We are delighted that our team, along with colleagues at Jardin Corrugated, won Corrugated Pack of the Year at the recent UK Packaging Awards.

 

The collaboration was an authentic mix of high-quality print and innovative design which caught the eyes of the judges and fought of competition from other well respected packaging brands.

 

Taking place for the 21^st year, group brands Boxes and Packaging (Manchester and Doncaster), Challenge Packaging, Durham Box, The Cardboard Box Company and Jardin Corrugated were shortlisted in five categories respectively.

 

Boxes and Packaging (Manchester) were the other winners on the evening taking two awards for Supply Chain solution of the Year and Best International Pack of the Year, which they won from colleagues at Boxes and Packaging (Doncaster) who were the only other finalist in that category.

 

Marc Stobbs, Design Manager, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “This is a great achievement for both our design team and the team at Jardin Corrugated and is testament to how positive collaborative working can be.”

 

The joint entry saw our team, and colleagues at Jardin Corrugated, design and manufacture an innovative solution for a popular home beer kit.

Both teams worked closely together to create a streamlined pack that protected product through the supply chain, reduced the size of the previous pack and ensured brand representation was evident in an eye-catching way.

All awards were collected by Logson Group Financial Director, Dan McConnell, who attended the event with Mark McCleery, Managing Director of Challenge Packaging which also received a Highly Commended award for Innovation of the Year.

 

David Richardson, CEO, Logson Group commented; “This was another successful year for our Logson Group businesses, and my congratulations go to the winners on the evening.

 

“All of our shortlisted businesses displayed great innovation, a focused approach to design which solved real world problems for our customers and a commitment to keeping corrugated packaging solutions at the forefront of sustainable packaging.”

 

The event was held at the London Hilton on Park Lane with hundreds of packaging professionals from all packaging sectors in attendance to hear the winners announced.

 

All winners can be viewed here – https://ukpackagingawards.co.uk/ukpackagingawards2026/en/page/2026-winners

CBC colleagues Kris Howson and Kelsey Ritson along with partners and friends, have raised almost £6000 for East Lancashire Hospice.

Completing the walk in 23 hours and 43 minutes –  giving them just 17 minutes spare to complete the peaks in under 24 hours – the team faced a number of challenges along the way, mainly the good old British weather!

Kris commented; “Overall, it went really well but throughout the day we went through phases of thinking we were going to smash the time, to thinking we were going to fail completely.

“With a little fuel jeopardy added in for extra excitement, trying to dry wet clothes in the van between Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike and thick fog on Snowden it’s fair to say the challenge brought a few more difficulties than we had hoped for.

“That said, we dug deep, encouraged each other and were so pleased that we completed the challenge in time and raised an amazing amount of money for this charity which is so close to our hearts at Cardboard Box Company.”

The team commenced the climb up Ben Nevis at 6.15am and finished around five hours later after getting caught in a huge storm which was so unexpected some of the team didn’t manage to get their waterproofs on in time, resulting is some very wet and very cold humans.

With the temperatures plummeting to around  -3°C and winds of around 40mph it definitely wasn’t for the faint-hearted!

Scafell Pike was completed in 3 hours with the team shaving fifteen minutes off the time from the previous week when they had done a trial walk.

Leaving Scafell for Snowden saw them arrive at the petrol station with 0 miles showing in the tank, adding to the nerves even more!

The whole Snowdon walk was completed in darkness with the team choosing the Pyg Track, one of the quickest routes, although a little more technical. With thick fog descending and the clock ticking, the team decided they still had a chance to make the summit in time and so the pace was picked up.

 

Kris added; “We managed to stay together as a team and finished Snowdon, very tired, in 4 hours 20 minutes.

 

“Overall, the challenge was really good and we all enjoyed it, but it was extremely hard work, and everyone was glad when it was over. I’m also not sure how many of us would volunteer to do it again!”

 

The fundraising raised around £3000 with charity matching taking place from our parent company to take the value to around £6000.

Sustainability is no longer just a box-ticking exercise (pardon the pun!)

For many businesses, it’s become a core part of how they operate, communicate with customers and plan for the future.

At The Cardboard Box Company (CBC), we work with businesses every day that are looking for practical ways to reduce their environmental impact while still meeting commercial goals. One area that can make a real difference is packaging.

Corrugated packaging is often seen simply as a way to protect products during transit, but it can do much more than that. The right packaging choices can help reduce waste, improve efficiency, support recycling initiatives and contribute towards wider Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) targets. Here, we explore some of the ways corrugated packaging can support a more sustainable business strategy.

For businesses looking to strengthen their environmental credentials, packaging is often a good place to start. Choosing packaging made from renewable materials allows organisations to demonstrate their commitment to responsible sourcing while reducing reliance on less sustainable alternatives.

At CBC, we’re proud to supply corrugated packaging solutions that help businesses make more environmentally conscious purchasing decisions without compromising on performance or protection.

Recycle, recycle, recycle

Another major advantage of corrugated packaging is its recyclability. In fact, corrugated board remains one of the most widely recycled materials in the UK.

When businesses choose corrugated packaging, they’re investing in a material that can be collected, recycled and turned back into new packaging products. This supports the circular economy by keeping valuable materials in use for longer and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.

We often work with customers who are looking to reduce their packaging waste and improve their sustainability reporting. By switching to recyclable corrugated solutions, many are able to make measurable progress towards their environmental goals.

Smarter packaging

When people think about reducing carbon emissions, packaging isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind. However, packaging design can have a surprisingly large impact on a company’s carbon footprint.

Well-designed corrugated packaging uses materials efficiently while still providing excellent product protection. By reducing unnecessary packaging weight and volume, businesses can transport products more efficiently, helping to lower fuel consumption and transport-related emissions.

We work closely with our customers to design packaging that’s fit for purpose. Sometimes even small design improvements can deliver significant sustainability benefits across an entire supply chain.

Custom-designed corrugated packaging can help businesses make better use of warehouse space, improve pallet configuration and maximise vehicle loads. Not only does this reduce environmental impact, but it can also help streamline logistics and lower operational costs.

We’ve seen first-hand how thoughtful packaging design can help businesses achieve both commercial and environmental objectives. That’s why we always take the time to understand how our customers operate before the design process commences.

Successful designs, that are fit for purpose also help to minimise waste throughout the supply chain. Strong, well-designed packaging helps protect products during storage and transport, reducing the likelihood of damage, returns and replacement shipments.

The knock-on effect is significant. Fewer damaged products means less waste, fewer additional deliveries and lower overall resource consumption.

Consumer expectations

With customers being more environmentally aware than ever before, many are making purchase decisions based on the business’s commitment to sustainability.

Packaging is often one of the first things customers see when they receive a product, making it a highly visible part of a company’s environmental story.

Corrugated packaging offers a recyclable and sustainable option that aligns with growing consumer expectations. By investing in environmentally responsible packaging, businesses can strengthen customer trust and reinforce their sustainability credentials.

As a packaging partner, we recognise that we play an important role in helping our customers achieve these goals. By working with suppliers who share their commitment to sustainability, businesses can strengthen their CSR performance and create a more transparent and responsible supply chain.

And, as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting becomes increasingly important, businesses are under greater pressure to demonstrate measurable sustainability improvements.

Packaging can provide several useful metrics, from reductions in plastic use and increased recyclability to improvements in transport efficiency and waste reduction.

By working with packaging specialists, such as our team at CBC, who understand these challenges, businesses can identify opportunities for improvement and better demonstrate progress towards their sustainability objectives.

We believe corrugated packaging offers businesses a practical, cost-effective way to support their CSR goals while maintaining the high standards customers expect. Whether it’s reducing waste, lowering carbon emissions or improving supply chain efficiency, the right packaging strategy can make a meaningful difference.

By taking a thoughtful approach to packaging design and material selection, businesses can move closer to their sustainability targets while creating lasting value for customers, communities and the environment.

We are very pleased to share that we, along with colleagues at Jardin Corrugated, are shortlisted at this year’s UK Packaging Awards.

The joint entry saw our team, and colleagues at Jardin Corrugated, design and manufacture an innovative solution for a popular home beer kit.

Both teams worked closely together to create a streamlined pack that protected product through the supply chain, reduced the size of the previous pack and ensured brand representation was evident in an eye-catching way.

Marc Stobbs, Head of Design, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “This project not only showcases our individual capabilities, but also the beauty of being part of the Logson Group and the collaborative approach we have when supporting our customers.

“This solution showcases the blend of eye-catching, high quality artwork with practical and robust transit packaging supporting operational requirements and a positive customer unboxing experience.”

In addition to this entry the wider Logson Group had the following projects shortlisted:

Durham Box in both Luxury Pack of the Year and Limited Edition Pack of the Year categories

Challenge Packaging in both Innovation of the Year and Corrugated Product of the Year categories

B&P (Manchester) in both Best International Pack and Supply Chain Solution of the Year categories

B&P (Doncaster) in both Best International Pack and Supply Chain Solution of the Year categories

The awards event takes place at Hilton Park Lane in London on Wednesday 7^th October when winners of each category will be announced.

To view all finalists for the Quality Awards visit – https://awards.packagingnews.co.uk/ukpackagingawards2026/en/page/2026-finalists?utm_id=32100&delivery_name=59106&utm_campaign=EMERALD_PN_EVENTS_UKPA26_Email%2019_05_08_25&utm_content=finalists%20reveal%201&utm_term=VIEW%20THE%20FINALISTS%20FOR%20THE%20QUALITY%20AWARDS&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Adestra

As businesses prepare for the final quarter of the year, ensuring an adequate supply of corrugated packaging should be a key priority. For many industries, Q4 represents the busiest trading period, driven by seasonal demand, holiday shopping, promotional campaigns, and year-end order fulfilment. Without proper planning, companies can face packaging shortages that disrupt operations, delay shipments, and negatively impact customer satisfaction. Taking a proactive approach to corrugated packaging procurement can help businesses navigate the busy season with confidence.

Our team shares some top tips to ensure you are well prepared and how we can support businesses from a wide variety of industry sectors.

Planning ahead

One of the most important things is to simply plan ahead for Q4. During peak periods, businesses across retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, food and beverage, and logistics sectors all require larger volumes of packaging materials. This surge in demand can place pressure on supply chains, resulting in longer lead times. Companies that wait until the last minute to order packaging may find themselves competing with other organisations for stock, potentially paying higher prices or facing delivery delays. By talking to our team in advance, we can work with you to ensure a strategic supply is agreed.

Accurate forecasting

Accurate forecasting is the foundation of successful packaging planning. Together with our customers we review historical sales data, previous peak-season trends, and projected growth figures to estimate packaging requirements. By understanding expected order volumes, we can more accurately determine how many boxes and packaging components will be required. It is also important to consider any planned promotions, product launches, or seasonal campaigns that may increase demand beyond normal levels. The more accurate the forecast, the easier it becomes to secure the right packaging quantities before demand reaches its peak.

 

Talk to us

Having early and open communication with our team oftens alleviates many of the challenges our customers face as demand increases. It helps us to understand your expected requirements, confirm production schedules and understand how our packaging integrates into your supply chain, reducing the risk of shortages and helping us to help you.

Seasonal design

Packaging design and specification reviews should also be completed well before Q4. If businesses are planning to introduce new products, perhaps undertake seasonal campaigns or simply increase their product range, these plans should be done and finalised many weeks prior to the start of Q4. Design approvals, testing, and production can take longer than anticipated, particularly during busy periods when our customers are managing increased workloads. Completing these projects ahead of time ensures that packaging is ready when products need to be shipped.

Sustainable and efficient

Sustainability continues to play an increasingly important role in packaging decisions and businesses can often need sustainable packaging in a short time scale often as a result of third-party involvement. Sustainable packaging options may experience particularly high demand during peak seasons as more organisations pursue environmental goals. Planning ahead allows businesses to secure eco-friendly packaging materials without compromising availability or performance.

Operational efficiency should also be part of the planning process. Reviewing packaging sizes and formats can help reduce waste, lower shipping costs, and improve fulfilment speeds and we work with our customers to ensure their packaging supply is maximised.

Ultimately, planning ahead for quarter four is about ensuring business continuity and delivering a positive customer experience. Corrugated packaging plays a vital role in protecting products, supporting brand presentation, and enabling efficient distribution.

Early preparation not only reduces operational risks but also positions organisations to capitalise on increased demand and maximise growth opportunities during Q4.

We are very pleased to announce that Jon Williams has been promoted to our Head of Sales.

Jon started his career in sales in the steel industry, and spent almost 20 years across various businesses before moving into the world of corrugated in January 2024.

Jon originally joined the business as a Business Development Manager and since then has proved to be a great asset to the team.

Jon’s new role is multi-faceted with the main focus to deliver budget targets by developing new customer relationships, securing new business, and achieving sales targets.

He works closely with the Account Specialists to ensure customer satisfaction

Jon commented; “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m looking forward to playing my part in consolidating and growing CBC. It’s a role that I can really develop, and I’m looking forward to shaping more accountability across the customer facing team, continuously meeting our targets growing our customer base and in the longer term more progression within CBC or the wider Logson Group.”

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company added; “Jon has really proved himself over the last couple of years and this promotion is well deserved. We know the future of our sales pipeline and customer journey is in safe hands.”

Outside of work Jon prides himself on being a good dad to his two daughters, and is an avid Bolton Wanderers fan, which is often difficult surrounded by Blackburn and Burnley fans!

Jon’s free time is spent walking the dog, rewarding himself with the occasional beer, playing darts and thinks he may be on the brink of becoming a Padel enthusiast!

On 10^th September colleagues from across Logson Group will be taking part in the 130^th anniversary celebrations of our parent company W&R Barnett by taking to a series of Dragon Boats on the River Lagan.

We’re delighted that Matt Herd, Commercial Director; Jim Meikleham, Engineer; Janine Bodill, Quality Systems Co-ordinator and Marc Stobbs, Head of Design will be representing us and are split across the three Logson Group boats meaning there will be plenty of CBC competition too!

The three teams are captained by Emma Edwards from Boxes and Packaging (Birmingham), Hannah Hosler from Boxes and Packaging (Manchester) and Ben Turton from Challenge Packaging. They will rally the troops on the day, all whilst raising money for the respective chosen charities.

Emma’s crew will be racing to raise money for Let Us Play, a Wolverhampton charity that provides craft, sport and play for children with Special Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

Hannah’s crew will be taking to the water to raise money for Cure Leukaemia which funds research nurses at UK blood cancer centres, giving patients access to treatments through clinical trials.

Ben‘s crew will be paddling for Finley’s Touch which supports children with cancer across Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Hampshire.

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company commented; „This will be a great event and hopefully raise lots of money for these amazing charities which have been chosen personally by the team captains.

„If you can support our team by donating, the link to our Just Giving page is below.“

Each boat will have its fundraising matched as a minimum but if they progress through the competition, the amount increases at eachs stage. The winner will have their fundraising matched five times their total.

The last event took place in 2021 to celebrate the businesses 125th anniversary when  our 3 teams raised over £25,000. One of the treams reached the semi-final too which meant further matching from W&R Barnett Group, and the total donated to Logson’s chosen charities was £112,000.

To support the teams and donate simply visit their Just Giving Page where you can donate to the charity of your choice – https://www.justgiving.com/team/logson-boatracecharity?utm_medium=TE&utm_source=CL

It’s a warm welcome to one of our newest team members, Nathan Linklater, who joins us as an Engineer.

Nathan began his career with an apprenticeship in Engineering and worked at his first company Flexipol for six years, before moving to VEKA, which manufactures windows, where he spent a further six years, before moving to us and the corrugated packaging industry.

“The time had come for a change and a new challenge and the diverse nature of the machinery at The Cardboard Box Company really appealed to me,” said Nathan. “It’s been a great few weeks with lots to do, especially setting up our new Computer Maintenance Management System (CMMS), MaintainX which will revolutionise how engineering and maintenance is handled in the business.”

MaintainX will allow the team to schedule engineering maintenance, understand how critical assets are performing, track running hours and create data that will help make business decisions from day-to-day challenges to strategic investments.

Created specifically for machinery maintenance it’s a proven system that has added value to businesses through technology and already it is starting to have a positive impact on the engineering team and its processes at CBC.

In addition to implementing and managing MaintainX, Nathan, will carry out practical engineering tasks alongside his more strategic role.

Mervyn Thomas, Operations Director, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “Nathan has settled in really quickly and already made an impact on our team.

“It’s a huge task to set up this new system but in the longer term it will allow us to be more strategic and more efficient in how we take care of all our assets in the factory.”

When Nathan is away from work, he enjoys walking with his Cocker Spaniel, Bonnie, and climbing mountains. He has tackled Snowdon, Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis, and in December last year conquered the highest peak in Madeira, Pico Ruivo.

Just three months ago we welcomed our new Operations Director, Mervyn Thomas.

Mervyn joins the team from ProGroup in Ellesmere Port where had been for around three years. Prior to that he had enjoyed a career spanning a little over two decades in the plastics manufacturing industry.

A skilled professional with many qualifications relating to production and operational excellence, Mervyn has already made an impact on his team.

Initiatives have included collaborations between machine operators, sales team members and the administrative team to identity opportunities for achieving production excellence, ensuring the team are equipped with everything they need to do their roles to the highest standards and support our customers with operational excellence.

Mervyn commented; “What a start it has been; I have enjoyed it very much and that is also down to the very warm welcome I received, and the people I work with every day.

“It is such a happy and positive atmosphere to be part of, and I’m looking forward to many years here; making a real impact as we continue to grow and continue to be a flagship corrugated packaging manufacturer for both the Logson Group and the wider industry.”

With a clearly defined three-year strategy, Mervyn will continue to expand his team in line with the production output goals of the business, including more apprenticeships, something which he completed at the start of his career.

In recent weeks, new team members have been recruited including machine operators and an Engineering Technician to oversee the implementation and integration of MaintainX , a market leading CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management System),

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “It’s great to have Merv on board as we continue this period of growth and investment in our people, our business and futureproofing our skill set.

“We’ve got some great action points outlined, with the entire team onboard to play their part in achieving the levels of excellence we deserve.”

We are pleased to add ISO14064 to our list of accreditations and certifications giving added reassurance and confidence to our customers.

Receiving the accreditation for the first time, considerable effort has been given by Katherine Jewitt and Carolyn Taylor who were instrumental in data collation and submissions, supported by Janine Bodill.

ISO14064 is an international, three-part standard that provides a structured framework for businesses to quantify, monitor, report, and verify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals.

Ensuring consistency and transparency in carbon footprint reporting, the standard supports mandatory and voluntary climate actions undertaken by businesses to elevate and report on their achievements.

Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, The Cardboard Box Company commented; “This is an important accreditation to add to our portfolio and shows our commitment to operating an environmentally responsible business.

“It integrates seamlessly with our EcoVadis objectives and reporting and combined give a level of transparency and reassurance to our customers as to the sustainability of all aspects of our operations.

“My thanks to everyone who was involved and the wider team for their ongoing efforts to achieve and maintain these important accreditations.”

To align with ISO 14064 businesses are required to:

• Develop a GHG Inventory which identifies and measures all relevant GHG emissions and eradications in the organisation’s operations
• Implement GHG management strategies to establish procedures for the collation and reporting of GHG data by ensuring necessary documentation os accessible and transparent.

Verification takes place on an annual basis and is currently a voluntary process referencing carbon data.