Phil Brien started this month at the Glasgow business in the newly created position of head of sales for moulded fibre.
Cullen’s owner and CEO David MacDonald will work closely with Brien to address the growing number of enquiries the business is seeing for high volumes of sustainable replacements for the plastic packaging currently on shelves.
Many retailers and producers are in the process of switching to 100% recyclable packaging to reduce their Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) tax burden and hit their sustainability goals.
Brien previously worked as director of procurement at PG Paper Company. He is aiming to use his experience to help supermarket chains and FMCG goods producers to understand what tertiary, secondary, and primary plastic packaging can be replaced straight away in the volumes and price points they need.
He will drive the deployment of the new Cullen Fibre Bottle innovation, which the business said is currently on trial with “a major global FMCG producer” of health, hygiene, and nutrition products.
Chasing a 1 billion units per year sold target, Cullen produced 1.2 billion units in two years from 2021-2022.
MacDonald commented: “Demand for plastic alternatives is going through the roof so Phil’s appointment comes at a crucial time for us and our customers. So many companies are looking to replace plastic packaging, for instance supermarkets, but they’re worried that they can’t.
“The good news is that we can replace most of their plastic within a month. We’re well underway with this process for so many big brands but there are many more looking to understand what’s possible, so that’s where Phil comes in.
“He will be instrumental in helping replace plastic packaging in the UK and our 34 export markets.”
Brien added: “Cullen is an incredible, innovative company that’s growing fast. David has expanded the premises, built more of the company’s own bespoke machines and tooling, ramping up capacity to handle the increasingly diverse range of moulded fibre packaging alternatives to plastic.
“The demand is there, and the capacity is there, so my job is to go out and connect clients with our packaging innovations to strip billions of plastic waste out of our environment. It’s an exciting time and I can’t wait to get started.”
230 staff work at Cullen’s 14 acre site in Glasgow, which houses TCY flexo printers, and a Bobst die-cutter and Expertfold gluers.
The business revealed last year that it was investing £15m in a new innovation and design hub as well as an additional factory at the site to meet increasing global demand for its products.
