iBoxit, located at Norwich Research Park, was awarded Start Up Business of the Year at the 2025 Eastern Daily Press Business Awards, held at a gala ceremony on 27 November. The company is a collaboration between entrepreneur John Farley and the University of East Anglia (UEA), under the guidance of Professor Sheng Qi.
iBoxit is addressing the environmental impact of expanded polystyrene through the development of innovative, sustainable packaging. This new solution uses a blend of existing plastics and plant-based composites to replace traditional expanded polystyrene boxes used for transporting fish, offering a pathway toward eliminating polystyrene in the future.
Samantha Graham, Enterprise Network Manager is supporting John and his team as part of the Entrepreneur Network, said, “It is a pleasure to have iBoxit at the Park and to be part of their journey. John exemplifies collaboration and makes full use of the talent and engagement opportunities within our community.”
John Farley, CEO of iBoxit said “We are delighted with our win at the Eastern Daily Press Business Awards. We’re so passionate about our project, and the positive response is inspiring. We are incredibly proud to be recognised with this award, and we’re going to make sure we keep working hard towards a sustainable future that not only helps reduce landfill waste and ocean pollution but also supports the food industry and benefits the global food chain.”
An estimated 9.5 billion expanded polystyrene boxes were used globally in 2020, with this number projected to rise to 13.5 billion by 2025. Most of these boxes are single-use and non-recyclable. Nearly half are discarded into the oceans by the fishing industry, while the remainder end up in landfill.
The new transportation box is designed for seamless integration into existing global logistics systems. It offers the same thermal insulation as expanded polystyrene boxes and can be stacked safely. Fully recyclable and reusable, with a shelf life of 10 years, it presents a sustainable, long-term solution for packaging and distribution.
The Eastern Daily Press Business Awards celebrate outstanding innovation, effective strategies, and the talented individuals shaping Norfolk’s business community.
For any enquiries related to our growing Enterprise Ecosystem, please contact the team by email using enterprise@nrp.dev.assemblystudios.co.uk.
