Cullen Sustainable Packaging is expanding its manufacturing footprint in Glasgow following a £5m investment aimed at increasing capacity and meeting rising demand for sustainable packaging solutions.
The privately owned business, which combines corrugate and moulded fibre production under one roof, is targeting a doubling of output from its current level of around 0.5 billion products annually. The move comes amid growing order volumes across core markets and increasing regulatory pressure—particularly from Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks—driving a shift away from plastic packaging.
At the centre of the expansion is the launch of the company’s new Moulded Fibre Machine 8000, a proprietary production line developed in-house over six months. The system has already ramped up quickly following its introduction, contributing to increased output and supporting Cullen’s broader growth trajectory.
Unlike many manufacturers that rely on third-party equipment suppliers, Cullen designs and builds much of its own machinery. This approach gives the business greater control over production speed, output, and product specifications. Machine 8000 incorporates the company’s latest belt technology, improving both throughput efficiency and product quality.
The investment programme also includes a wider £2m infrastructure upgrade, featuring enhancements to existing production lines and the installation of a Kasemake X5 corrugate sample table. This addition enables faster development and delivery of packaging prototypes, supporting customer responsiveness.
Cullen’s vertically integrated model extends to its sustainability strategy. The company operates a closed-loop recycling system at its 14-acre Glasgow site, processing more than 8,000 tonnes of corrugate waste annually and feeding it back into moulded fibre production. This embedded circularity is becoming increasingly important as manufacturers and brands seek lower-impact packaging solutions.
The expansion has also led to job creation at the Glasgow facility, with the workforce growing in line with the company’s sustained expansion over the past decade. Cullen currently serves customers in 35 countries and is seeing strong growth across sectors including food and drink, medical, industrial, and ecommerce.
New market opportunities are also emerging. In the home fragrance sector, where brands are actively seeking plastic-free alternatives for products such as candles and diffusers, Cullen reports a sharp increase in enquiries and order volumes since entering the category.
Maureen Stevenson, Head of Marketing at Cullen Sustainable Packaging, said the latest investment reflects a direct response to customer demand rather than speculative growth.
“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.”
– Maureen Stevenson, Head of Marketing at Cullen Sustainable Packaging.
Further capacity additions are already being planned as Cullen continues to scale in line with demand, positioning itself to capitalise on the accelerating transition towards sustainable packaging across the UK and beyond.
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