What UK Packaging does

UK Packaging, operated under the legal entity 3P Direct Ltd (also branded as Print & Packaging People), is a UK-based e-commerce distributor of packaging materials headquartered in Mansfield with a Midlands distribution centre. Founded in 2004, the company stocks over 2,500 product lines spanning cardboard boxes, postal packaging, general packaging (bubble wrap, tapes, void fill, pallet wrap), removal packaging, polythene products, strapping, printed packaging, eco-friendly packaging, and warehouse products. The Box Calculator tool (60mm–1,200mm dimension range) and the Key Account 500 trade program are the principal proprietary features of the platform.

The business operates as a pure product-led e-commerce storefront selling to both consumers and businesses, with orders placed before 4pm Monday–Friday dispatched same day and next-working-day delivery available UK-wide. Two pricing tiers are offered: Standard Pricing with no minimum order and Trade Pricing requiring a £500 ex VAT minimum spend, with free delivery on orders over £75. Customer segments are horizontal and include e-commerce businesses, removal/moving companies, retail businesses, and warehouses/manufacturing. A wholly-owned subsidiary, UK Printing, handles adjacent custom printing and is cross-referred from the UK Packaging site, indicating a coordinated group strategy across packaging and print.

The company is privately held, employs 11–50 staff, and shows no external funding, M&A activity, or public-company signals. Its competitive position is anchored by the Midlands distribution footprint enabling rapid UK fulfillment, broad SKU depth, and an established trade-pricing program for B2B buyers.

Name

UK Packaging

Legal name

3P Direct Ltd

Website

https://ukpackaging.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

UK Packaging is a UK-based e-commerce distributor of over 2,500 packaging SKUs — cardboard boxes, postal, removal, polythene, strapping and eco products — selling to e-commerce businesses, removal firms, retailers and warehouses via a self-serve storefront with next-day delivery from a Midlands distribution centre.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Materials Supply

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (322212), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Plastics, Foil & Coated Paper Bags (2673)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flexible Plastic Packaging (Bags, Pouches, Sachets) Manufacturing (IMANAEAC), Protective Paper Packaging (Honeycomb, Paper Cushioning, Paper Wrap) (IMALACAH), Custom Crating & Export-Grade Packaging (HSAKADAC)

Keywords

• Packaging materials supply
• Cardboard boxes wholesale
• Postal packaging products
• Eco-friendly packaging supplies
• Warehouse packaging distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Mansfield

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. Product Sales: One-time transaction-based sales of packaging materials to businesses and consumers through e-commerce platform. Standard pricing for individual purchases with no minimum order value.
2. Trade Pricing Program: Volume-based pricing program for business customers requiring minimum £500 ex VAT spend, offering competitive pricing across full product range.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UK Packaging is an online e-commerce supplier of packaging materials operating from a Midlands-based distribution centre stocking more than 2,500 product lines. The company sells cardboard boxes, postal and mailing packaging, strapping, polythene products, removal/moving supplies, warehouse products, printed packaging, and eco-friendly packaging to UK commercial and residential addresses, with next-working-day delivery on orders placed before 4pm Monday–Friday.

Product overview

UK Packaging is an online supplier of packaging materials offering a diverse portfolio of products across multiple categories. The core offering includes cardboard boxes (single wall, double wall, postal, quick seal), general packaging supplies (bubble wrap, adhesive tapes, strapping, void fill), postal and mailing solutions (jiffy bags, polythene mailing bags, envelopes), and specialty products. The company also provides eco-friendly packaging options (EcoWrap paper wrap, recyclable boxes, recycled paper) and ecommerce-specific solutions. Supporting tools include a Box Calculator for instant custom box quotes. The business model includes trade pricing programs (Key Account 500) with volume discounts and next-day delivery service from their Midlands Distribution Centre.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UK Printing: Printing brand operated by the company, referenced as a sister brand on the website.

Products and services

• Cardboard Boxes Single wall and double wall cardboard boxes in various sizes including postal boxes, quick seal boxes, flat boxes, long boxes, white boxes, removal boxes, mug boxes, export boxes/cases/pallets, and bottle postal boxes with pulp inner. Sold to e-commerce, retail, removal, and industrial buyers across the UK.
• General Packaging Broad category covering bubble wrap, EcoWrap cushioned paper wrap, pallet wrap and stretch film, corrugated rolls and paper, adhesive tapes, edge protection, retail packaging, void fill, labels, cable ties, document wallets, foam rolls, and silica gel sachets for shipping, storage, and protection.
• Postal Packaging Jiffy bags, polythene mailing bags, cardboard postal boxes, envelopes, printed postal bags, brown postal tubes, paper mailing bags, and bottle postal boxes with pulp inner for postal and mailing applications.
• Printed Packaging Custom printed cardboard boxes (shipping, quick seal mailing, mailing, and sleeved mailing), printed carrier bags (twist handle and tape handle), and custom printed tape for brand visibility on outbound packaging.
• Removal Packaging Removal box kits, single wall brown cardboard removal boxes, bubble wrap rolls, tissue paper reams, premium foam rolls, corrugated paper rolls, void fill, printed warning tapes, parcel warning labels, refuse sacks, silica gel, box sealing tape, and Jiffy Furni-Soft and Furni-Guard rolls for moving and relocation.
• Polythene Packaging Polythene bags, grip seal bags, polythene layflat tubing, heat sealers, black refuse sacks, polythene shrink film, shrink wrap chambers, PVC shrink film, pallet top cover, and clear polythene sheeting for wrapping, sealing, and protection.
• Strapping Strapping kits in polypropylene, steel, and polyester, plus strapping machines, friction weld strapping tools, and strapping accessories for securing pallets and packages.
• Ecommerce Packaging Curated ecommerce-specific cardboard boxes, postal boxes, quick seal postal boxes, mailing bags, Jiffy postal bags, EcoWrap cushioned paper wrap, paper void fill, activaPaper voidfill systems, activaAir systems, tissue paper, and envelopes for online retailers.
• Warehouse Products Packaging systems including cardboard shredders, packing tables, glue guns, heat shrink systems, staplers and tackers, utility knives and accessories, and woven polypropylene sacks for warehouse operations.
• Eco Friendly Packaging Recycled paper, cushion protection void fill, cardboard shredders, recyclable boxes, eco-friendly bags (recyclable paper bags and environmentally friendly plastic bags), and coloured tissue paper for sustainable packaging requirements.
• Silica Gel Sachets Moisture-absorbing sachets used to prevent corrosion, condensation, rusting, and fungal growth during transport of electronics, precision equipment, leather goods, and pharmaceuticals.
• Refuse Sacks Polythene refuse sacks and bin bags available in various colours and sizes for waste disposal in warehouse, removal, and commercial settings.
• EcoWrap Cushioned Paper Wrap Paper-based cushioning wrap alternative to bubble wrap, designed for eco-friendly packaging protection in shipping and fulfilment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Orders placed before 4pm Monday-Friday dispatched same day
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UKPrinting.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReferral relationship with UKPrinting.com for cross-selling opportunities. UKPackaging.com homepage features link to UKPrinting.com for printing services, suggesting a coordinated marketing arrangement within the same parent company group.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kite Packaging: Kite Packaging is a UK-based distributor of cardboard boxes, void fill, strapping, and protective packaging, serving e-commerce, removals, and industrial customers. Comparable to UK Packaging on catalog breadth, trade pricing tiers, and next-day UK fulfillment model.
• GWP Group: GWP Group manufactures and distributes protective and corrugated packaging in the UK, serving e-commerce, industrial, and retail customers. Comparable on product mix, with a stronger custom-engineering angle than UK Packaging's catalog distribution model.
• Davpack: Davpack supplies cardboard boxes, packing materials, and packaging machinery to UK SMBs and e-commerce sellers, with strong trade account functionality. Overlaps directly with UK Packaging on product mix, B2B account model, and self-serve e-commerce storefront.
• Packaging Supplies Ltd: Packaging Supplies Ltd is a UK e-commerce-first distributor of cardboard boxes, mailing bags, and removal supplies aimed at SMBs. Comparable on target customer, product range, and online self-serve buying motion.
• Macfarlane Packaging: Macfarlane Packaging is a UK-focused distributor of corrugated boxes, protective packaging, and fulfillment supplies, part of the listed Macfarlane Group. Closest direct peer at slightly larger scale, sharing the same horizontal packaging-supply model and B2B trade pricing structure.
• Rajapack: Rajapack is one of the largest multi-channel packaging distributors in the UK and Europe, selling cardboard boxes, mailing bags, and warehouse supplies to SMB and enterprise buyers. Directly comparable to UK Packaging on product range, target customer, and e-commerce-led GTM.

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Sealed Air is a global protective packaging manufacturer known for bubble wrap, Instapak, and Cryovac food packaging. Relevant peer through product overlap in bubble wrap, void fill, and protective materials that UK Packaging resells.
• DS Smith: DS Smith is a global integrated packaging manufacturer and supplier of corrugated boxes, e-commerce packaging, and recycled paper. Overlaps with UK Packaging on corrugated and e-commerce packaging categories but operates at vastly larger scale across manufacturing and distribution.
• Smurfit Kappa: Smurfit Kappa is a global paper-based packaging leader producing corrugated, containerboard, and protective packaging. Comparable in underlying paperboard and corrugated products that UK Packaging distributes downstream to UK end customers.

Regional players

• Smith Packaging: Smith Packaging is a Midlands-based packaging distributor serving UK industrial and logistics customers with cardboard, stretch film, and strapping. Geographically adjacent to UK Packaging's Mansfield base and overlapping on product range, though skewed more toward industrial buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UKpackaging
• Facebookfacebook.com/ukpackagingcom
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/uk-packaging
• Instagraminstagram.com/uk_packaging

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 UK Packaging