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18th Feb 2022
In a recent interview with Insider NW, Duo Commercial Director Anthony Brimelow explained how a growing enthusiasm for sustainability is helping drive growth and increase in vacancies at Manchester HQ.
When asked about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Anthony explained how it provided “something of a reset” for people to think about the world in which they live and a “keenness” to do more to reduce environmental impact.
At the same time, lockdowns “turbocharged” ecommerce and changed shopping habits, which has led consumers to interrogate how green companies actually are.
Packaging is one of the most visible, consumer-facing part of supply chains, meaning booming ecommerce and demand for sustainable packaging solutions go hand in hand.
“Duo has been creating recyclable and renewable packaging solutions for many years – we’re already meeting growing demand from businesses aiming to be more resourceful and wanting to improve packaging sustainability. This trend shows no signs of slowing down as the UK strives for net zero by 2030.“
Talking about future plans for Duo UK, Anthony explained that as well as a recruitment drive, they’re planning to continue an annual cycle of investment in new equipment, expanding into new markets and advancing packaging innovation. With the pace of innovation and greater focus on sustainability – manufacturing is an exciting sector to be in right now.
There’s always a new problem to solve, and we’re committed to providing the right skills, training, and access to support for individuals to build successful careers at Duo.
Improving environmental performance is a huge growth opportunity for businesses. Anthony suggested there should be a “bit more carrot and less stick” when it comes to government-led sustainability initiatives.
For example, the government’s plastic packaging tax comes into force on 1st April 2022, which will financially penalise manufacturers and importers of plastic packaging that doesn’t meet a 30 per cent recycled content threshold.
The aim of the new tax to increase the use of recycled materials is exactly the direction that the UK needs to be heading. However, hitting businesses with more taxes during already volatile and challenging times doesn’t seem conducive to advancing positive change. More progressive measures, which encourage businesses to invest in sustainable solutions, rather than punishing them if they don’t, would probably be better received by companies striving for growth right now.
Being sustainable is a “business critical decision that truly informs what we do”. This is from the packaging it makes and its investment in certain equipment, through to supporting communities locally.
When it comes to the packaging products we create or the processes that we develop, we root our sustainable efforts in thorough due diligence, to ensure that they have a positive impact throughout supply chains. For example, we were the first company in the UK to manufacture GreenPE mailbags. These are made using a completely renewable source of sugar cane and are fully recyclable.
We are also champions of closed-loop recycling, which keeps recycled materials in the chain, meaning there’s a lot less waste throughout the process and less reliance on using virgin materials.
Looking ahead, growth will be driven by a “hybrid approach”, with emphasis placed on continually providing customers with packaging solutions that will positively impact their businesses. Duo work with customers to achieve goals to be more resourceful, to meet consumer demand and build brand loyalty and to optimise supply chains. This fuels organic growth but doesn’t rule out other opportunities for how Duo will evolve.
As featured in NW Insider