Sustainability
at Create-This

🌳 FSC & PEFC Certified Board Stock

All our standard board stock comes from sustainably managed forests accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) or the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). This means the paper and board we use is traceable back to responsibly managed sources.

🖨️ Vegetable-Based & Biodegradable Inks

Our sheetfed inks and coatings are vegetable-based or biodegradable — and all are recyclable. We moved away from petroleum-based inks as standard across our print processes. This applies to litho and digital printing.

♻️ Recycled rPET Trays

The vacuum-formed trays used in our advent calendars and fitments contain a minimum of 70% recycled content (rPET — recycled polyethylene terephthalate). They are fully recyclable from home collections. No special recycling facilities needed.

📦 Flat-Pack Supply

Where a product can be supplied flat-packed, we do. Flat-pack delivery reduces the volume of packaging in transit, which means more units per delivery and fewer vehicle journeys. It also reduces storage space requirements for our clients.

🇬🇧 UK Manufacturing

Everything we produce is manufactured in the UK. That means shorter supply chains, fewer air miles, direct quality control, and faster communication when something needs changing. Keeping production local is one of the most straightforward ways to reduce environmental impact.

If you're currently using plastic folders, plastic packaging, foam inserts or other less environmentally-friendly materials, we can help you find alternatives that work just as well — or better.

We offer a free sustainability consultation to any client or prospective client. Tell us what you're currently using and what you need the packaging to do, and we'll recommend greener options. This might mean:

• Replacing plastic packaging: switching from plastic to cardboard equivalents
• Material swaps: identifying FSC or PEFC certified alternatives to your current board stock
• Size and weight optimisation: redesigning packaging to use less material overall
• Eco-friendly finishes: advising on recyclable or biodegradable finishing options
• Fitment alternatives: moving from single-use plastic inserts to cardboard or rPET fitments

There's no charge for this. It's part of how we work.

Get in touch: [email protected] or call 01276 536436

Board & Paper

All standard board stock is sourced from FSC or PEFC certified forests. We work with box board (300–700 micron), greyboard (1000–2000 micron), kraft board, and corrugated — all recyclable.

• Cardboard and box board: Recyclable at kerbside in most UK local authorities
• Kraft board: Natural brown kraft board — unbleached, recyclable, and increasingly popular for brands looking for an eco-friendly aesthetic
• Uncoated board: Can be printed with vegetable-based inks and finished without lamination for a fully recyclable result

rPET Trays & Fitments

Our vacuum-formed trays are made from rPET — recycled polyethylene terephthalate. This is the same material used in recycled plastic bottles. Our trays contain a minimum of 70% recycled content and are fully recyclable from home collections.

This applies to all advent calendar trays and vacuum-formed fitments we supply.

Inks, Coatings & Laminates

Our sheetfed inks are vegetable-based or biodegradable as standard. For finishes, we offer:

• Lamination: Gloss,matt, and anti-scuff lamination — note that lamination can affect recyclability of the finished product. We can advise on whether lamination is necessary for your application, or whether a varnish would be sufficient. Eco friendly lamination is available.
• Varnish: Water-based and UV varnishes are available as a more eco-friendly alternative to lamination for some applications

We'll be honest: there are areas where we're still improving. Sustainability in manufacturing is not a destination — it's an ongoing process.

Areas we are actively reviewing include:

• Expanding the range of unlaminated, fully recyclable finishing options we offer as standard
• Reducing packaging waste in our own production process
• Increasing the proportion of products we supply flat-pack as default
• Making it easier for clients to identify our most sustainable options at the point of enquiry

If you have a specific sustainability requirement or target for your packaging — whether that's a particular certification, a recyclability specification, or a plastic-free brief — tell us. We'll work with you to find a solution that meets it.

Is your board FSC or PEFC certified?

Yes. All our standard board stock comes from forests certified by FSC or PEFC. If you need documentation confirming this for a specific project, we can supply it.

Are your inks recyclable?

Yes. Our sheetfed inks and coatings are vegetable-based or biodegradable and are all recyclable. This applies across our litho and digital print processes.

Are the rPET trays recyclable at home?

Yes. Our rPET trays contain a minimum of 70% recycled content and are fully recyclable from home collections — no special recycling facilities required.

Can I get packaging without lamination?

Yes. Unlaminated board is recyclable and in many cases equally effective. If you have a recyclability requirement, tell us and we can design around it.

I'm currently using plastic packaging. Can you help me switch?

Yes — and we'd encourage it. We offer a free sustainability consultation to help you find cardboard or rPET alternatives to plastic folders, packaging, and inserts. Get in touch and we'll take you through the options.

Do you offer carbon-neutral packaging?

We don't make a blanket carbon-neutral claim — we think specificity is more useful than broad statements. What we can tell you is that all our standard board is FSC or PEFC certified, our inks are vegetable-based or biodegradable, and our rPET trays contain 70% recycled content. If you need a verified carbon footprint calculation for a specific project, get in touch and we'll discuss what's possible.

Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to make your existing packaging more sustainable, we can help. No jargon, no vague commitments — just practical advice based on 18 years of manufacturing experience.

📞 Call us: 01276 536436

✉️ Email: [email protected]

Minimum order value £850 for bespoke projects. Delivery and VAT extra. UK manufactured.