A BLACKBURN firm which pioneered a new packaging method could be in for a Hive Innovation Award.

Blackburn based Heritage Envelopes started packing their products using cardboard ends and film wrapping instead of boxes two years ago and immediately saw a 60 per cent drop in their corrugated waste.

The firm said that if just half of its customers chose to start using PackMail in future, it could result in 50 articulated lorries being taken off the road or more than 350 tons of corrugated boxes being saved.

In recognition of their achievement Heritage Envelopes has been shortlisted for a prestigious Hive Business Award.

Phil Bryan, director at the firm, said: "This simple technique has saved our customers a huge amount of money which would otherwise have been lost on waste cardboard."

Mr Bryan said that the firm, which was founded in 1986, was delighted with the nomination.

He added: "We are all really pleased about the nomination and if we were to win we would inform our customers which would hopefully prompt more business and lead to more job creation and investment."

Heritage Envelopes supplies roughly 2.5billion of the UK's 14.5billion envelopes and employs 132 people at their base in Davyfield Road.