PORTHLEVEN-based eco packaging company Flexi-Hex has made it through to the finals of the prestigious 2019 EcoPack Challenge competition.

The competition, in association with M&S, is held annually to find the world’s best sustainable new innovations in packaging.

The finals of the competition will take place during The Packaging Innovations Show at the NEC in Birmingham on February 27 and 28.

Flexi-Hex has made it through to the final six. The overall winner will be selected after the innovators battle it out on stage in a Dragons' Den-style pitch to a panel of judges and top industry experts. The overall 2019 EcoPack winner will be offered the opportunity to work with M&S to further develop their innovation.

“We were really surprised to find out we had made it through to the final six,” said Sam Boex, who is a director of Flexi-Hex along with his twin brother Will.

“Currently with the move away from single-use plastics there are many brilliant new sustainable packaging innovations being developed around the world."

Flexi-Hex, with its patented design and distinctive honeycomb structure, was originally created by the brothers when they recognised the impact that single-use plastic was having on their local and the world’s marine environment.

Their passion for surfing, background in design and their personal experience of transporting boards around the globe inspired them to create a sustainable paper packaging sleeve for the board sports industry.

Since the early days supported by individuals and organisations championing the plastic-free movement, Flexi-Hex has developed and grown.

The team now includes Chloe Northover and Hannabeth Johnson, but the founding commitments remain the same.

Flexi-Hex now develops sustainable packaging solutions across a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors.

Will said: “The success of the Flexi-Hex system for boards made us realise there was huge potential for the application of Flexi-Hex packaging across other industries and we are currently now developing solutions for the drinks and furniture industry.

We would love the opportunity to develop new products with M&S.”

The EcoPack Challenge will be taking place on the EcoPack stage at the NEC in Birmingham during The Packaging Innovations Show on February 27 and 28.

The ‘Dragons Den’ style battle will happen on Wednesday and the judges will then deliberate over the next day and the overall winner will be announced at the end of the show on Thursday.

For further information on the competition go to www.easyfairs.com/packaging-innovations-birmingham-2019/packaging-innovations-birmingham-2019/

For further information on Flexi-Hex go to www.flexi-hex.com