Investment in equipment enables publisher to convert plastic-free rolls in Britain
Millions of rolls of sustainable roll wrap with paper tear strip are to be produced in Dewsbury as UK Greetings ups its commitment to sustainability for its greeting cards and gift wrap design and production.
In the latest in a series of eco developments, the publisher has invested in state-of-the art machinery, including a Möller conversion machine housed at its Dewsbury site, that has been specifically designed to produce and apply paper tear strips to its roll wrap.
UKG’s CEO Ceri Stirland told PG Buzz: “Our new paper tear strip represents a significant step forward in sustainable gift wrap solutions. By eliminating plastic from this component, we’re furthering our mission to reduce environmental impact without compromising product functionality.”
Debuting in January, initially on 10 everyday SKUs, the paper tear strip will be extended across all UKG-branded everyday roll wraps shortly afterwards, followed by the 2025 UKG-branded Christmas roll wraps also going to paper tear strip.
This will include all single rolls as well as those supplied to retailers in dumpbins. This will mean there will be no UKG-branded roll wrap that is shrink wrapped or in a sustainable labelled format.
Given UKG’s wide retail distribution, this development is one of scale. As Julie Huntington-Dale, UKG’s supply chain director, quantified: “We will be converting around five million rolls in 2025 to have a paper tear strip meaning that the roll wraps will be 100% recyclable.”
The addition of the new conversion machinery, which has been tested in UKG’s Dewsbury manufacturing plant for the last month or so, forms part of the company’s reshoring strategy.
“We now produce over 60% of all of our everyday cards in the UK,” clarified Julie. “Our development on the roll wrap front is not only significant as it is happening on our site, but is totally plastic-free.”
