JBX PaperPak | 2022: A Year In Review

As we approach the end of the year, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on our journey throughout 2022 and everything we have achieved.

In January 2022, we were feeling the effects of two very hard years; thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the vast majority of businesses that use paper straws were forced to close. With our entire customer base not able to do business, we were faced with a major obstacle: We were producing millions of paper straws per week with almost no one to sell them to.

We had to choose between closing our factory and putting our staff out of work and taking the risk to say open and keep producing straws. While closing down did feel like it was getting closer as time went by and the relentless pandemic restrictions kept hammering us, we chose to take the risk.

We stayed open throughout the entire pandemic, kept all of our staff in employment and kept producing straws. We knew that, despite how it felt, one day things would have to return to normal and businesses would need paper straws again. We knew that if we could just make it there, we would be in a very strong position once the economy opened up again.

Not only had other straw companies struggled to make it through the pandemic, but with all the shipping container shortages from China we knew it would become a challenge for many companies to source paper straws. We wanted to make sure these companies had a reliable and sustainable local supplier of paper straws available to them, to keep them from having to resort to less environmentally friendly options.

Now, not only are we not making straws just to stockpile them, we are in such demand that we are actually producing our straws to order. We have also added a variety of new product sizes and colour options to our catalogue this year to cater to the needs of a much broader and more diverse customer base. In addition to our 6mm ‘Classic’ straws, we now make 8mm ‘Milkshake’ straws, 10mm ‘Jumbo’ straws and cocktail straws. We also fulfil a number of bespoke orders, such as for one of our customers who requires extra-long straws.

In 2022, we have been able to both further establish JBX PaperPak as a reputable supplier of paper straws in Ireland and the UK and increase the number of straws we are exporting to our growing customer base in mainland Europe.

After having launched our business at the beginning of two years of pandemic restrictions that would mean we have no customers for our products, we are so proud to see how far we have come. We have managed to achieve all of this while having to overcome more than our fair share of challenges.

What we are even prouder of is that we were able to do it all without ever compromising on our principles; we still import nothing, and we still use local supply partners to manufacture 100% of our premium-quality ISO-certified paper straws right here in our Dublin facility. We stuck to our guns and did not compromise on our commitment to sustainability, all while receiving no government or other outside support. We are a totally self-funded operation, which makes looking back at how much we have had to overcome to get to where we are today just that much more special.

We are beyond excited to see what 2023 brings! Everyone can expect that JBX PaperPak will continue to grow, continue to add to our team, continue to increase our product range and continue to lead the way in the push for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic products.

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over these last two and a half years and wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New year! We hope that you are all able to find some time to relax with your friends and family over the festive period and we will see you all in the new year.