James Cropper
About us
Since 1845, we have redefined the art of papermaking, pushing beyond the boundaries of conventional mills. At James Cropper, we embody a unique blend of technical intelligence and unwavering commitment to a better future.
Offering bespoke moulded fibre, papermaking and converting under one roof, our mill is surrounded by the natural beauty of the English Lake District.
At James Cropper, sustainability is at the heart of our business, guiding how we create value for our customers. We are deeply committed to generating a positive impact on our planet, the environment, our communities, and society as a whole.
With a rich heritage in papermaking that celebrates natural, renewable materials, our strategic goal for sustainable growth takes on many more forms. This includes upcycling and recycling materials for our sustainable fiber packaging, lightweighting, decarbonization, and developing innovative solutions in the green energy sector. We continually evolve our business practices to minimize our environmental footprint.
We combine generations of craft with cutting edge material science to create brand new solutions for customers. We are a leader in meticulously crafting unique paper products for luxury brands around the world.
Products & services
Floral Street Pulp Box
Floral Street presented us with a fantastic conceptual idea and a great technical and creative challenge. They wanted to change the way perfume is presented, challenge the notoriously lavish over-packaging and do it in a way that is much better for the planet. They required a complete packaging solution including lid, base and interchangeable inserts for various bottle sizes with a beautiful yet industrial look. This was achieved using one material; one pack, one material. Floral Street also requested a fully recyclable packaging solution. Made from natural wood fibres and one CupCycled coffee cup used to make every box. The Floral Street pulp tray can be recycled with household paper and this is made even easier due to the mono-material solution.
Ruinart Second Skin champagne bottle wrap
James Cropper COLOURFORM™ worked on a long-term project to re-imagine the packaging for Maison Ruinart. The challenge on this project was to produce a sustainable luxury packaging solution still befitting the iconic and prestige, classic champagne brand. The James Cropper COLOURFORM™ team includes creative in-house designers, our Master Colour Blender and our technical department who were all crucial to the project's success. COLOURFORM™ puts the brand and its aspirations at the heart of every decision from design through to production.
Rydal Packaging Collection
THE NATURAL PAPER CHOICE FOR PREMIUM PACKAGING High value and luxury products are expected to look beautiful, be functional, and also be environmentally and socially responsible. It is important for consumers to know that these values extend throughout the supply chain. The Rydal Packaging Collection offers a combination of fibres, shades and weights making it a staple in any packaging range: 40% PCW – Bright White & Eclipse Black 100% PCW – Natural White & Shadow Black Virgin Fibre – Pure White & Obsidian Black Whether you are looking for a high quality fully recycled paper, a part-recycled quality to meet the legislative requirements for USA retail bags, or a fresh fibre paper from responsible forestry sources, then we have a product designed for your project…be it a luxury bag, tube, garment tag, folding or rigid box.
Tailor Made - Personalised Paper Solutions
MAKE YOUR CONCEPT A REALITY Tailor Made allows you to indulge your wildest creative impulses. Choose your colour, texture and functional requirements, and we will make a Paper just for you… James Cropper are dedicated to helping you create a personal paper-based solution that is kind to the planet, and also beautiful. Our team of experts will specifically engineer a product to meet your needs and ensure end application suitability. Minimum making from 3 tonnes (equivalent to 6 pallets of paper, or 30,000 large luxury retail bags).
Wainwright Colours from Nature
The Wainwright Colours from Nature collection is a coloured paper range made using dye derived from plant extract that would otherwise be wasted. The first two shades, Limestone and Herdwick Brown, are made with 100% FSC® recycled fibre and dyed with rosemary extract which has been upcycled from non-edible waste in food production.
Lancôme, La Vie Est Belle
The Lancôme, La Vie Est Belle, Domaine de la Rose packaging follows the distinctive shape of the bottle and leaf shape ribbon. The very fine emboss detail results in textured rose petals caressing the lower front. These organic structures, next to precise die-cut edges, gives a striking form which enhances, rather than detracts from the fragrance inside. The result is unique; a stunning compact wrap packaging which is entirely bespoke and new to the sector. With a patented clasp feature, over-sized to compliment the same ‘smile’ on the front face of the bottle. Perfect ergonomics, with beautiful design language that works with the brand. The clasp has a satisfying crisp, snap closure with haptic feedback; an audible signifier of quality. The product is kept safe, secure and intact.
Dries Van Noten Fragrance
The Dries Van Noten fragrance glass bottle is protected by Colourform’s bespoke pulp mould with precision lines and soft edges. A silhouette of the bottle, the wrap packaging is beautiful in its simplicity. The design delivers an ultra-smooth single piece with a fresh and natural appearance. Colour matched to Dries Van Noten’s specified natural white, it is made from 100% virgin wood fibre sourced from sustainably managed FSC-certified forests. Championing craftsmanship in every sense, this luxury collection is a harmony between beauty and utility.
Dom Ruinart Chalk Wrap
In 2020, Ruinart revolutionised its packaging with the new second skin case, which now envelops all its bottles. This sustainable innovation required two years of research and development. Today, it is a matter of course. Whereas yesterday a prestigious gift box made sense, this light, elegant case made of recyclable cellulose fibres now represents a new standard for a conscious art of gifting. Dom Ruinart's chalk wrap offers a new interpretation of this innovation. Velvety soft to the touch like chalk, it transforms this exceptional bottle into a sculptural object. The gentle reliefs and crevices crisscross, as if carved directly into chalky rock. It evokes the unbreakable link between Dom Ruinart and the chalk, from the growing of the vine on chalky soils, to the time when the vintage is aged in chalk cellars. It illustrate savoir-faire and respect for nature.
Dries Van Noten Fragrance
The Dries Van Noten fragrance packaging collaboration with COLOURFORM™ has delivered a truly stunning result. Sustainability defines Dries Van Noten fragrances, from ethical sourcing to recycled materials. The range uses natural origin ingredients and vegan, animal-friendly formulas that respect the planet and its people. The glass bottle is protected by Colourform’s bespoke pulp mould with precision lines and soft edges. A silhouette of the bottle, the wrap packaging is beautiful in its simplicity. The design delivers an ultra-smooth single piece with a fresh and natural appearance. The colour was matched to Dries Van Noten’s specified natural white. It is made from 100% virgin wood fibre sourced from sustainably managed FSC-certified forests. Understand more about our fibre sources here. Championing craftsmanship in every sense, this luxury collection is a harmony between beauty and utility.
Rydal Apparel
Innovative papermaker, James Cropper, is giving used jeans new life as beautiful paper for packaging with its new Rydal Apparel range. Never before has worn denim been used in modern papermaking, marking a significant contribution to the circular economy and James Cropper’s ongoing commitment to the war on waste through world class fibre blend innovation. As part of James Cropper’s Rydal range of recycled papers, Rydal Apparel is comprised of 20% post-consumer denim fibre and 80% recycled fibre from sources such as used coffee cups. This not only makes the paper 100% recycled, but also globally recyclable. As a cellulose based product, cotton-based paper can be recycled in standard waste streams, giving the fibre not only a second life, but also a potential third and fourth. This launch is about giving forgotten fashion a new lease of life. Cotton is the purest form of natural cellulose, and is a renewable resource often used for its archival qualities in papermaking. Using cotton in paper harks back as far as Shakespeare’s first folio, which exists today because it was penned on paper made from cotton fibres. Cotton fibres are strong, yet soft, and make beautiful paper. Although modern papermaking relies heavily on pulps made from wood fibre, we are reviving the use of cotton rag in our portfolio as part of our ongoing commitment to fibre innovation and creating value from waste. Rydal Apparel is launching with a 350gsm and 220gsm paper in Denim White, perfect for small boxes, garment tags, gift cards and retail carrier bags. The colour is an icy white with a very subtle blue tinge created by the visible denim fibre in the sheet which adds a unique finish.
‘Paperwork’ range with Off-White™
The stunning ‘Paperwork’ range from NGG Off-White™ sees innovation and creativity extend through the packaging. The range which includes fragrance, nail polish and make up, is delivered in a secure, multi part eco-pack made from moulded fibre by James Cropper. This innovative and sustainable packaging offers elegant simplicity and a tantalizing un-boxing experience as each layer reveals another element. Off-White’s 'Paperwork' 4 piece pulp box was designed to create a journey inspired by the three senses of touch, sight and smell. Features include: Face silhouette logo debossed on the lid Multiple layers securely nested together using a clever series of locating pins Colour matched to specific NGG grey Robust construction despite being light-weight offering significant protection for the contents The smooth surface of this luxury packaging box boasts tidy die cut edges and a lid that shrouds the base completing the clean look. This ground-breaking packaging is functional, aesthetic and a lot of fun! Contents include fragrances, nail polish or make-up, a sponge tray for cleansing and in the base, a very special surprise c/o Mattel Creations. In a nod to Virgil Abloh's celebration of youth culture, there is one of three Mattel creations Masters of the Universe figurines: He-Man, Skeletor and Evil-Lyn. Sustainability credentials include: Mono-material cellulose wood pulp from FSC® certified and sustainably managed forests 100% green energy: solar, wind and hydro is used for production the majority of which is generated on site Light weight Plastic-free: 100% recyclable with paper The inlays can also be removed allowing the boxes to be endlessly repurposed.
Mulberry Green
Mulberry Green is the brand's signature shade and also emblematic of their commitment to social responsibility. The bespoke Mulberry Green colour was created at the mill in 2015, working jointly with G.F Smith. Mulberry is focussed on introducing new, innovative packaging solutions to reduce their impact on our planet. Every sheet of Mulberry Green paper has 50% post-consumer waste including CupCycling™ fibre from cup waste. 2.5 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away each year. James Cropper has introduced specialised CupCycling™ technology to combat this problem. The innovative zero waste process removes the plastic lining from the paper cup, allowing both to be recycled separately. The paper fibre is then combined with other post-consumer waste and wood from sustainably managed forests to create paper for Mulberry Green packaging.
Chloe Parfum Packaging
James Cropper has partnered with one of the luxury beauty market’s most notable names. The collaboration with Coty has elevated the circularity of packaging for Chloé fragrances, with the Chloé Eau de Parfum Rose Naturelle being the latest fragrance launched by the beauty brand to be produced from James Cropper's upcycled box board. Complementing Coty’s Beauty That Lasts strategy, the natural uncoated surface finish of the Rydal Packaging Collection from James Cropper gives the pack a soft understated elegance. Made with 40% reclaimed fibre, the Bright White paper also gives a valuable second life to post-consumer waste and is blended with fresh fibre from sustainable forestry sources to deliver beautiful papers with a strong environmental pedigree. A combination that both keeps materials in use and helps the regeneration of natural systems. This partnership is a true demonstration of what can be achieved with reclaimed fibre. Working in collaboration with Coty, not only have we maintained print performance, but the packaging now tells a circular story. It’s a triumph in terms of fibre blending – something we are passionate about.
MAISON PERRIER-JOUËT BELLE EPOQUE COCOON
Maison Perrier-Jouët, one of France’s most historic and distinctive champagne houses, has partnered with sustainable packaging brand, COLOURFORM by James Cropper, to challenge the norms of luxury. Together they have created an eco-designed gift box that marries beauty with environmental commitment seamlessly in the luxury market. Crafted from paper pulp and vine shoots, the Belle Epoque Cocoon has been designed for the champagne house’s vintage cuvees Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé. The vine shoots are recovered after pruning at the end of winter, ensuring that this naturally derived agrifibre is given a second life and that the packaging is both recyclable with other paper products and circular in design. The upcycled vine shoots also provide a beautiful coloured speckled aesthetic to the finished gift box. The box perfectly envelops the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque bottle, enhancing its shape. Offering a unique design profile with a pleasing sweep producing an organic and natural feel, only the golden cap crowning the champagne is revealed which is showcased by a small petal-like collar. With an enchanting minimalist elegance, the emblematic Art Nouveau inspired anemone of the Perrier-Jouët house is subtly conveyed through the intricately sculpted floral decoration which beautifully fades out at the packaging edge with a double-deboss. In addition to its featherweight of 49 grams, which is 93% lighter than the previous gift box, the Belle Epoque Cocoon wrap doesn’t include any varnish or glue. . It is designed with only two natural materials, paper pulp prepared from FSC® approved sustainably managed forests and vine shoots from France. The vine shoots evoke the Champagne region and nod to the house’s passion for nature and art which has been passed down through the generations since the house formed in 1811.
Bruichladdich - Luxury Redefined
James Cropper has partnered with Islay single malt Scotch whisky brand Bruichladdich, bringing the first of its Luxury Redefined range to market with a fully sustainable outer wrap. The launch follows the integration of the award-winning moulded fibre innovation, Colourform, into James Cropper's broader luxury packaging offering.