Sustainable Packaging, Certified.
B Corp. FSC. Built for Retailers Who Need to Evidence It.
We supply sustainable packaging to over 21,000 UK businesses. We’re proud to be a certified B Corp, holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. Our sustainability credentials aren’t a marketing position — they’re independently verified, publicly registered, and built into the legal structure of our business.
If you’re a sustainability or impact manager shortlisting packaging suppliers, this page covers our certifications, our recyclable packaging range, our EPR recyclability data, and how we support large accounts with the documentation and carbon data they need.
Certified B Corp
Certified since February 2023 — independently verified
Mission Locked
Purpose embedded in our legal governing documents
Recertifying on new 2025 standards
B Lab’s most rigorous framework yet — no points, mandatory requirements
Publicly registered
Profile verified on the B Lab directory
Section 01
Why B Corp Certification Matters for Your Supply Chain
Sustainability managers know that a supplier’s logo in a footer means very little without the substance behind it. B Corp certification is different.
To become a certified B Corp, a business must complete the B Impact Assessment — an independently verified evaluation across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. It requires documented evidence, third-party verification, and legal accountability. It is not a self-reported standard.
In April 2025, B Lab launched the most significant overhaul of the B Corp standards in its history. The old points-based model — where companies could score highly in some areas to offset weaker performance elsewhere — has been replaced entirely. Companies must now meet mandatory minimum requirements across seven non-negotiable impact topics, with all assessments moving to independent third-party auditing. Continuous improvement is built into the framework with escalating requirements at certification, year three, and year five.
For a sustainability manager conducting supplier due diligence, this matters in a specific way. When a supplier holds active B Corp certification under the new standards, you are not relying on self-reported claims or a flexible aggregate score. You are relying on verified, publicly registered performance across every impact area — the kind of evidence that holds up in ESG reporting, procurement audits, and board-level scrutiny.
Certified since February 2023
Priory Direct holds active B Corp certification, independently verified and publicly registered on the B Lab directory. Our certification covers governance, workers, community, environment, and customers — every area, not just the ones we score highly in.
Mission Locked
Our sustainability purpose is written into our legal governing documents — B Corp’s Mission Lock designation. A structural commitment, not a stated intention that can be walked back.
Recertifying on the new 2025 standards
B Lab overhauled the B Corp framework in April 2025, replacing the old points-based model with mandatory minimum requirements across seven impact areas — closing the loopholes that allowed companies to offset weak areas with strong ones. All B Corp assessments now move to independent third-party auditing. We are actively recertifying under this tougher framework and welcome the higher bar.
An evidence-led partner
We’re active on packaging standards — currently campaigning to address misleading recyclability labelling on LDPE soft plastics, where UK kerbside infrastructure lags claims on pack.
Section 02
Priory Direct’s Sustainability Credentials
Certified B Corp
Certified since February 2023. Independently verified and publicly registered on the B Lab directory. Currently recertifying on B Lab’s new 2025 standards — mandatory requirements across seven impact areas, independently audited.
Mission Locked
Our purpose — minimising the environmental impact of ecommerce — is embedded in our legal governing documents. B Corp’s Mission Lock designation: a structural commitment, not a stated intention.
FSC-Certified Board Available
A significant proportion of our corrugated range is available in FSC-certified board, sourced from FSC-certified suppliers. Confirmation available at product level — ask your account manager.
High Recycled Fibre Content
UK-manufactured corrugated boxes contain on average 76% recycled fibre (CPI), with an ~84% recycling rate — one of the highest of any packaging material in the country. Our range reflects these industry benchmarks.
In-House LCA Capability
A dedicated life cycle assessment tool assessing packaging across 14 environmental factors — from raw material sourcing through to end of life. Built through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership.
Plastic-Free Across Core Formats
Paper mailing bags, paper void fill, kraft mailers, paper tape, and corrugated solutions — all plastic-free, aligning with higher paper recycling recovery rates and reducing reliance on the extractive plastic industry.
Our six pillars of sustainable packaging
Right-sized & courier-optimised
Minimising bulk, weight, and wasted space in the supply chain
Sustainably sourced
FSC-certified forests and regenerative material sources where available
Recyclable & reusable
Kerbside-recyclable formats wherever possible, with dual-seal return options where relevant
Low emissions cradle to grave
Carbon impact assessed across the full lifecycle using science-based methodology
Ethically made
Manufactured as close to point of use as possible, including paper mailing bags made in the UK and Europe
Non-harmful
Designed to minimise environmental harm after use, including biodegradability and low acidification potential
An active voice on packaging standards
We are currently campaigning to address misleading recyclability labelling on LDPE materials — flexible plastics that carry a “100% recyclable” Möbius loop despite the UK lacking the kerbside infrastructure to process them at scale. Over 95% of soft plastics generated by ecommerce businesses will end up in landfill or the open environment. Sustainability managers should know we are an evidence-led, opinionated partner on these issues, not a passive supplier.
Section 03
Our Recyclable Packaging Range
We supply a broad range of packaging formats for ecommerce and retail fulfilment, with recyclability as a core specification criterion across our range.
Corrugated cardboard boxes
Single wall and double wall formats across hundreds of sizes. High recycled fibre content in line with UK industry averages. Green-rated under the UK Recyclability Assessment Methodology. FSC-certified board available on request.
Shop corrugated boxes →Postal boxes and mailers
Rigid postal boxes, book wraps, and corrugated mailers in standard and custom sizes. Widely kerbside-recyclable. FSC-certified board available.
Shop postal boxes →Paper mailing bags
Plastic-free mailing bags in kraft and white finishes. Fully recyclable at kerbside. Independently assessed against plastic alternatives across four environmental impact categories by the Research Institutes of Sweden.
Shop paper mailing bags →Paper void fill & protective packaging
Paper bubble wrap, kraft paper rolls, shredded paper void fill, and tissue paper. All recyclable and available as direct alternatives to plastic bubble wrap and foam.
Shop protective packaging →Paper tape
Gummed paper tape and reinforced paper tape — recyclable with the box, unlike polypropylene tape which can contaminate the recycling stream.
Shop paper tape →Custom branded packaging
Bespoke engineered solutions for large accounts, including branded corrugated, printed mailers, and custom sizes designed to specification with the same sustainability standards applied across our stock range.
Speak to our team →Section 04
Recyclability Ratings and EPR Fee Modulation
If you are an obligated producer under the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility scheme, the recyclability of your packaging now has a direct and escalating financial consequence.
From the 2026–27 financial year, disposal costs will be modulated based on recyclability. The government’s Recyclability Assessment Methodology (RAM) assigns packaging to red, amber, or green categories, with fees adjusted accordingly.
The corrugated cardboard and paper-based formats at the core of our range are primarily green-rated. All mono-material products with established kerbside collection — which describes the majority of our range — qualify for green-rated status.
For those reviewing their packaging mix ahead of 2026–27 invoicing, switching to corrugated and paper-based alternatives is one of the most direct ways to reduce modulated EPR liability while improving your recyclability profile. We can also assess your existing packaging for opportunities to reduce weight, waste, and costs.
Large retailers are already feeling the financial weight of EPR obligations. For those now scrutinising packaging specifications as a result, we can provide RAM rating references for our key product categories as part of our sustainability data pack.
Read our full EPR for packaging guide →The compounding cost of delay
Red-rated packaging costs 20% more than the base fee in 2026. By 2028, it costs double. The further you go with non-recyclable formats, the steeper the financial case for switching.
Who this affects
Any business with over £2m turnover supplying more than 50 tonnes of packaging per year. If you’re receiving EPR invoices, fee modulation will apply from 2026–27.
Section 05
Carbon Data and Scope 3 Reporting Support
For sustainability managers preparing Scope 3 Category 1 disclosures, packaging sits in a category where supplier data quality varies considerably. Most suppliers can offer material type and weight. We can go further.
Our in-house LCA tool — developed through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership — assesses packaging across 14 environmental impact factors including greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, and land use. We have also commissioned independent LCA research through the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), comparing paper-based formats against virgin and recycled plastic alternatives across four impact categories.
What we can provide for large accounts
Product-level LCA data
From our in-house tool, across 14 environmental factors
Independent RISE LCA research
Paper vs plastic performance across four impact categories
Material composition data
Recycled content %, virgin fibre %, material type by SKU
Weight and dimensional data
For emissions factor calculations using DEFRA or BEIS factors
FSC availability confirmation
At product level for lines supplied in FSC-certified board
Supplier chain information
Manufacturing origin, transport modes, and certifications held
Completing a CDP submission, preparing a supplier questionnaire, or building a Scope 3 inventory? Contact our sustainability team with the data format you need and we will work with you on it directly.
Section 06
How We Work With Sustainability Teams
We supply over 21,000 businesses across the UK, including large retailers and online retailers with active sustainability and ESG programmes. For those accounts, here is how we work in practice.
Dedicated account management
Large accounts are assigned a dedicated account manager with direct access to product data, sustainability documentation, and LCA outputs. We support the specification process — not just the transaction.
Supply chain efficiency as sustainability
Most UK parcels travel on six vehicles before delivery due to central sortation. We coordinate demand forecasting to achieve maximum vehicle utilisation upstream, running dedicated full-vehicle deliveries for large accounts. Efficiency is embedded in our B Corp certification as documented, verified practice.
Documentation and certification supply
On request: B Corp certification confirmation, recycled content data sheets, RAM recyclability references, FSC product-level confirmation, and LCA output data. All formatted for procurement records, supplier audits, and ESG reporting submissions.
Ongoing EPR regulatory support
As the RAM and modulation policy develops through 2027 and 2028, we keep product data current and communicate relevant changes through your account manager. We also provide the packaging data large accounts need for their own EPR compliance reporting.
Sample packs
Curated sample packs for sustainability teams evaluating a transition to recyclable formats — corrugated boxes, paper mailers, paper tape, and plastic-free void fill. Request via the form below.
Stock management & continuity
For large accounts with third-party logistics operations, we manage continuity of supply, monitor consumption rates, and optimise specifications to reduce both cost and environmental footprint. We remove the space and cash burden of holding packaging stock on-site.
Case Study
Bamboo Clothing — From Poly Mailers to Paper
Bamboo Clothing is a sustainable apparel brand built around the environmental credentials of bamboo fibre. When reviewing their ecommerce packaging, they wanted a solution that matched their product’s sustainability values — and could be evidenced scientifically, not just claimed commercially.
Working with Priory Direct, they commissioned an independent life cycle assessment through the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE), comparing paper mailing bags against virgin and recycled plastic poly mailers.
What the science showed
49%
less carbon vs virgin poly mailers
74%
eutrophication improvement vs recycled poly
27%
POCP improvement vs virgin poly
−46.7kg
CO₂e — negative carbon footprint via biogenic sequestration
The outcome in year one
8.37t
single-use plastic eliminated
49%
reduction in packaging carbon footprint
Seamless
operational transition with no disruption
1%
of spend to 1% for the Planet partners
If you are evaluating a similar transition — from poly mailers or other plastic formats to paper-based alternatives — we can support the process with independent LCA data, operational sample testing, and account management through the migration.
Request a Sample or Speak to Our Sustainability Team
If you are shortlisting sustainable packaging suppliers for a large retail or ecommerce account, we would like to hear from you. We offer a range of sustainable packaging, a packaging sustainability audit, RAM ratings, and LCA outputs, and a direct conversation with our sustainability and account team.
Or call us on 01268 768768 to speak to our sustainability team directly.
Related guides
B Corp certification details sourced from Priory Direct’s publicly registered B Lab profile. Corrugated recycled fibre content figure (76% average) sourced from the Confederation of Paper Industries (CPI). UK corrugated recycling rate (~84%) sourced from FEFCO/CPI. EPR fee modulation factors sourced from PackUK’s modulation policy statement, June 2025. LCA data sourced from independent research commissioned through the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). Last reviewed April 2026.
