Green Rock expands UAE operations as demand for plastic-free packaging soars

UAE – Green Rock Manufacturing Group is significantly expanding its footprint in the Gulf region, positioning its UAE operations as a key hub for certified plastic-free food and beverage packaging.

The company’s new production facility in Ras Al Khaimah, launched in October 2024, is already securing high-profile contracts across the UAE and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Known for its innovative cups, lids, and straws made from certified plastic-free and PFAS-free paperboard, Green Rock UAE aims to plug a critical sustainability gap in a region still developing its waste management infrastructure and environmental regulations.

“The UAE has long relied on plastic-lined, imported cups, many of which are non-recyclable in local waste streams,” said Paul Todd, Managing Director of Green Rock Group UAE.

“Our goal is to introduce scalable, genuinely sustainable alternatives produced locally.”

The Ras Al Khaimah site boasts a production capacity of approximately 500 million paper cups annually and includes manufacturing lines for paper lids and straws.

The site complements Green Rock’s UK operations through technical and commercial collaboration.

The expansion aligns with emerging environmental regulations in the UAE. While Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is not yet formally enacted, it is expected to mandate packaging waste reporting, eco-modulated fees, and higher recyclability standards.

Green Rock’s offerings, fully free of polyethylene (PE) and polylactic acid (PLA), stand out as compliant under Cabinet Resolution No. (380) of 2022, which bans packaging containing plastics formed through polymerisation.

Green Rock UAE is already supplying prominent clients and events, including the Dubai Rugby Sevens, Taste of Abu Dhabi, and Ed Sheeran’s UAE concert.

“We focus on sectors where volume, visibility, and compliance intersect,” said Todd. “Our sustainable switch is both urgent and impactful.”

The company has reported record-breaking months in May and June 2025, driven by rising market awareness and hospitality sector uptake. Production volume is expected to double by the end of 2026 as demand accelerates.

In recognition of its leadership in plastic-free innovation, Todd has been invited to speak on PFAS in packaging at Arablab Live in September and next-gen sustainable materials at ProPaper Dubai in October.

Meanwhile, Green Rock UK continues to set performance benchmarks, recently earning Grade A BRCGS certification and achieving record monthly sales, bolstering the group’s global push for a cleaner packaging future.

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