Flexi-Hex
Flexi-Hex is a UK-based sustainable packaging company that sells patented honeycomb paper sleeves, boxes, and corner protection to brands in food and drink, homeware, beauty, boardsports, and electronics for plastic-free e-commerce fulfilment.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersPorthleven, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Flexi-Hex does
Flexi-Hex Limited is a UK-based sustainable protective-packaging company founded in January 2018 by brothers Will Boex and CEO and Sam Boex as Creative Director, headquartered in Porthleven, Cornwall. The company designs and sells patented honeycomb paper packaging sleeves (Air and Strength ranges) plus a portfolio of complementary boxes (Pinch Top, Window, Fold Top, 6 Bottle Box, Surfboard Box), Slender and Drum kits, and Corner Protection brackets. The technology centres on an open-ended expandable paper honeycomb structure that absorbs impact, accommodates a wide range of product shapes and sizes, and is made from FSC-certified 100% recycled paper that is kerbside-recyclable and biodegradable. Production economics highlight 5x more compact storage than bubble wrap, 3.5x more units per pallet than molded pulp, and ISTA 3A transit-test certification.
The company's commercial model combines direct e-commerce sales via flexi-hex.com with a multi-region distributor network of "Preferred Partners" covering the UK (Forms Plus, Woodway, Kite Packaging), DACH (Medewo), France (Raja, Champ'PACK), Benelux (Corint Group/Honeycomb Packaging B.V.), North America (Veritiv as master distributor, Ecoenclose), and Oceania (MaCher, Woodhill Distribution, Atelier Nash), plus specialist boardsports resellers (Down The Line, Peak Distribution, Viral Surf, Despomar, Boardsales). Customers named on the website span spirits and wine brands (Diageo, Bombay Sapphire, Sipsmith, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Silent Pool, The Lakes Distillery, Mother Root), homeware and surfboard manufacturers (Tom Raffield, Pyzel, Celtic Timber), and a long tail of small D2C brands across five verticals (Food & Drink, Homeware & Furniture, Health & Beauty, Boardsports, and Electronics). Pricing is volume-based with MOQs that vary by product; custom-printed boxes start at approximately 2,000 units and custom-length sleeves at 100,000+ units, with bespoke design support for enterprise clients.
Financially, Flexi-Hex is founder-owned and bootstrapped, having raised approximately £1.36M cumulatively through 2021 and 2023 Crowdcube crowdfunding rounds, with the 2023 raise explicitly earmarked for international growth and reaching profitability. The company has sold over 12 million sleeves cumulatively across 25+ countries, holds FSC, B Corp, and ISTA 3A certifications, and won the King's Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2023 plus 12+ additional packaging-industry awards. Operations remain lean (1-10 employees) and product-led, with no disclosed revenue, no institutional venture backing, and an explicit sustainability positioning aimed at displacing single-use plastic void fill from e-commerce fulfilment.
Flexi-Hex firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Flexi-Hex
- Legal name
- Flexi-Hex Limited
- Website
- https://flexi-hex.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Flexi-Hex is a UK-based sustainable packaging company that sells patented honeycomb paper sleeves, boxes, and corner protection to brands in food and drink, homeware, beauty, boardsports, and electronics for plastic-free e-commerce fulfilment.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Flexi-Hex industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Protective Packaging
- NAICS
- Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219)
- SIC
- Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Converted Paper & Paperboard Prods (No Contaners/Boxes) (2670)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Paper-Based Protective Packaging (Kraft Paper, Honeycomb, Molded Pulp) (IMALAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Protective Paper Packaging (Honeycomb, Paper Cushioning, Paper Wrap) (IMALACAH)
Keywords
Where Flexi-Hex is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Porthleven
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Flexi-Hex business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Paper Packaging Product Sales: Primary revenue from selling protective paper packaging products including sleeves (Air and Strength ranges), boxes (Pinch Top, Window, Fold Top, 6 Bottle, Surfboard), corner protection brackets, and accessory components. Products are sold directly to brands and through distributor networks globally. Volume-based pricing with MOQs varying by product type.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Stock Products |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Custom/Bespoke Packaging |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Flexi-Hex product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Flexi-Hex designs, manufactures, and sells patented honeycomb paper-based protective packaging including sleeves (Air and Strength ranges), corner protection brackets, and purpose-built shipping boxes for bottles, surfboards, ceramics, electronics, and homeware. Products are 100% plastic-free, made from FSC certified recycled paper, kerbside recyclable, and biodegradable. The company serves brands globally through direct website sales, a Preferred Partner distributor network, and bespoke custom packaging contracts.
Product overview
Flexi-Hex is a sustainable packaging company offering patented honeycomb paper-based protective packaging solutions. The product portfolio consists of two main sleeve ranges (Air for lighter/delicate items and Strength for heavier products), complemented by purpose-built boxes (Pinch Top, Surfboard, Window, Fold Top, 6 Bottle Box) and corner protection products. The Air Sleeves (Air10, Air20, Air25, Air35) are made from tissue paper for ceramics, glassware, and electronics. The Strength Sleeves (Mini, Lite, Mid, XL) are made from durable recycled paper for bottles, surfboards, and furniture. Specialty packaging includes Phone, Tablet, and Laptop solutions, while Slender and Drum kits offer premium bottle protection. All products are 100% plastic-free, kerbside recyclable, and biodegradable, with custom branding available for orders over 100,000 units.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flexi-Hex Air Sleeves Patented lightweight protective packaging sleeves made from premium tissue paper, available in Air10, Air20, Air25, and Air35 sizes, designed for ceramics, glassware, beauty bottles, and electronic devices. 600 units fit in a single box.
- Flexi-Hex Strength Sleeves Patent protected durable sleeves made from recycled paper, available in Mini (33cm), Lite, Mid (80cm), and XL sizes, protecting products ranging from bottles to surfboards and furniture.
- Flexi-Hex Corner Protection Patent pending (GB2417659.6) expandable corner brackets in Expand-100 and Grip-150 variants, made from FSC Certified 100% recycled tissue paper, designed to protect corners and edges of fragile items like doors, worktops, frames, and panels.
- Pinch Top Box Award-winning ecommerce bottle packaging box used with Mini Sleeve for 1, 2, and 3 bottles, fits bottles up to 32cm in height, made from 70% recycled paper, with tape or tape-free (peel-and-seal) options, packs a bottle in 14 seconds.
- Surfboard Box Telescopic box used with Strength Sleeves (Lite, Mid, or XL), adjusts to fit boards from 5ft to 7.4ft (2-part) or longboards up to 10ft (3-part), reduces packing time from 15-20 minutes to under 6 minutes, tape-free design.
- Window Box Premium bottle box featuring an internal window showing the product inside with honeycomb sleeve protection, used by luxury brands like Laphroaig, Sipsmith, Mirabeau Rose, Bombay Sapphire, and Bowmore for premium unboxing and gifting.
- Fold Top Box Ecommerce bottle packaging box with internal folds holding bottles of all shapes and sizes in place, fits bottles up to 350mm in height, available for 1, 2, 3, and 4 bottles, used by Diageo.
- 6 Bottle Box Premium multi-bottle shipping box where each bottle is protected by its own Flexi-Hex sleeve, features self-sealing crash-lock base (no tape required) and additional layer pad for extra protection.
- Flexi-Hex Slender and Drum Premium packaging kits comprising a Flexi-Hex sleeve, caps at one or both ends, and a paper wrap to lock the capsule together, made from recycled paper, protecting bottles, jars, candles, and Easter Eggs.
- Flexi-Hex Phone Packaging Compact protective phone packaging using Air20 sleeve, fits phones up to 200mm W x 80mm H x 15mm D, designed for consumer returns or internal device redistribution, made from recyclable paper.
- Flexi-Hex Tablet Packaging Plastic-free tablet packaging using Air25 or Air35, available in small (up to 285mm W x 180mm H x 15mm D) and large (up to 350mm W x 230mm H x 15mm D) sizes.
- Flexi-Hex Laptop Packaging Plastic-free laptop packaging using Air35 sleeve, fits laptops up to 350mm W x 250mm H x 20mm D, includes space for chargers and accessories, features tamper-resistant peel-and-seal closure.
Quantifiable outcome
- 12 million+ sleeves sold to date
- +11 more outcomes
Companies that use Flexi-Hex
Customer profileNamed customers36 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Flexi-Hex technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Flexi-Hex partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered preferred partner, core and preferred partner (master distributor).
- Forms Plus (UK)preferred partnerUK packaging distributor providing print and packaging solutions for all sizes of business. Established since 1981, known for outstanding customer service and product knowledge. Distributes the whole Flexi-Hex range.
- Woodway (UK)coreUK distributor looking at packaging innovatively, from streamlined storage to smarter processes. Helps make supply chains more efficient end to end.
- Kite Packaging (UK)coreUK distributor with teams across the country known for solving packing problems with smart products. Distributes large Flexi-Hex sleeves.
- Windmill Print (UK)coreUK printer trusted by top designers and art directors. Distributes Flexi-Hex Food & Drink solutions.
- Medewo (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)coreEuropean distributor covering Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Offers Flexi-Hex Papierwaben Schutzhulle (honeycomb protective sleeve) across all three markets.
- Raja (France)coreMajor French packaging distributor. Distributes Flexi-Hex Air range products.
- Champ'PACK (France)coreFrench packaging distributor focused on Flexi-Hex Food & Drink solutions.
- Corint Group - Honeycomb Packaging B.V. (Netherlands)coreDutch distributor specializing in honeycomb packaging solutions. Partners with Flexi-Hex for Netherlands market.
- Veritiv (North America)preferred partner (master distributor)Master Distributor for North America. Major packaging solutions provider distributing Flexi-Hex products across the continent.
- Ecoenclose (North America)coreNorth American sustainable packaging distributor. Offers Flexi-Hex Air range and Mini Sleeve products.
- MaCher (Australia)coreAustralian sustainable packaging distributor. Partners with Flexi-Hex for Rest of World distribution.
- Woodhill Distribution (New Zealand)coreNew Zealand distributor for Flexi-Hex packaging products.
- Atelier Nash (New Zealand)coreNew Zealand distributor offering Flexi-Hex products to local market.
- Down The Line (UK)coreUK boardsports retailer offering Flexi-Hex sleeves for surfboards. Ships boards directly to customers using Flexi-Hex packaging.
- Peak Distribution (Benelux, Germany, Scandinavia)coreEuropean boardsports distribution covering Benelux, Germany, and Scandinavia regions.
- Viral Surf (France)coreFrench boardsports retailer distributing Flexi-Hex surfboard sleeves.
- Despomar (Portugal)corePortuguese boardsports distributor for Flexi-Hex packaging.
- Boardsales (Australia)coreAustralian boardsports distributor offering Flexi-Hex sleeves.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Flexi-Hex competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ranpak Holdings Corp. Ranpak is the closest direct competitor, producing paper-based protective packaging including honeycomb cushioning, void fill, and wrapping solutions. Both companies compete for the same sustainability-driven replacement of plastic inflatable packaging across e-commerce, beverage, and homeware shipping customers.
- Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH: Storopack produces paper-based protective packaging (PAP(range), as well as foam and inflatable systems, competing for the same sustainable void-fill and cushioning RFPs as Flexi-Hex. Both companies' products appear in distributor catalogs globally and target identical bottle, ceramics, and electronics use cases.
- EcoEnclose: EcoEnclose is a US-based sustainable packaging company offering paper cushioning, mailers, and protective products with strong sustainability positioning. As a current Flexi-Hex distribution partner, EcoEnclose directly mirrors Flexi-Hex's mission-driven e-commerce customer base and competes for similar sustainability-prioritized brand RFPs.
Broad incumbents
- Sealed Air Corporation: Sealed Air is a global protective packaging incumbent (Bubble Wrap, Cryovac) increasingly pivoting toward sustainable paper-based alternatives such as its PaperWrap and EcoBubble lines. As Flexi-Hex's primary incumbent competitor for plastic-replacement mandates, the two compete head-to-head on enterprise packaging RFPs.
- Smurfit Kappa Group: Smurfit Kappa is one of the world's largest paper-based packaging manufacturers producing corrugated, paperboard, and protective paper packaging. Its portfolio breadth and global footprint position it as an incumbent alternative for FMCG and industrial customers evaluating Flexi-Hex for protective applications.
- Pregis LLC: Pregis is a global protective packaging manufacturer offering paper-based solutions (Sharp Packaging, Easypack) alongside foam and inflatable systems. It overlaps directly with Flexi-Hex in paper void-fill and cushioning applications for e-commerce and consumer goods shippers.
- Nefab Group: Nefab is a global industrial packaging manufacturer offering engineered paper-based protective solutions including honeycomb cushioning and corrugated containers. The company serves large industrial customers with similar needs to Flexi-Hex's enterprise base (electronics, capital equipment, homeware).
Regional players
- Kite Packaging: Kite Packaging is a UK-based protective packaging distributor that lists Flexi-Hex products alongside Ranpak and other paper-cushioning brands. As a competing brand within the same UK distributor's portfolio, Kite's broader catalog strategy makes it a like-for-like benchmark for Flexi-Hex's distribution-channel economics.
- Raja Group: Raja is a major European packaging distributor (France-based, pan-European footprint) and a current Flexi-Hex Preferred Partner. Raja distributes Flexi-Hex Air alongside a broad assortment of plastic and paper protective packaging from competing brands, benchmarking Flexi-Hex's relative shelf-share economics across European markets.
Others
- Veritiv Corporation: Veritiv is a North American packaging distribution heavyweight and Flexi-Hex's master distribution partner. While not a direct competitor on paper honeycomb, Veritiv's role as a distribution intermediary shapes Flexi-Hex's North American growth ceiling and represents comparable packaging-industry channel economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Flexi-Hex social profiles
Digital presenceFlexi-Hex compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Flexi-Hex financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Flexi-Hex leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Flexi-Hex funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Flexi-Hex M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Flexi-Hex
What does Flexi-Hex do?
Flexi-Hex designs, manufactures, and sells patented honeycomb paper-based protective packaging including sleeves (Air and Strength ranges), corner protection brackets, and purpose-built shipping boxes for bottles, surfboards, ceramics, electronics, and homeware. Products are 100% plastic-free, made from FSC certified recycled paper, kerbside recyclable, and biodegradable. The company serves brands globally through direct website sales, a Preferred Partner distributor network, and bespoke custom packaging contracts.
Is Flexi-Hex a public or private company?
Flexi-Hex is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Flexi-Hex founded?
Flexi-Hex was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Flexi-Hex based?
Flexi-Hex is headquartered in Porthleven, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Flexi-Hex make money?
One revenue line is on record: paper Packaging Product Sales.
Who are Flexi-Hex's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ranpak Holdings Corp., Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH and EcoEnclose. Broad incumbents are Sealed Air Corporation, Smurfit Kappa Group, Pregis LLC and Nefab Group. Regional players are Kite Packaging and Raja Group. Veritiv Corporation is listed as an others.
Does Flexi-Hex have an API?
No public API is recorded for Flexi-Hex.
What industry is Flexi-Hex in?
Flexi-Hex's product category is Sustainable Protective Packaging. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAFAC, Paper-Based Protective Packaging (Kraft Paper, Honeycomb, Molded Pulp), with a secondary code of IMALACAH, Protective Paper Packaging (Honeycomb, Paper Cushioning, Paper Wrap). Its NAICS code is 322212 and its SIC code is 2650.