Luxepack Shanghai In Green Award for James Cropper Cocoa Paper

Luxury packaging made from a by-product of the chocolate production process grabs pioneering British papermaker a second environmental accolade from Luxepack judges.

James Cropper has won the first ever Luxepack Shanghai In Green Award, achieving the highest level of industry recognition for eco-friendly packaging innovation for the second time in six months. Mark Cropper, Chairman of James Cropper, received the award on behalf of the Company at the presentation ceremony in Shanghai.

Presenting their Cocoa Paper, a product which contains 10% cocoa shell content, a by-product of chocolate production, the 170 year old luxury paper and packaging specialist caught the eye of jurors including Damien Parenteau of Chanel China and Qilian Wang, President of Richun Tea Ltd. In October 2013, James Cropper won the Green Award at Luxepack Monaco for the world’s first recycling process for separating paper from plastic-lined coffee cups.

In collaboration with Barry Callebaut, the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, the Cocoa Paper substitutes virgin fibre and materials, avoids wasting the cocoa shells, to create a strong and naturally coloured fibre suitable for food packaging.

Phil Wild, CEO of James Cropper, said: “Environmental responsibility comes very high in our list of priorities at James Cropper, being a guiding principle behind our product development and at the heart of our manufacturing and corporate behaviours. It was a strength recognised by Barry Callebaut when we were asked by them to create this paper. Recognition for this bespoke process by the Luxepack judges is very welcome and we are grateful to accept the award.”

Luxepack Shanghai 2014 coincided with the launch of a second James Cropper office in the East Asia region, opening an office in Guangzhou to complement the existing operation in Hong Kong. Senior representatives from James Cropper visited Shanghai to mark the occasion and were on hand to pick up the In Green Award on behalf of the company, at the announcement on Thursday 17 April 2014.

Chris Brown, Commercial Director of James Cropper added: “The production of the Cocoa Paper is a breakthrough which we are extremely proud of, not only for the pioneering methods of production, but also because it came in response to a new, challenging brief from a valued customer. Bespoke papers and production techniques are two things that we are proud to be recognised for and receiving the first Luxepack Shanghai In Green Award is valuable recognition for the innovation that our product development team continues to demonstrate.”