James Cropper, one of the world’s most innovative papermakers, has appointed Damian Cook as technical director for its paper division.
Damian joins the Kendal-based business, which creates some of the world’s most advanced paper products, to lead its technical department. The team is responsible for research and development, field technical operations and product quality.
Damian CookDamian will also oversee the on-site colour lab, which has the capability to match and recreate any colour from any source. The lab holds around 2,000 live shade recipes and an electronic archive of some 200,000 colours.
With a strong focus on innovation and new product development, Damian brings a wealth of theoretical and practical experience. Having spent the past few years running his own consultancy business, Damian has previously held technical positions at a variety of organisations such as Elmwood Sensors Ltd, Honeywell International Inc, Draeger Safety UK Ltd and Parker-Hannifin Corporation.
As the business looks to build on its innovations such as the PaperGardTM anti-viral product protection for paper and its Rydal Collection, which includes 100% upcycled paper options for premium packaging, Damian will be crucial in supporting value growth through new product development.
James Cropper, managing director, Steve Adams, says: “Damian’s enthusiasm and passion for innovation and new product development is palpable. That, coupled with his experience in project management, research and development and marketing, makes him an ideal leader to help us accelerate our growth and deliver our business strategy effectively.”
Damian will be based at the Cumbrian papermill in the English Lake District. Damian says: “Joining James Cropper, a world-class papermaker with an exceptional reputation for innovation, is an extremely exciting career move.
“James Cropper has an incredible ability to pioneer and innovate, having created a series of unique paper and packaging solutions, including CupCycling™, the world’s first recycling process dedicated to upcycling coffee cups. It’s without doubt that this business is one to be excited by and proud to be part of.”
Damian is also a volunteer business mentor for The Prince’s Trust as well as an accredited associate member of the Association of Coaching.
About James Cropper
James Cropper is a prestige paper innovator based in the English Lake District, supplying distinct, custom-made paper products to many of the world’s leading luxury brands, art galleries and designers.
With over 175 years of high-quality paper production, the business has been carefully stewarded and nurtured by six generations of the Cropper family and is renowned globally for individual expertise in colour and fibre innovation.
CupCyclingTM
CupCycling is a technology innovated by James Cropper that extracts the polythene lining of disposable coffee cups, enabling them to be recycled and transformed into high-quality paper, packaging and stationery products. By working with retailers such as McDonald’s and Costa, James Cropper has implemented the infrastructure needed to collect single-use waste products and transform them into beautiful papers and packaging for the likes of Selfridges and Lush. Circular design is at the core of CupCycling. To date, James Cropper has recycled over 150 million coffee cups and has capacity to upcycle 500 million cups per year.