Mark has led family business James Cropper (Est.1845) since 2010. He is the sixth generation chairman. Under Mark’s stewardship the business is leading the way in developing sustainable processes and products, recycling waste and providing paper alternatives to plastic. This includes CupCycling, the world’s first coffee cup recycling process, and Colourform, a moulded pulp alternative to plastic. This is fully recyclable and available in any colour, shape or texture. Life cycle analysis has demonstrated breakthrough benefits. James Cropper’s TFP subsidiary makes advanced materials that play a critical part in renewable technologies including wind energy, fuel cells and hydrogen electrolysis and carbon capture. It is facilitates lighter composites in aerospace, advancing energy efficiency. The Cropper family were originally Quakers and Mark continues to perpetuate Quaker values in business which give equal value to people, planet and profit. A major focus of Mark’s time is ensuring there are strong communities around the company’s Lake District base. He is chair of Kendal Futures and is leading a £1bn Vision for the town building on a community planning process initiated in 2019. Outside James Cropper, Mark founded renewable energy company Ellergreen, which is active in hydro, solar and community energy. He was previously a London based financier focused on the environmental sector.