UK-based Coveris has completed a new centre of excellence for wicketted bag production at its Hartlepool plant in the northeast of England, increasing output of lightweight, recyclable packaging for a range of sectors.
The site, one of the UK’s largest producers of wicketted bags, has expanded its capability to serve growing demand from bakery, fresh produce and sanitary product manufacturers.
Operating under Coveris’ vertically integrated model, the Hartlepool facility brings together extrusion, reprographics, platemaking, printing and conversion on a single site.
This structure lowers lead times and supports technical development for customers.
Production at Hartlepool is based on Coveris’ MonoFlex Lite polyethylene monomaterial films.
The wicketted bags are designed for chilled, frozen and ambient products and are intended for use on high-speed packing lines.
Specification options include up to eight-colour flexographic printing, bottom gussets, captive flaps and resealable closures.
The bags can also be supplied with the company’s Freshlife technology.
The Hartlepool plant holds a Gold sustainability rating from EcoVadis and is certified to AA+ BRCGS Packaging Materials Issue 7.
Along with food and personal care applications, the site also supplies packaging to the banking, healthcare, medical diagnostics, mailing, security and e-commerce markets.
Coveris is enhancing wicketted bag sustainability through its ReCover Louth de-inking and recycling site.
That facility handles production waste from both Coveris and its customers, turning it into recycled resin for non-food contact uses in line with the UK plastic packaging tax.
Coveris Hartlepool plant manager David Humes stated: “With our new UK centre of excellence and extensive capacity for wicketted bags, we support brands, manufacturers and retailers with expert packaging and service.
“Our capabilities in extrusion, print and bag-making to brand and colour management are backed by years of experience and technical understanding.”
In November 2025, Coveris’ Winsford site secured the RecyClass Recycling Process Certificate and the RecyClass Recycled Plastics Traceability Certificate at Level 2.
These certifications confirm that the site meets all mandatory and optional audit criteria.
