National Flexible

How ethical is National Flexible?

National Flexible is a packaging company which has achieved The GOOD Shopping Guide’s ethical benchmark on our Ethical Packaging Ratings Table. With a score of 73 out of 100, National Flexible meets the benchmark threshold, though consumers should be aware that this represents the minimum qualifying score and that stronger alternatives exist within the sector.

However, National Flexible has not yet obtained The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. Achieving accreditation would provide independent verification of the brand’s ethical practices and help consumers easily identify National Flexible as a certified ethical choice within the packaging sector.

What does National Flexible do?

National Flexible Ltd was incorporated in 1997 following a management buyout in 1998 by Chairman Barry Twigg, with no venture capital or external investors involved. The company is headquartered in Birkenshaw, Bradford, West Yorkshire, and is owned by its management and staff. National Flexible is the UK’s largest distributor of polypropylene, laminates, and special films supplied in reel format for automated packaging machinery. The company supplies flexible packaging films to the food, confectionery, bakery, snack, protein, pet food, and pharmaceutical industries. National Flexible employs between 11 and 50 people and offers free packaging audits and runs The Academy, an educational programme examining strategic choices for flexible food packaging. The company supplies films containing a minimum of 30% Post Consumer Recyclate and has developed a 100% recyclable flat-bottomed pouch.

Why does National Flexible perform well ethically?

National Flexible achieves good ratings across several criteria. The brand receives a good rating for pollution prevention and maintains good standards for animal welfare and responsible marketing. National Flexible receives good ratings for armaments and political donations, confirming no involvement in defence or weapons-related sectors and neutral political donation practices. The brand has no documented public record criticisms. As an independent, debt-free company owned by its management and people, National Flexible operates without the external shareholder pressures that can compromise ethical decision-making in larger corporate structures.

What could improve National Flexible’s ethical positioning?

While National Flexible demonstrates solid ethical performance across several criteria, three areas present opportunities for improvement. The company’s environmental report rating is acceptable rather than good, which is a notable gap given National Flexible’s claim to be the UK’s first carbon neutral flexible packaging company. Publishing a more comprehensive and transparent environmental report would substantiate this claim with independently verified data and bring the company’s environmental reporting in line with the standard set by higher-ranking brands in this sector.

National Flexible’s ratings for toxic chemicals policy and fossil fuels are also acceptable rather than good, suggesting further room for improvement in chemical management practices and energy transition commitments across its operations and supply chain.

Most significantly, National Flexible receives a poor rating for vegan options, indicating limited focus on plant-based or vegan-certified packaging solutions within its product range. Expanding its offering in this area would help address consumer demand for ethically certified packaging materials.

Obtaining The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation would strengthen consumer confidence in National Flexible’s ethical practices by providing independent third-party verification of its commitments, making it easier for consumers to identify the brand as a certified ethical choice.

Given that National Flexible scores at the minimum threshold, consumers are encouraged to consult The GOOD Shopping Guide’s Ethical Packaging Ratings Table to identify higher-ranking brands with stronger ethical credentials. Our how we rate page explains the criteria used to assess all brands in this sector.