Sustainable packaging company to supply McDonald’s and create over 100 new jobs in Ystrad Mynach

A packaging company based in Ystrad Mynach will create over 100 jobs after signing a contract with McDonald’s and being awarded funding by the Welsh Government.

Transcend Packaging is quickly developing a reputation as a leading innovator in sustainable packaging, despite only being established six months ago.

The company signed a contract with McDonalds in June following the fast-food giant’s decision to replace plastic straws with paper ones in all UK and Ireland outlets this autumn. McDonald’s decision was followed on Monday, 9 July, by Starbucks, who also announced it would be eliminating plastic straws from all of its UK stores.

Now, after talks with the Welsh Government about a package of support, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates has confirmed that Transcend Packaging is set to receive more than £500,000 over three years.

The Welsh Government support is on top of an £11m investment by the company who predicts it will grow its workforce from 20 employees to more than 200 by the end of 2021.

Lorenzo Angelucci, Managing Director of Transcend Packaging, said: “We founded Transcend Packaging because we aspire to help companies become more sustainable across a broad range of products from paper straws to folding cartons.

“Our entire Transcend team appreciates the generous support from the Welsh Government and we look forward to providing jobs in Wales for many years to come.

“By working in partnership with local and regional government, leading companies and the wider public, we are able to provide innovative packaging solutions that help preserve a healthy environment.

“We believe that British companies can help drive innovation in sustainability and are proud to be the leading producer of eco-friendly paper straws in the United Kingdom. We applaud forward thinking companies like McDonald’s UK and Ireland who have selected Transcend to provide their paper straws which we will begin producing in Wales this summer.”

The Welsh Government funding comes from its ‘Our Valleys, Our Future’ action plan, a programme aimed at improving the South Wales Valleys by creating 7,000 new jobs.

Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport, said: “The Welsh Government is proud to be supporting Transcend Packaging as it works to create an additional 102 jobs in Ystrad Mynach. This supports the priorities outlined in Our Valleys Our Future, to create thousands of new, fair, secure and sustainable jobs in the Valleys.

“Not only is the company rapidly becoming a leader in its field, it is also helping one of the biggest global fast food names to slash its use of single use plastic.

“Transcend Packaging’s focus on decarbonisation and innovation is exactly the sort of behaviour we are trying to encourage with our Economic Action Plan and the Welsh Government is proud to be working hard to support such an ethical and forward looking business.”