Recycled polymers could help stimulate a return to plastic product manufacturing in the UK as changing attitudes towards sustainability and rising costs for Far Eastern producers present new market opportunities for British companies.
According to Keith Freegard, Director of Salford-based Axion Polymers, tapping into the UK’s proven plastics recycling infrastructure as well as the nation’s post-Olympic pride in Great British products, could herald a brighter future for firms here that have traditionally struggled to compete against the manufacturing might of Asian producers.
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He highlights examples of certain product types returning to the UK – such as the Trunki pull-along child’s suitcase – as importers review the balance of benefits versus cost in the face of high real-estate prices, rising labour and electricity costs and onerous custom transfers in China.
Similarly, Axion is supplying its quality-assured, UK-sourced 100% recycled polymers Axpoly PS01 and PP51, derived from waste fridge and ELV plastics, to leading UK-based manufacturers for a variety of closed-loop applications. These include automotive and washing machine component manufacture.
“New market opportunities are emerging in the UK as branded producers and retailers recognise the need to offer customers a more sustainable product using raw materials that have been recycled in the UK’s well-developed plastics recycling chain,” says Keith.
“This strikes a chord with many ‘middle England’ consumers, already diligent recyclers themselves, who understand that buying UK-produced goods supports local jobs and businesses,” he continues.
Keith suggests that UK plastic producers who can engage with forward-thinking product buyers get a great chance to deliver a double-whammy of product benefits: raw materials which have been recycled and then moulded back into new plastic-rich products in UK factories using UK-developed processes on machines using UK-designed moulds. Key benefits include short supply chains, reduced lead times and simpler stock management.
He adds: “I can only foresee a growing trend for some manufacturing to migrate back to the UK. I would also challenge all purchasing managers to re-visit the concept of getting high-quality goods ‘Made in GB’ using plastic raw materials that have also been ‘Recycled in GB’ when seeking quotations for next year’s ‘wonder product’. They could be pleasantly surprised by the benefits this can deliver to their businesses.”
Axion Polymers is part of the Axion Group that develops and operates innovative resource recovery and processing solutions for recycling waste materials. The Group works with a wide range of clients within the recycling and process industries on the practical development of new processing and collection methods.
For more information, contact Axion Polymers on 0161 737 6124 or visit the website – www.axionpolymers.com.
Axion Polymers
Langley Road South
Salford
Manchester
M6 6HQ
Tel: 0161 737 6124/ Fax: 0161 925 9761
Email: sales@axionpolymers.com
