Padlock Maker Cuts Plastic Packaging 75% in One Year

When a centuries-old padlock company decided to tackle its plastic problem, the results were stunning: 857kg of plastic packaging in 2025, down from 3,364kg the year before.

Squire, a British lock manufacturer, achieved its 75% reduction by making one key change. The company replaced plastic blister packs with simple cardboard boxes and card-based packaging across its product line.

The shift wasn't just about feeling good. Squire needed to comply with the UK's Extended Producer Responsibility framework, new legislation pushing companies to reduce plastic waste and boost recyclability.

But the company didn't stop at meeting legal requirements. Squire announced plans to phase out non-recyclable materials entirely and is working directly with manufacturing partners to ensure every package can be recycled.

The strategy proves that sustainability doesn't require revolutionary technology. Sometimes the old ways work best: a sturdy cardboard box protecting a metal lock, just like it did decades ago.

The Ripple Effect

Squire's success is part of a growing wave of packaging innovation. Coveris launched a board-based tray last year that cuts plastic by 90% while keeping meat, fish, and poultry fresh for 21 days.

Graphic Packaging recently unveiled its Boardio canister, a recyclable paperboard container that replaces plastic, glass, and metal options with over 90% less plastic. The design works for multiple product shapes, making it easier for other companies to adopt.

These solutions matter because packaging waste adds up fast. Every blister pack replaced, every plastic tray swapped for cardboard, removes kilograms of material from landfills and oceans.

What makes Squire's approach especially promising is its practicality. The company didn't redesign its locks or change how they work, just how they're presented to customers.

That simplicity could inspire countless other manufacturers still relying on plastic-heavy packaging. If a company can protect metal padlocks in cardboard instead of plastic, what else could make the switch?

The best part: customers get the same quality product with less guilt and less waste heading to the trash bin after purchase.