Klöckner Pentaplast (kp), a global leader in rigid and flexible packaging and specialty film solutions, is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025, marking six decades of packaging innovation that has helped shape the modern food and consumer goods industries.
Since its foundation in Montabaur, Germany in 1965, kp now operates 30 plants across 18 countries, employing some 5,500 people and serving customers in more than 60 locations worldwide. Throughout its long history, the company has consistently pushed the boundaries of possibility in packaging technology and has put significant focus on advancing sustainability and circularity.
"This milestone represents much more than our history - it's also about our vision for the future," said Thomas Kure Jakobsen, President, Food Packaging at kp. "While we're proud of our heritage and roots, we're particularly excited about the innovations we're bringing to market today, from our revolutionary kp Infinity® food-to-go packaging to our market-first 100% kp Tray2Tray® recycled PET food trays made entirely from recovered tray material.
"Over six decades, we've witnessed many packaging trends and kp has consistently remained at the cutting edge. We invest in scientific discovery and we're not afraid to experiment and push boundaries - because that's what true innovation requires. We're always developing the next breakthrough packaging solution and it's this spirit that's kept us at the forefront of packaging innovation for 60 years, and it's what will drive us forward into the future."
kp's commitment to sustainability has earned the company a gold rating from EcoVadis for four consecutive years, placing it in the top 1% of companies rated in the manufacturing of plastic products sector. The FP sustainability strategy continues to drive innovation, with ambitious targets including having a recyclable alternative to 100% of our packaging solutions by the end of 2025.”
Other recent achievements underline kp's position at the forefront of packaging innovation. The kp Tray2Tray® initiative is turbocharging food packaging tray circularity by recovering and recycling PET food trays into new, food-safe packaging. The company has also secured world-first RecyClass Traceability Certification with its closed-loop module for recycled PET, setting new industry standards for material traceability.
In the UK, kp has demonstrated outstanding leadership in sustainable innovation through its St Helens facility, which underwent a multi-million-pound transformation to become the country's first manufacturing site dedicated to producing kp Infinity®, a next-generation recyclable EPP-based single-use food packaging solution developed in response to evolving legislation and market demands.
"As we celebrate our 60th anniversary, we're channelling our innovation expertise into solving tomorrow's packaging challenges," Ben Elkington, Innovation Director, Food Packaging added. "From next-generation materials to revolutionising recycling technologies, our vision of ‘Packaging with Integrity' drives everything we do in FP. We're proud of our six decades of innovation, but even more energised about building a future where packaging actively contributes to a circular economy."
This commitment to innovation has positioned kp as a highly trusted partner for leading food brands, packers, wholesalers, foodservice businesses and retailers worldwide, particularly as the industry navigates significant regulatory changes such as the EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and similar initiatives globally. The company's visionary approach to sustainability and circularity continues to drive the development of solutions that meet both current needs and future challenges.
To learn more about kp's range of packaging solutions, please visit www.kpfilms.com