JAMES CROPPER GOES BACK TO BLACK FOR PACKAGING INNOVATIONS

Prestige paper innovator James Cropper is set to take attendees of Packaging Innovations London to the dark side as it showcases its extensive range of black papers.

At the exhibition, taking place from 13 to 14 September at Olympia in London, the company will also shine a light on its Tailor Made service, which allows brands to develop unique, custom-made paper solutions.

James Cropper holds recipes for over 50 different shades of black, with four ready-to-order FSC®-certified black ranges available from stock and other blacks developed as custom projects.

Amongst those on show at the event include: Liquorice and Black Lentil from the Dolcelicious range, which are luxurious food contact-approved non-carbon papers made from pure fibre; Black Bowston, made from 100 per cent recovered fibre and often specified as laminating liner, as part of a complex for a folding box, or as an elegant alternative to grey board; and the Black from Vanguard, James Cropper’s leading colour range, which has a smooth finish ideal for promotional print.

Susan Wilson, group packaging director at James Cropper, said: “Our Tailor Made service offers a wide range of bespoke solutions, with clients able to choose everything from the individual fibres used to make paper to the ways they’re engineered, embossed and converted. Naturally, a huge part of this comes down to colour – something we’re internationally renowned for.

“Most people take this to mean our specialism lies in the colours of the spectrum – and imagine reds, blues, greens and so on. Of course, these are important, but when it comes to packaging, black paper is like a wardrobe essential, it brings an air of sophistication, class and has timeless appeal.”

Retailers at the exhibition looking to boost their environmental credentials are set to learn more about James Cropper’s policy on fresh fibre being sourced from sustainably managed forests, as well as its use of ingredients such as coffee cup fibre or post-consumer waste.

Sue added: “We’re looking forward to demonstrating the versatility of paper packaging and how it can be used to elevate the product within, while satisfying sustainability credentials. And when it comes to colour, more and more luxury brands are turning to the darker palette for their packaging, and black certainly offers great contrast to many types of printing foils, enhancing that premium effect and giving fantastic shelf appeal!”