The specialist papermaker, James Cropper based in Kendal, Cumbria has produced the paper to make the poppies through working with the Royal British Legion (RBL), and design consultancy Matter. James Cropper has for the past 45 years produced the red paper used in the traditional poppy as well as the green paper for the leaves which have been accompanied by a plastic stem.
Commenting on the new design, James Cropper said today (19 April) that it is “proud to have co-created the poppy which will reduce carbon emissions by 40%. It is free from single-use plastic and can be recycled in ordinary paper recycling collections.”
The design, explained the Royal British Legion, is part of the charity’s commitment to reducing single-use plastic in all its activities in a drive to be “economical, sustainable, and less impactful to the environment”. The new poppy maintains the iconic poppy design and leaf shape and can be fastened with a pin, inserted into a buttonhole, or stick on versions are available.
The paper provided for the new design is made from half virgin fibres plus from from paper coffee cups via James Cropper’s ‘cupcycling’ facility.
Cropper mill
Steve Adams, chief executive at James Cropper, said: “Every year since 1978, red and green papers made at our paper mill are transformed into millions of poppies for the annual Poppy Appeal that continues to provide vital support to the Armed Forces community.
“Although we are involved each year, we never take for granted what this symbol means to so many families and the country as a whole. Everyone at James Cropper is very proud of our long-standing involvement in the production of the paper poppy, worn the world over as a symbol of respect and remembrance.”
The original paper poppy design was first produced in the 1970s. A request went out to paper mills for assistance in finding a bleed-free paper, and the partnership between James Cropper and the RBL began. James Cropper explained that it now delivers over three miles of narrow red and green paper rolls, which are made into millions of poppies, to the Legion and PoppyScotland’s poppy factories every year.
The Royal British Legion’s Executive Director of Marketing, Fundraising and Remembrance, Gary Ryan said, “We’re proud to have designed a plastic-free poppy that will enable people to show their support for our Armed Forces community in a more sustainable way. We are thankful to our long-standing supplier James Cropper who developed the innovative paper used in the new poppy.
Coffee cups
“The company’s industry-leading technology which reuses waste from the manufacture of coffee cups has ensured the iconic poppy is now made entirely from responsibly sourced materials. We hope our new plastic-free poppy, which will be available alongside existing poppy stocks, will encourage people to support the Poppy Appeal this year and help us continue our vital work.”
Next generation
John MacDonald, design director at Matter said: “We didn’t want to simply reduce single use plastic, but to eliminate it completely. Paper offered a single-material solution that could be easily recycled, as well as offering a bold, elegant approach for the next generation of poppies. When applied well, paper is such a beautiful material. The new poppy uses papers entirely bespoke to the RBL, with print finish details that lift 3D form and deliver a quality that the remembrance occasion deserves.”
Subscribe for free