Sustainable Packaging and Why Bespoke Corrugated Boxes Are the Smart Choice

Sustainability isn’t just about ticking a box, it’s about packaging that saves costs, keeps you compliant, and strengthens your brand.

Manor Packaging, part of the Fencor Packaging Group, specialises in intelligent and sustainable corrugated packaging solutions, and we created this guide to cut through the jargon and show you what genuinely sustainable packaging looks like and how it can give your business a competitive edge.

What Makes Packaging Genuinely Sustainable?

Truly sustainable packaging is about the whole journey of the box, from the forest it came from to how easily your customer can recycle it. It’s created using proven materials and innovative design, not just hopeful claims.

Why Corrugated Board is the Right Material

The foundation of any eco-friendly packaging is the board itself, and for UK businesses, corrugated cardboard is the proven choice.

• Made from Materials You Can Trust: We use FSC® certified corrugated materials (C115460), sourced responsibly to meet sustainability standards, meaning the wood fibre used comes from responsibly managed forests.
• Packed with Recycled Content: 80% of our material is from already recycled sources, with the remaining 20% from sustainably managed forestry, thereby reducing the need for any new resources.
• Easy to Recycle, Everywhere in the UK: With a recycling rate ranging from 74.3% to 86.4%, paper and cardboard are easily integrated into existing household and commercial waste streams.
• Naturally Biodegradable: Unlike plastic, a corrugated box that ends up in nature breaks down without leaving harmful residues.

Designed for Your Product’s Perfect Fit

Whether you’re a food producer in East Anglia or an e-commerce brand shipping from a national 3PL logistics hub, using a standard “one-size-fits-all” box often means you’re paying to ship space and often plastic fillers. Our designers will work with you to create bespoke packaging that fits your product perfectly, ensuring it is protected without unnecessary bulk and saving on shipping space.

Smart Packaging That Boosts Your Business

A sustainable packaging solution isn’t just another cost, it’s an investment that will pay back across your entire operation.

Cutting Costs and Improving Efficiency

Custom-fit boxes use less material and reduce or eliminate the need for plastic void fill, cutting your purchasing costs. Lighter, smaller parcels also mean lower shipping fees. But, most importantly, robust packaging protects your products, preventing the significant financial and environmental costs associated with damage and returns.

Build a Brand Your Customers and Investors Admire

Today’s customers actively choose brands that prioritise environmental care, and a great E-commerce Unboxing Experience with eco-friendly packaging reinforces your sustainability values. And it’s not just customers who take notice; a genuine commitment to sustainability enhances your ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) credentials, making your company more appealing to investors and top talent alike.

Staying Ahead of UK Rules (EPR & Plastic Tax)

Keeping up with UK regulations is critical, and our Sustainability-First Philosophy ensures your packaging is designed to be compliant from day one.

New Packaging Waste Regulations, such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), require you to pay fees based on the recyclability of your packaging, with hard-to-recycle materials costing more. Our corrugated solutions are designed to score highly in their recyclability, helping you keep these fees down and avoid fees from rules such as the UK Plastic Packaging Tax.

The Manor Difference: Reliability, Certainty, and Genuinely Green Materials

There are many suppliers who talk about sustainability, but we actually deliver it with a unique, reliable supply chain that you can count on.

Carbon-Neutral Board and a Smaller Footprint

Thanks to our partial ownership of CorrBoard UK, our board is manufactured using energy from their carbon-neutral Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant. Their on-site green energy plant turns local food waste into the power needed to make our board. That means sourcing your packaging from us helps reduce the carbon footprint of your entire supply chain, which is a huge plus for your own Net Zero goals.

Packaging That Arrives On Time, Every Time

With world class 96–98.5% On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance, your packaging arrives exactly when and how you need it. We engineer Shipping Boxes, Retail-Ready Packaging, and custom Die-Cut Packaging that not only meet your sustainability targets, but also support your production schedule.

With Manor, you get bespoke corrugated solutions designed for the real world, meaning your packaging will perform reliably, keep you compliant, and strengthen your brand.

Ready to discuss your packaging requirements? Begin your journey toward smarter packaging. Our team is ready to help you deliver your brand safely and sustainably. Contact us now.