CONTACT Originators‘ Joanne (Jo) Grundy has won the Packaging Operations Excellence Award at the inaugural Women in Packaging Excellence Awards.
The award celebrates Jo’s exceptional contributions to sustainability and quality management in flexographic printing and packaging.
Quality & systems manager at the firm, her leadership has helped Contact Originators achieve EcoVadis Gold certification and Carbon Neutral status, as well as implementing waste reduction programmes that saved 47 tonnes of waste in 2024 alone.
A driving force behind Contact Originators’ sustainability strategy, Jo has led initiatives such as a fully paperless production environment, comprehensive supplier packaging audits, and the company’s commitment to the UN Global Compact.
Jo said, “I’m incredibly honoured to receive this recognition. This is truly a team achievement and reflects the dedication of everyone at Contact Originators. The packaging industry has enormous potential to drive positive change, and I’m passionate about being part of that journey. It was also fantastic to see so many inspirational and high-performing women being honoured and recognised at the awards – a real celebration of talent in our industry.”
Jo’s contributions extend beyond environmental impact. During Contact Originators’ recovery from a major fire in 2020, she led the complete rebuild of quality and environmental management systems, maintained zero non-conformances during audits, and supported 15% business growth.
Steve Mulcahy, CEO of Contact Originators, commented, “Jo’s recognition at the Women In Packaging Excellence Awards is thoroughly deserved. Her technical expertise, resilience, and vision have been central to our success. During our most challenging times, Jo’s leadership stood out, and her sustainability work has set a new standard for the industry. She truly embodies the spirit of innovation, quality and commitment; everything Contact stands for.”
