Road site is transforming the factory into a future-ready facility, purpose-built around high-speed production and waste reduction in line with the company’s No Waste vision. The facility will boast robotics, smarter workflow, raw material optimisation, and a new state-of-the-art press.
