Oceans of Plastic Day 2025: Why Packaging Choices Matter More Than Ever
Plastic pollution in our oceans starts long before waste reaches the water — it begins with the manufacturing and packaging decisions made on land.
Every year, Oceans of Plastic Day shines a global spotlight on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: the increasing amount of plastic pollution entering our seas. It serves as a powerful reminder that reducing plastic use must remain a priority for us all — because the choices we make today directly influence the health of our oceans tomorrow.
Sustainable, scalable alternatives are not a future concept – they already exist. Cullen has been producing them for over a century, showing that sustainable packaging isn’t a goal for tomorrow but something we deliver every single day.
At Cullen, our approach to design ensures plastic is replaced with planet-friendly, fibre-based alternatives. As Europe’s only combined producer of moulded fibre and corrugated solutions, we’ve spent decades proving that plastic-free packaging can be high-performing, scalable and commercially viable. Plastic pollution doesn’t start in the ocean — it starts with decisions made in production and supply chains. By eliminating plastic at the point of design, we help businesses move to packaging that protects both their products and the planet.
What is Oceans of Plastic?
Oceans of Plastic Day is a global awareness initiative that highlights the growing impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems, wildlife and coastal communities. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year — much of it single-use — the campaign urges the world to take practical, immediate action.
This year’s theme reinforces a clear message: if we want healthier oceans, we must change packaging and manufacturing choices.
How is Plastic Pollution Impacting Our Oceans?
- Over 700 marine species are harmed by plastic debris.
- Microplastics are now present in both seafood and drinking water.
- Plastic pollution affects tourism, fishing, and coastal economies globally.
- Once plastic enters the sea, it can take hundreds of years to break down — and even then, it only fragments into smaller, harder-to-remove particles.
These realities show that the impact of plastic pollution goes far beyond what washes ashore. It harms marine life, disrupts food systems and affects the health of entire ocean ecosystems long before the waste is visible at the surface.
How Cullen Helps Keep Plastic Out of the Ocean
At Cullen, sustainability is built into our manufacturing process, not added on later. For over 100 years, we’ve helped businesses move away from single-use plastics by supplying fibre-based packaging that delivers the protection and reliability they need.
A Manufacturing Model Built Around Circularity
At Cullen, we manufacture moulded fibre and corrugate on one site, enabling us to operate a complete closed-loop system. Corrugate offcuts from our production lines are collected, pulped, and reused in our moulded fibre facility. By turning our own waste into a resource, we minimise material loss, reduce transport emissions and lower demand for virgin plastics — a simple, scalable way to prevent unnecessary packaging waste from reaching our oceans.
Packaging Designed to Protect More Than Products
Our moulded fibre solutions replace:
- Polystyrene
- Plastic void fill
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic inserts
- Plastic transit protection
- And many other single-use plastics still used across logistics, retail, drinks and industrial sectors
And because our products are recyclable, compostable, and made from renewable materials, they avoid contributing to the long-term waste that reaches our oceans.
From cup carriers to medical trays, industrial protection to bespoke inserts, Cullen products are designed to safeguard goods — while helping to minimise the environmental impact of packaging.
Why Packaging Choices Are Part of the Solution
The majority of ocean plastic originates on land — in supply chains, warehouses, and packaging lines. That’s why businesses have a powerful opportunity to drive positive change.
Switching to sustainable packaging:
- Cuts unnecessary plastic from supply chains
- Reduces long-term environmental impacts
- Supports ESG and sustainability targets
- Demonstrates responsible brand values
- Helps companies stay ahead of evolving regulations
Cullen supplies customers in over 35 countries, helping brands remove millions of pieces of unnecessary plastic every year. When companies choose better packaging, they help reduce plastic waste well beyond their own operations — contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.
Cutting Costs by Cutting Plastic
The environmental cost of plastic is clear — but what about the financial costs? In 2025/26, plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content is taxed at £223.69 per tonne, with additional reporting for companies using more than 10 tonnes a year. Moving to fibre-based packaging removes the tax altogether — saving time, money and resource.
Shaping a Cleaner Future, Together
Oceans of Plastic Day 2025 gives us all a moment to pause — and a moment to act. The challenge is immense, but the solutions are within reach. By embracing circular design, reducing single-use plastics and choosing packaging that works for the planet, we can help protect our oceans for generations to come.
At Cullen, we’re here to make those changes simple, scalable and impactful. From ready-now moulded fibre products to fully bespoke packaging created in as little as six weeks, our team helps businesses transition to a plastic-free future with confidence.
Ready to protect your products — and our oceans?
Talk to our team today on 0141 945 2222or e-mail is at sales@cullen.co.uk
Oceans of Plastic Day 2025: Why Packaging Choices Matter More Than Ever
Plastic pollution in our oceans starts long before waste reaches the water — it begins with the manufacturing and packaging decisions made on land.
Every year, Oceans of Plastic Day shines a global spotlight on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time: the increasing amount of plastic pollution entering our seas. It serves as a powerful reminder that reducing plastic use must remain a priority for us all — because the choices we make today directly influence the health of our oceans tomorrow.
Sustainable, scalable alternatives are not a future concept – they already exist. Cullen has been producing them for over a century, showing that sustainable packaging isn’t a goal for tomorrow but something we deliver every single day.
At Cullen, our approach to design ensures plastic is replaced with planet-friendly, fibre-based alternatives. As Europe’s only combined producer of moulded fibre and corrugated solutions, we’ve spent decades proving that plastic-free packaging can be high-performing, scalable and commercially viable. Plastic pollution doesn’t start in the ocean — it starts with decisions made in production and supply chains. By eliminating plastic at the point of design, we help businesses move to packaging that protects both their products and the planet.
What is Oceans of Plastic?
Oceans of Plastic Day is a global awareness initiative that highlights the growing impact of plastic waste on marine ecosystems, wildlife and coastal communities. With millions of tonnes of plastic entering the ocean each year — much of it single-use — the campaign urges the world to take practical, immediate action.
This year’s theme reinforces a clear message: if we want healthier oceans, we must change packaging and manufacturing choices.
How is Plastic Pollution Impacting Our Oceans?
- Over 700 marine species are harmed by plastic debris.
- Microplastics are now present in both seafood and drinking water.
- Plastic pollution affects tourism, fishing, and coastal economies globally.
- Once plastic enters the sea, it can take hundreds of years to break down — and even then, it only fragments into smaller, harder-to-remove particles.
These realities show that the impact of plastic pollution goes far beyond what washes ashore. It harms marine life, disrupts food systems and affects the health of entire ocean ecosystems long before the waste is visible at the surface.
How Cullen Helps Keep Plastic Out of the Ocean
At Cullen, sustainability is built into our manufacturing process, not added on later. For over 100 years, we’ve helped businesses move away from single-use plastics by supplying fibre-based packaging that delivers the protection and reliability they need.
A Manufacturing Model Built Around Circularity
At Cullen, we manufacture moulded fibre and corrugate on one site, enabling us to operate a complete closed-loop system. Corrugate offcuts from our production lines are collected, pulped, and reused in our moulded fibre facility. By turning our own waste into a resource, we minimise material loss, reduce transport emissions and lower demand for virgin plastics — a simple, scalable way to prevent unnecessary packaging waste from reaching our oceans.
Packaging Designed to Protect More Than Products
Our moulded fibre solutions replace:
- Polystyrene
- Plastic void fill
- Bubble wrap
- Plastic inserts
- Plastic transit protection
- And many other single-use plastics still used across logistics, retail, drinks and industrial sectors
And because our products are recyclable, compostable, and made from renewable materials, they avoid contributing to the long-term waste that reaches our oceans.
From cup carriers to medical trays, industrial protection to bespoke inserts, Cullen products are designed to safeguard goods — while helping to minimise the environmental impact of packaging.
Why Packaging Choices Are Part of the Solution
The majority of ocean plastic originates on land — in supply chains, warehouses, and packaging lines. That’s why businesses have a powerful opportunity to drive positive change.
Switching to sustainable packaging:
- Cuts unnecessary plastic from supply chains
- Reduces long-term environmental impacts
- Supports ESG and sustainability targets
- Demonstrates responsible brand values
- Helps companies stay ahead of evolving regulations
Cullen supplies customers in over 35 countries, helping brands remove millions of pieces of unnecessary plastic every year. When companies choose better packaging, they help reduce plastic waste well beyond their own operations — contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.
Cutting Costs by Cutting Plastic
The environmental cost of plastic is clear — but what about the financial costs? In 2025/26, plastic packaging containing less than 30% recycled content is taxed at £223.69 per tonne, with additional reporting for companies using more than 10 tonnes a year. Moving to fibre-based packaging removes the tax altogether — saving time, money and resource.
Shaping a Cleaner Future, Together
Oceans of Plastic Day 2025 gives us all a moment to pause — and a moment to act. The challenge is immense, but the solutions are within reach. By embracing circular design, reducing single-use plastics and choosing packaging that works for the planet, we can help protect our oceans for generations to come.
At Cullen, we’re here to make those changes simple, scalable and impactful. From ready-now moulded fibre products to fully bespoke packaging created in as little as six weeks, our team helps businesses transition to a plastic-free future with confidence.
Ready to protect your products — and our oceans?
Talk to our team today on 0141 945 2222or e-mail is at sales@cullen.co.uk
