Vanden Recycling, an exhibitor at Plastics Recycling Show Europe in Amsterdam next week, is using a flexible approach to deal with the ups and downs of the plastics recycling market.
The company is based in the UK and is part of Vanden Global that operates in Asia, Europe and Australia. Vanden Recycling is based in Lisburn, Northern Ireland but operates throughout the UK and Ireland.
Market difficulties and financial problems have hit some UK-based plastics recycling companies in the past couple of years. But Vanden Recycling managing director David Wilson said he is confident of the company's business model.
“Diversity is key to our business,” he said. “This means that we have a wide range of suppliers providing material to us including everyone from wheeled bins from local authorities, to blow moulders, automotive manufacturers and other manufacturers and the logistics and distribution sector.
“But we also have a diverse selection of end markets, providing material to be made into new products in the UK and Europe, but also to manufacturing bases in Asia. This approach ensures that we can respond to market conditions and find a home for most secondary polymers.”
Vanden makes a point of sourcing high quality plastics from reliable sources as this means the materials it collects and handles are capable of being recycled.
Wilson accepts there have been market difficulties in plastics recycling, but said he was confident that there are good times ahead in 2017 and beyond for the recycling sector in the UK and Europe.
“There is no doubt that conditions have at times been challenging,” he says. “But there are many plastic recycling companies in the UK and Europe that have grown over the last few years by getting their business models right.”
Investment in the UK is continuing, despite setbacks, and Wilson said Vanden is set to open a new recycling facility in the UK soon. “There are still opportunities in plastics recycling, and the next few years should demonstrate that,” he said.
* See the PRS Europe website for information on all exhibitors at the event, which is organised by Crain Communications, publisher of Plastics News Europe.