New factory in Europe: new opportunities for Parcome Paris customers

New factory in Europe: new opportunities for Parcome Paris customers

Parcome Paris, which already bases its production in China, opened a new production site in early 2020, this time in Europe. A long period of reflection and a strong conviction to produce more locally inspired us to open this second production site in Bulgaria, thirty minutes from the capital Sofia, in the town of Slivinitsa.

• Why has Parcome Paris made this production choice? 
• Quels bénéfices pour ses clients ?How do its customers benefit?
• Discover the advantages of this strong strategic choice.

The beginning

In January 2020, Parcome Paris opened this new production facility on the existing Pack East production site, which is also operated by the GD Com Group. This Slivinitsa factory is considered the ‘little sister’ of its Chinese counterpart Wisepack. We opened it following rapidly increasing production, which Parcome Paris wanted to carry out in Europe and at its own production facilities.

Parcome Paris has been a forerunner in making such a strategic choice to relocate industry in Europe, since the idea was born four years ago, at a time when the Covid pandemic and its impact on Asian production did not exist. In fact, at the time, Asia was the essential platform of world production, owing to low labour costs, but also to its major industrialisation and easy access to raw materials. But Parcome Paris already had the desire to rediscover a more ethical approach, and to be able to offer it to its customers, while providing more flexible delivery terms.

Two reasons to have two production sites: major operational advantages

Fifteen employees work on the production line in this Bulgarian factory. They specialise in making paper and cardboard boxes and can produce around 15,000 boxes per month. This increases Parcome Paris’ overall production given that the five Chinese production lines are capable of generating between 150,000 and 200,000 per month. 

Furthermore, it takes five to six weeks to get the products from China by sea. From Bulgaria, it takes between ten days and two weeks by road, which means more responsive transport solutions to meet certain requests: urgent, late orders or requests from customers who might not have managed stock levels effectively. It is therefore a highly interesting production alternative, offering customers more choice and enabling Parcome Paris to respond even better to their needs and constraints.

More ethical production

Centralising production in Europe for customers means ensuring that they can supply a “Made in Europe” product that corresponds to the growing demands of consumers, who are increasingly moving towards more responsible brands that are concerned about their impact on the environment and ready to make strategic changes to relocate all or part of their production to Europe, and even to France. Parcome Paris currently has FSC environmental certification, does not yet have the Imprim Vert label (this is under review) but is in the process of acquiring the ISO 14 001 standard to certify its environmental management processes. This is real environmental responsibility serving the needs of its customers!

Furthermore, the reduction in the carbon footprint generated by optimised transport times is also a strong sign of our customers’ commitment to a more environmentally friendly approach.

Finally, having this factory nearby means that raw materials do not have to make a double journey. Often our customers have certain requirements in terms of papers or fabrics, which are produced by European manufacturers and with whom they have established a relationship of trust. Parcome Paris then has to transport the material twice: first to China for processing, by ship or plane, and then back in its finished product format for delivery to the customer. These complex, costly and environmentally unfriendly logistics arrangements can now be avoided as Parcome Paris works directly with leading European paper manufacturers in close proximity to this new plant.

On projects that Parcome Paris has redirected more locally, customers have been happy to manage their production in Europe and with high quality paper.

A production choice welcomed by customers

Today’s society is experiencing a real awakening to the challenges of ecology and more responsible “local” consumption.

Customers are therefore increasingly asking Parcome Paris to produce their packaging in this factory. Some can thereby offer a product, including packaging, that is “100% European”. It’s a great ethic! It also demonstrates their commitment to a greener approach by reducing their carbon footprint. 

Moreover, in the current context of production bottlenecks in China and global questions about overly centralised production, Parcome Paris’ customers also have a marked desire to return to Europe-based production, so as to be able to comply with the delivery commitments promised to their end customers and not suffer too many delays.

The option to produce in Europe has also already created new commercial opportunities for Parcome Paris, with clients keen to have “Made in Europe” stamped across their entire production chain.

The Slivinitsa factory is only just beginning its great adventure but has already proven to be a success!