North Cornwall MP, Scott Mann visited a local packaging facility operated by a British-based sustainable packaging company.

On Friday, July 5 DS Smith, the leading sustainable packaging company DR Smith, welcomed Mr Mann to its Launceston packaging and logistics facility. The visit provided Mr Mann with the opportunity to learn more about the packaging, paper and recycling industry from the local experts.

DS Smith employs 187 people at its facility in Launceston. The site takes in large reels of paper and produces cardboard sheets which are then turned into boxes for local and national FMCG and e-commerce companies. There is also a large warehouse on site to support the company’s international logistics operations and supply products to its other sites across the UK.

Following Cornwall Council’s recent climate emergency declaration, the visit offered the local MP a chance to learn more about the opportunities within a circular economy from the newest global partner of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Using its circular business model, DS Smith is driving industry innovation to support improved recycling of paper and cardboard, a reduction in plastics and a more sustainable and efficient e-commerce offering. This focus on sustainability is being driven across all sites managed by the UK headquartered FTSE 100 company. Experts from DS Smith, including its Launceston managing director Shirley Martyn discussed the opportunities for cardboard packaging to design out waste and replace less sustainable materials such as single-use plastics.

On the day, Mr Mann said: “I really enjoyed my visit to DS Smith today. I was amazed to see the scale and forward-thinking nature the site had, whilst also being so active in the local community. I thank them for their work to continue to improve the sustainability not just of Launceston but internationally and I have learnt a lot about the fibre-based solutions to some of our country’s biggest environmental challenges.

“Recycling and reuse has been brought up by many of my constituents and it is really great to see a local company bringing solutions to the table.”