Barnsley manufacturer helps food manufacturers cut plastic waste following “vital” funding

A Barnsley based manufacturer is hoping to grab an extra slice of the packaging market after securing support from the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme to build a new lab facility.

Flexpak UK has used the match funded grant to help it pioneer an ultra-thin form of recyclable plastic film that is half the thickness of a human hair. The “groundbreaking” work will help to reduce the amount of plastic packing used to preserve the life of fresh produce, as well as preventing single-use plastics from being sent to landfill sites.

Responsible for manufacturing over 20 million bread bags each month, as well as supplying packaging to the catering and pharmaceutical industries, the business recognised that the development of a thinner film could not only reduce the amount of plastic used in the manufacturing process but could also result in significant cost savings for its customers.

To bring the new product to market, Flexpak realised that it needed to upgrade key equipment within its testing facility, allowing the strength, friction and durability of the new film to be accurately analysed. However, it realised that the outdated machinery and software the company relied upon could not produce the necessary test results.

Fearing that the company would miss out on a “golden opportunity” to grow, Flexpak approached the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme to help secure the “vital” funds to purchase the equipment needed to accurately assess the strength, durability and friction of the film.

Working with key account manager Paul Johnson, the company successfully secured a match funded grant, allowing the business to put its plans into practice.

As a direct result of the funds received, Flexpak has successfully pioneered a plastic film that is just 25 microns thick, the equivalent of a human skin cell. The film is capable of holding up to 10kg in weight and is already helping its customers to make significant cost savings.

Tom Rich, technical support manager, Flexpak UK, commented: “Developing a lab facility in Barnsley was central to our future growth plans.

“We’ve worked closely with Enterprising Barnsley for a number of years, and when we told Paul about our future plans, he advised us that our business may be eligible to receive help through the South Yorkshire Business Productivity Programme.

“We decided to apply, and the funding we’ve received has already made a significant impact upon our business.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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