3 min read - 1 May, 2026
Cullen invests £5m in expansion of Glasgow packaging operations
Cullen Sustainable Packaging, the world’s only manufacturer combining corrugate and moulded fibre capability under one roof, is scaling its Glasgow manufacturing operations as demand for sustainable plastic alternatives continues to grow.
Currently producing around half a billion products annually, the privately owned business is targeting a doubling of output through continued investment in machinery and infrastructure and expansion into new markets.
In its latest phase, Cullen has invested £5m in expanding its operations, with the business already seeing increased output and rising order volumes across its core markets.
At the heart of the expansion programme is the launch of Cullen’s new Moulded Fibre Machine 8000, a proprietary production line designed and built entirely in-house by the company’s own engineering team. Brought online after six months of development, the machine ramped up rapidly following launch, reflecting both the pace of demand and the role of new capacity in supporting Cullen’s growth trajectory.
Cullen Sustainable Packaging has invested £5m in scaling its Glasgow operations, as demand grows for sustainable plastic alternatives / Picture: Cullen
In a unique approach, Cullen designs and builds much of its own machinery in-house, rather than sourcing production equipment from external suppliers, giving the business full control over output, speed, and product specification. Machine 8000 incorporates the company’s latest belt technology, delivering improved throughput efficiency and quality.
The business also operates a closed-loop recycling system, processing over 8,000 tonnes of its own corrugate waste annually and feeding it directly back into moulded fibre production, embedding circularity into the manufacturing process itself.
The investment has also created new jobs at its 14-acre Glasgow facility, adding to a workforce that has grown consistently alongside the business over the past decade. Machine 8000 is part of a wider infrastructure upgrade programme that includes improvements to existing production lines and the installation of a new Kasemake X5 corrugate sample table, which enables Cullen’s design team to develop and deliver packaging samples to customers at greater speed.
The investment has created new jobs at its 14-acre facility, adding to a workforce that has grown consistently over the past decade / Picture: Cullen
The expansion comes as EPR (extended producer responsibility) regulations reshape the economics of packaging across the UK, accelerating the shift away from plastic and driving brands to seek reliable domestic alternatives at pace. Cullen is already seeing record growth in key categories, including food and drink, medical, industrial, and ecommerce, and is experiencing significant early traction in markets it has recently entered.
In home fragrance, where brands are actively seeking plastic-free alternatives for candles, diffusers, and related products, enquiries and order volumes have grown sharply since the category was opened. Further capacity additions are planned in the coming months in anticipation of continued demand growth.
Maureen Stevenson, head of marketing at Cullen Sustainable Packaging, said: “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.”
