About - James Cropper

Who we are

Bonded by a vision for a better future

We are global leaders in Advanced Materials and Paper & Packaging

With a presence in over 50 countries and an international workforce, James Cropper has been at the forefront of material science and innovation since 1845. Specializing in niche solutions, we excel in tailoring manufacturing processes to unique customer specifications. Our expertise spans substrates and components for hydrogen electrolysis and fuel cells, bespoke colours and textures in paper, and industry-leading innovations in moulded fibre packaging. Serving diverse markets from luxury retail to renewable energy, we are renowned worldwide for our exceptional service, capability, and pioneering, award-winning commitment to sustainability. Our goal is to achieve operational carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero carbon throughout our supply chain by 2050.

MAKING A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE

Our customers are innovators, brands, multinationals and conglomerates that are using James Cropper products to push the boundaries of what is possible.

ESG

Safeguarding the planet for future generations

Propelling society into a sustainable future

At James Cropper, sustainability is interwoven into every area of our business. From cutting edge materials solutions to decarbonisation and environmental initiative, we are committed to playing an active role in safeguarding a better future.

Learn more about our commitment

Materials with a capacity for more

James Cropper materials are all around us. Cleaning the air we breath, on the planes that we fly, and in the bags we see walking down high streets.

We’re a pioneering materials business made up of the most brilliant minds in the field; bonded by a drive to ‘Make a Material Difference.’ Together we invent and reinvent sustainable material solutions that will safeguard a better future.

Our impact

700,000,000

We have the capacity to save more than 700,000,000 coffee cups from landfill through our Cupcycling technology.

250,000

Our advanced coatings are generating hydrogen on 250,000 components operating in the most advanced PEM electrolyser systems.

20,000

Our nonwovens are in use in over 20,000 commercial aircraft imparting structural integrity, surface finish, EMI shielding and much more.

16,000,000

In 2023, we partnered with luxury retail customers to create bespoke packaging solutions including moulded fibre and recycled fibre included in over 16 million shopping bags.

Our strategy

Growth for good

Pioneering New Materials

We have led the way in manufacturing materials since 1845 and are proud of our pioneering heritage. Today our products reach far and wide, forming the fibres of daily life around the world.

Whether it is crafting bespoke coloured and textured papers, creating specialist materials that support the advancement of green energy or developing next-generation sustainable packaging as an alternative to single-use plastics, we never stop evolving.

Innovation

Like no other

James Cropper is a company of restless innovators. Recognised across industry as a company that pushes the boundaries of material science, we develop solutions that pioneer advancements in composite manufacturing, hydrogen generation, fibre recycling, packaging and colour creation.

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People

A catalyst for a better future

We are a pioneering materials business made up of the most brilliant minds in the field; bonded by a drive to 'Make a Material Difference.' Together we invent and reinvent sustainable materials that will safeguard a better future.

Careers

Sustainability

Safeguarding the plant for future generations

At James Cropper, sustainability is interwoven into every area of our business. From cutting edge materials solutions to decarbonisation and environmental initiative, we are committed to playing an active role in safeguarding a better future.

Our commitment

Our values

Our Purpose

Pioneering materials to safeguard our future

Our mission is to build on our strengths by delivering ground breaking ideas that safeguard our future and to be recognized as creators of world-leading solutions that contribute to making our planet a better place.

Forward-thinking

We are proud of our heritage but not stuck in the past
We ask questions that matter and are always open to new ideas
We are inventors, not afraid to experiment
We anticipate our customers’ needs and think about what’s best for the long-term
As pioneers, we forge new paths ahead

Responsible

We face reality and own our actions
We believe in using materials resourcefully
We are tenacious and committed to delivering quality products and service to our customers
We are guardians of this business for future generations

Caring

Family and community is at the heart of our business and makes us stronger
We treat each other how we would like to be treated, and pull together when the going gets tough
We care about each other’s wellbeing, our customers, suppliers and the planet we share

Six generations of the Cropper family

James Cropper boasts a rich heritage, having respectfully operated on the same site in the English Lake District since 1845. Our clients choose us for our award-winning dedication to meeting their needs while maintaining the highest sustainability standards.

Nestled within the natural beauty of a World Heritage Site, our mill has served various industries over the years—from grain to textiles—and now stands as a premier manufacturer of high-quality papers and advanced materials in the UK.

Since acquiring the lease of the Burneside mills in 1845, James Cropper has embarked on a long and prosperous journey as a custom papermaker and advanced materials manufacturer. Discover more about the rich history of our esteemed paper mill and the exceptional products we supply below.

Our History