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Smurfit Kappa has become the first packaging company to obtain the Vegan Society trademark for its corrugated packaging and will form a partnership with the organisation to supply other trademark holders with vegan packaging solutions for vegan products.

Smurfit Kappa says it was able to obtain the Vegan Trademark because of its Markham Vale site in the UK, where it produces corrugated packaging made with materials including paper, glue, starch, and inks that are free from animal products.

The company apparently supplies vegan-approved packaging options for applications including fashion, cosmetics, and food and drinks. Smurfit Kappa adds that this allows vegan certified products to be matched with vegan certified packaging.

The Vegan Society has been identifying plant-based products since 1990. Smurfit Kappa is reportedly the first packaging company to have received vegan certification, and this also marks the milestone of 60,000 products being registered with the Vegan Society trademark scheme.

According to research conducted by the Vegan Society, 97% of vegans and vegetarians will look for vegan verification on food and drink products before making a purchase.

In addition, Smurfit Kappa has announced an ongoing partnership with the Vegan Society. As part of this partnership, Smurfit Kappa will help other trademark holders produce vegan certified packaging for plant-based product ranges.

Mark Robinson senior business development manager at Smurfit Kappa Markham Vale, comments: “We are thrilled to be the first packaging company to be recognised as Vegan Society Certified.

“This accreditation will give reassurances to customers with a preference for vegan products that all components of our finished products are cruelty-free and not from animal origin.”

Ericka Durgahee, business development marketing manager at The Vegan Society, adds: “Announcing our partnership with Smurfit Kappa couldn’t have come at a better time.

“Not only are they the first packaging company to register products with us, but they are also the 60,000th product to hold the Vegan Trademark. We’ve come a long way since we registered our first product in 1990.”

Earlier this year, Avery Dennison launched a portfolio of labels suitable for cosmetics, food, and drink that contain no animal-derived components, as certified by EVE VEGAN, an independent organisation created by Vegan France.