What Packaging2Buy does

Packaging2Buy is a UK-based e-commerce retailer of packaging materials, supplies, and related equipment, operated as a trading brand of Bunzl UK Limited (itself a subsidiary of FTSE-listed Bunzl plc). The business is headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, operating alongside the longer-running Lightning Packaging Supplies brand, and claims over 30 years of industry experience. Its catalogue spans more than 1,000 SKUs across cardboard boxes (double wall, single wall, eco reinforced, storage, moving, postal, bottle), adhesive tapes and labels, postal packaging (mailing bags, padded envelopes, postal tubes), wrapping and cushioning (bubble wrap, paper, foam, air cushion, Geami system), polythene products (bags, layflat tubing, sheeting, stretch film), packing equipment (heat sealers, tape dispensers, packaging machines), and strapping equipment. The company also offers customised branded packaging (custom boxes, printed tapes, custom labels) and a protective packaging equipment rental range covering paper, air cushion, expanding foam, and stretch wrap machines.

The platform is a self-serve e-commerce storefront supplemented by phone-based sales support (01707 635353, with a dedicated rental inquiry line at 01707 635343) and a trade account program for business customers. The technology is a standard retail e-commerce stack with no disclosed AI/ML, proprietary models, or API integrations; product search, category navigation, account registration, and order tracking are the core platform functions. Marketing is conducted through the owned e-commerce site, email newsletter, and organic social channels (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube), with category-level SEO across the product catalogue.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time transactional sales with a unit pricing model and volume-based tiered discounts (1+, 5+, 8+ packs), supplemented by free shipping on orders over £200 and a low-price guarantee. The customer base is horizontally segmented between business and trade buyers (warehouses, packing departments, industrial users, removal services) and individual consumers (home movers, household storage). The business holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications, maintains TrustPilot 5-star buyer reviews, and operates exclusively within the United Kingdom with no disclosed international expansion.

Name

Packaging2Buy

Legal name

Bunzl UK Limited

Website

https://packaging2buy.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Packaging2Buy is a UK-based e-commerce retailer of packaging supplies, materials, and equipment (boxes, tapes, polythene, cushioning, strapping, machinery), serving both business/trade customers and individual consumers across the United Kingdom. It operates as a trading brand of Bunzl UK Limited.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Packaging Supplies

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111), Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Packaging and Labeling Services (561910)

SIC

Wholesale-Paper & Paper Products (5110), Papers & Allied Products (2600), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging & Boxes (RSC, die-cut, bulk bins) (IMAMAHAA)

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 supplies
• Cardboard boxes
• Postal packaging
• Protective packaging
• Strapping equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Stevenage

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, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Packaging Products Retail: The company generates revenue through direct e-commerce sales of packaging supplies including cardboard boxes, adhesive tapes, polythene products, strapping equipment, and packing accessories. Revenue is primarily one-time transactional, with volume discounts incentivising larger purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Packaging2Buy is a UK e-commerce retailer selling a comprehensive range of packaging supplies including cardboard boxes, adhesive tapes and labels, postal packaging, wrapping and cushioning materials, polythene products, packing and strapping equipment, and customised branded packaging. The business also offers a protective packaging equipment rental range covering paper packaging, air cushioning, expanding foam, and stretch wrap machines, supported by UK-wide delivery and a trade account programme for corporate buyers.

Product overview

Packaging2Buy is a UK-based packaging supplies e-commerce platform offering a comprehensive range of packaging products, packing equipment, and accessories for both business and consumer use. The product portfolio includes cardboard boxes (double wall, single wall, eco reinforced, moving, postal), adhesive tapes and labels, postal packaging, wrapping and cushioning materials (bubble wrap, paper, foam), polythene packaging (bags, sheeting, layflat tubing, stretch film), packing equipment, strapping equipment, and a customisation service for branded packaging. Additionally, the company offers a protective packaging rental range including paper packaging machines (FillPak, PadPak, Geami), air cushioning equipment (NewAir IB, MiniPak R, ProPak R), expanding foam machines (Instapak), and stretch wrap machines. With over 30 years of experience, the company focuses on providing quality and environmentally responsible packaging solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cardboard Boxes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kite Packaging: Kite Packaging is one of the UK's largest online packaging suppliers, selling a comparable range of cardboard boxes, protective packaging, tapes, and postal supplies to both business and consumer customers. It competes head-to-head with Packaging2Buy across product, price, and self-serve e-commerce channel.
• Davpack: Davpack is a UK-based packaging e-tailer specializing in cardboard boxes, postal packaging, and protective materials for SMBs. Same target customer profile, similar product mix, and parallel self-serve e-commerce model position it as a direct comparable.
• Boxes and Packaging Ltd: UK packaging e-commerce retailer offering cardboard boxes, postal packaging, and protective materials to business and consumer buyers. Comparable assortment depth and self-serve buying experience make it a direct peer in the SMB packaging segment.
• Rajapack UK: Rajapack is a major European packaging distributor with a UK e-commerce operation selling cardboard boxes, mailing bags, tapes, and protective packaging to SMB and trade customers. Overlapping catalogue and multi-channel self-serve model make it one of Packaging2Buy's closest direct competitors.
• UK Packaging Supplies: UK-focused online supplier of cardboard boxes, polythene products, tapes, and wrapping materials serving both trade and consumer customers. Highly comparable product catalogue and self-serve GTM model align with Packaging2Buy's positioning.
• Postal Packaging Supplies: UK e-commerce packaging supplier focused on mailing bags, padded envelopes, postal boxes, and tubes for SMB e-commerce shippers. Comparable product mix in the postal packaging category and overlapping SMB trade customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Sealed Air: Sealed Air is a global protective packaging manufacturer whose brands (FillPak, Instapak, NewAir IB, MiniPak R) form the backbone of Packaging2Buy's rental equipment offering. Functions as both a key supplier and a broader competitor in protective packaging solutions.
• DS Smith: DS Smith is a global FTSE-listed packaging manufacturer and recycler with a substantial UK corrugated and protective packaging business. Operates upstream of Packaging2Buy but competes for end-customer packaging spend in the same UK market.
• Smurfit Kappa: Smurfit Kappa is a global paper-based packaging leader with UK operations spanning corrugated boxes, retail packaging, and protective solutions. Significantly larger and integrated backward into paper manufacturing, but competes for the same UK B2B packaging customers.
• Macfarlane Group: Macfarlane Group is a UK-listed packaging distributor offering a broad range of protective, transit, and retail packaging alongside distribution services. Larger, public, and broader in scope than Packaging2Buy, but directly overlapping in protective and transit packaging categories.

Market position

Strengths2 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Packaging2Buy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Packaging2Buy
• Facebookfacebook.com/lightningpackagingonline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/packaging2buy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Packaging2Buy