What Cromwell Polythene does

Cromwell Polythene Limited is a UK-based wholesale supplier of polythene bags, refuse sacks, and flexible plastic packaging, founded in 1983 and headquartered at 1 Glentrool Avenue, Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds. The company operates as a private, family-run limited company with 11-50 employees, currently led by five Lee family directors (Henry as Managing Director, plus Debbie, James, Angus and Alex as Directors). Its product portfolio spans refuse sacks, compactor sacks and wheeled bin liners, pedal/square/swing bin liners, food and organic waste liners, clinical waste sacks (UN-accredited), building and construction sacks including UN-certified asbestos bags, BRC-compliant food packaging, and the trademarked Glovelee compostable gloves and The rUK Sack ranges. Underlying technology centres on polymer formulation: recycled-content blends up to 97-100%, EN13432-certified compostable materials (Ecopond), Biomaster silver-ion antimicrobial additives in the Sansafe range, and CHSA-accredited manufacturing quality standards.

Cromwell's go-to-market is sales-led B2B wholesale with three channel structures: direct sales and tendering for local authorities and NHS trusts, wholesale distribution to janitorial and packaging merchants, and inside-sales website/email/phone enquiry handling. Revenue is generated almost entirely through hardware sales of stocked inventory; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The customer base is diversified across UK local authorities, the NHS and clinical waste contractors, foodservice and hospitality operators, building and construction firms, cleaning/janitorial distributors, and packaging merchants, with no disclosed external investment, funding rounds, or parent company.

The company holds ISO14001, CHSA accreditation (founding member of the refuse sack accreditation scheme), EN13432, UN clinical/asbestos sack certifications, and BRC food safety standards, and maintains active membership in FPA, LARAC, CHSA, HWMA, RECOUP and BBIA. Recent strategic positioning has emphasised product innovation (rUK Sack 2023, Glovelee 2024, multiple 2025 SKU extensions), regulatory preparedness for the April 2027 Simpler Recycling mandate through FlexCollect Bags, and a Carbon Reduction Plan published November 2025 with Net Zero targets for 2035 (Scopes 1 and 2) and 2050 (Scope 3).

Name

Cromwell Polythene

Legal name

Cromwell Polythene Limited

Website

https://cromwellpolythene.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cromwell Polythene is a UK-based wholesale supplier, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Leeds, that manufactures and distributes polythene refuse sacks, bin liners, clinical waste sacks, and compostable packaging to local authorities, the NHS, foodservice operators, construction firms, and janitorial distributors across the United Kingdom.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polythene & Plastic Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes Merchant Wholesalers (42461)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Trash Bags & Bin Liners (CRAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foodservice & Single-Use Plastic Packaging (Cups, Lids, Cutlery) Manufacturing (IMANAEAI), Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets) (CRADALAJ)

Keywords

• Refuse sack manufacturing
• Clinical waste sacks
• Compostable food liners
• Polythene packaging wholesale
• Recycled content bags

Headquarters

HQ city

Leeds

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wholesale Polythene Products: Cromwell generates revenue through the wholesale distribution of polythene bags, refuse sacks, bin liners, clinical waste sacks, compostable products, and packaging solutions. Products are sold in bulk to local authorities, healthcare facilities, waste management companies, and foodservice businesses. The company maintains inventory of streamlined product lines enabling reliable access and competitive pricing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cromwell Polythene manufactures and wholesale-supplies polythene bags, refuse sacks, bin liners, clinical waste sacks, compostable food-waste liners, and compostable gloves under the Glovelee, The rUK Sack, Wave, Sansafe, and Ecopond sub-brands. Production runs from a Leeds-based UK facility serving local authorities, NHS-affiliated healthcare waste contractors, foodservice operators, construction trades, and janitorial distributors with CHSA-accredited, EN13432- and ISO14001-certified ranges including up to 97% recycled-content blends.

Product overview

Cromwell Polythene is a UK-based wholesale supplier of polythene bags and packaging products, founded in 1983, serving waste management, healthcare, local authorities, foodservice, and construction sectors. The product portfolio centres on waste capture and containment solutions including refuse sacks, compactor sacks, wheeled bin liners, pedal/square/swing bin liners, food and organic waste liners, clinical waste sacks, and building/construction sacks. Specialty offerings include the UK-manufactured rUK Sack (97%+ recycled content), Glovelee compostable gloves (EN13432 certified), FlexCollect bags for flexible plastic collections, antimicrobial bin liners, and BRC-compliant food packaging. All products emphasise recycled content, recyclability, or compostability with CHSA quality accreditation throughout.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Glovelee: FPA Award Winning compostable glove range made from EN13432 certificated compostable material, designed for foodservice and catering. Latex free, powder free, BPA free, and food grade compliant.
• The rUK Sack
• Sansafe
• Wave
• Ecopond

Products and services

• Refuse Sacks Polythene refuse sacks manufactured for UK municipal waste collection, healthcare, foodservice, and construction use, with CHSA-accredited dimensions and up to 97% recycled-content formulations.
• Compactor Sacks & Wheeled Bin Liners Heavy-duty polythene liners engineered for 660-litre and 1100-litre wheeled bins and on-site waste compactors used in commercial premises and municipal waste streams.
• Pedal, Square & Swing Bin Liners (incl. Sansafe Antimicrobial) Front-of-house bin liners sized for pedal, square, and swing bins in offices, hospitality, and clinical settings, including the Sansafe sub-line treated with Biomaster silver-ion antimicrobial additive.
• Food & Organic Waste Liners (incl. Polythene Caddy Liners) EN13432-certified compostable food-waste caddy liners for household and commercial kerbside food-waste collections, complemented by printed polythene caddy liners with household collection instructions.
• The rUK Sack Branded 100% recycled-content refuse sack supplied to UK local authorities as a household refuse liner option with demonstrable recycled-material credentials.
• Clinical Waste Sacks UN-approved orange and yellow clinical waste sacks for the segregation, handling, and disposal of clinical, sharps, and offensive waste in NHS and private healthcare settings.
• Glovelee Compostable Gloves BRC food-safety-compliant, FPA award-winning compostable gloves supplied to foodservice, hospitality, and catering operators as a sustainable foodservice consumable.
• Building & Construction Sacks Heavy-duty and UN-approved rubble, construction, and asbestos sacks distributed to construction contractors, demolition firms, and builders' merchants.
• Disposables (Wave Brand Range) Wave-branded disposable janitorial products supplied to contract cleaning companies and janitorial distributors for cleaning-operations customers.
• Packaging Products Bespoke printed and converted polythene packaging range supplied to commercial customers needing custom-sized and branded plastic packaging alongside the company's core sack offering.
• FlexCollect Kerbside Collection Bags Printed kerbside collection bag scheme delivered alongside UK local authorities to support household recycling and food-waste collection rounds, supplied via FlexCollect branding.
• Light Duty Bin Liners on Rolls (CHSA-Accredited) CHSA-accredited light duty bin liners on rolls for janitorial and contract cleaning customers needing easy-dispense consumable bin liners.
• Water-Soluble Laundry Bags (Dispenser Packs) Water-soluble laundry bags supplied in dispenser-pack format for healthcare and care-home customers handling contaminated or infectious linen.

Quantifiable outcome

• Potential saving of 394,144.8 tonnes of CO2e from compostable food waste liners alone in 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Andy’s Man ClubminorOthers · 1 January 2026Andy’s Man Club is Cromwell’s chosen charity for 2026. The UK charity is dedicated to ending stigma surrounding men’s mental health, providing free peer-to-peer support groups. Cromwell hosts Lunch and Learn sessions with representatives.
• Macmillan Cancer SupportminorOthers · 1 January 2025Cromwell supports Macmillan Cancer Support through fundraising events including Macmillan Coffee Morning, which raised £230 for the charity supporting people living with cancer.
• Monk Fryston FCminorOthers · 1 January 2025Newly sponsored grassroots football club providing safe environment for children and young people. Cromwell carried out community litter pick with the squad to teach environmental values.
• Sherburn White Rose Football ClubminorOthers · 1 January 2018Cromwell has proudly sponsored Sherburn White Rose Football Club for over seven years, providing kit sponsorship to the Under 9’s squad. The partnership includes sideline encouragement and community engagement through litter picks.
• Sherburn Bears Rugby ClubminorOthers · 1 January 2018Cromwell sponsors Sherburn Bears RLFC, with several Cromwell staff members playing for the club. The Quality Control Technician coaches the youth team wearing Cromwell kit.
• Foodservice Packaging Association (FPA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell is a long-standing member of the FPA, an industry-leading body bringing together manufacturers and distributors of food service packaging. The partnership provides industry insights, networking events, and promotional opportunities. Cromwell sponsors FPA Awards and participates in exhibitions and conferences.
• LARAC (Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell is a proud LARAC partner and participant in annual conferences. The partnership supports engagement with local authority waste management professionals and provides platform to showcase products for household waste collections.
• Cleaning & Hygiene Suppliers Association (CHSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell is a founding member of CHSA Refuse Sack Accreditation Scheme. CHSA accreditation provides independent verification that products meet design weight standards, with the principle 'what's on the box is in the box'.
• Healthcare Waste Management Association (HWMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell is an active member of HWMA (formerly SMDSA), working closely with the healthcare sector on clinical waste management solutions compliant with European Waste Collection legislation.
• RECOUPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell is a proud member of RECOUP, a charity helping to increase plastic recycling rates. The partnership supports industry collaboration on plastic recycling and sustainability initiatives.
• Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCromwell holds membership in BBIA, supporting the bio-based and biodegradable plastics industry and promoting compostable and sustainable packaging solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BPI Group: BPI Group is a UK manufacturer of polythene bags, refuse sacks, and recycled-content packaging serving local authorities and waste management customers. It is the closest direct competitor to Cromwell, overlapping on refuse sacks, clinical waste sacks, and recycled-content products.
• Macpac: Macpac is a UK-based polythene manufacturer producing refuse sacks, bin liners, and food waste caddy liners. Its product mix and UK local authority customer base directly overlap with Cromwell's core range.
• Solpak: Solpak is a UK manufacturer of polythene sacks, bags, and film packaging for waste management, janitorial, and industrial customers. Its product offering overlaps materially with Cromwell's refuse sack and bin liner range.
• Saxon Packaging: Saxon Packaging is a UK polythene and flexible packaging manufacturer supplying refuse sacks, bin liners, and packaging products to local authorities and merchants. Comparable to Cromwell on product format and UK customer base.
• Centurion Packaging: Centurion Packaging is a UK polythene manufacturer and converter producing refuse sacks, bin liners, and industrial packaging. It competes with Cromwell in the UK local authority and janitorial supply channels.
• Polythene UK: Polythene UK is a UK converter of polythene bags, sacks, and sheeting serving waste management and industrial customers. It competes directly with Cromwell on core refuse and bin liner SKUs.

Broad incumbents

• Huhtamaki: Huhtamaki is a global foodservice and consumer packaging manufacturer with UK presence producing compostable and foodservice packaging. It overlaps with Cromwell's Glovelee compostable glove and foodservice packaging range at larger scale.
• Bunzl: Bunzl is a FTSE-listed distribution group supplying janitorial, hygiene, and packaging products to UK businesses and public sector customers. It does not manufacture polythene itself but distributes comparable refuse sack and bin liner ranges, putting it in indirect competition with Cromwell's wholesale channel.
• Berry Global (formerly RPC): Berry Global is a global plastic packaging manufacturer with UK operations producing refuse sacks, bin liners, and food packaging through legacy RPC and BPI heritage assets. It competes with Cromwell at scale on commodity and specialty polythene products.
• Coveris: Coveris is a European flexible packaging manufacturer with UK operations producing plastic films, sacks, and food packaging. It serves overlapping end markets to Cromwell at greater scale and broader geographic scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CromwellPoly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cromwell-polythene-ltd

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cromwell Polythene