News

Jul 09, 2023

The Welsh manufacturer helping other businesses become more sustainable and reduce costs

Pulse Plastics provides reusable packaging solutions to clients in the steel industry, as well as reprocessed plastic waste to use in the manufacturing process A Welsh manufacturing company is taking

Pulse Plastics provides reusable packaging solutions to clients in the steel industry, as well as reprocessed plastic waste to use in the manufacturing process

A Welsh manufacturing company is taking positive steps towards becoming a more sustainable operation, as well as helping other businesses in the sector with their efforts to be greener and more cost-effective.

Based in Blaenau Gwent, Pulse Plastics offers two primary services: creating packaging to prevent damage and corrosion to steel coils, and converting waste plastic into reusable plastic pellets that can be used in the manufacturing process.

Through its work, the business is not only helping partner companies to fight the plastic waste issue - and by extension, climate change - but also reduce their manufacturing costs.

Pulse Plastics’ main priorities are:

Steel coil protection to prevent damage and corrosion that often occurs during shipping and storage, with innovative industrial packaging solutions.

Increasing sustainability and reducing commercial waste by reprocessing defective materials and edge trim back to compound materials, ready for use again and again.

Reducing manufacturing costs; its closed loop products mean clients can save an average of 30% on their material costs, by reducing their plastic waste.

Reprocessing is an innovative solution to recover, reprocess and reuse post-industrial plastic waste, rather than sending it to landfill and sourcing virgin plastic each time.

Pulse Plastics converts waste plastic and end-of-line material into reusable pellets for manufacturers - currently reprocessing up to 25 tons a week.

And the process is simple. Instead of putting it into landfill, industrial companies can partner up with Pulse Plastics to send any plastic waste, defective materials or edge trim to be reprocessed.

From there, Pulse Plastics will convert these back to compound materials, available for reuse in the plastics industry at lower costs compared to prime material.

In house, Pulse Plastics has taken steps to ensure the business itself is operating sustainably and efficiently when it comes to its own manufacturing processes and creating protective packaging for steel coils.

Nathan Reid, operations director at Pulse Plastics said: “Sustainability is an important part of the whole business. We have regular meetings on how we can make things greener and more sustainable.

“It really started when it was cheaper to buy reprocessed plastic. We started manufacturing with it 20 years ago, and since then, we've had consultants come in, look at the system, and look at how we operate.

“Closed loop manufacturing means we have closed loop water systems so there's no waste. We've installed a power correction facility that's bringing down and filtering the amount of electricity that we're using on the lines, which is effectively the most cost-effective way to make our product.

“Looking forward, we have a new facility in the Rasta where we've got a large roof space, are looking at solar panels, and also looking at a wind turbine facility within our grounds. This should give us around 80% of self-sufficiency on electricity, which will bring our carbon footprint way down, close to carbon neutral.”

Pulse Plastics is using its commitment to innovation and many years of experience to help other manufacturers benefit from the use of reprocessed plastics to improve their eco credentials.

Managing director, Matt Southall added: “We’ve seen a huge demand and shift in orders, but also inquiries from people wanting to learn more about recycled material and how they can introduce that in production because, typically, most were using virgin material.

“Plus, there are things like the rising cost of oil - a huge commodity in the virgin material - as well as cost of production, Corporate Social Responsibility demands, and the plastic packaging tax introduced by the UK Government. There’s more pressure for companies and manufacturers to use recycled material, and the secret is finding a consistent quality of material.

“The aim for Pulse Plastics is to keep coming up with innovative and creative products that can be made 100% out of reprocessed material.”

Pulse Plastics is one of many Welsh businesses to access support from Business Wales, in order to realise its ‘Green Ambition’ and reduce its impact on climate change.

With subject resource packs available to download and case studies available, explore how you can take positive steps to implement change within your own business.

There's also a collection of Green Ambition summits online featuring expert speakers, sharing their knowledge, exploring resource efficiency, and actionable steps to become more eco-conscious.

What’s more, Business Wales also provides bespoke one-to-one advice sessions - so if you feel inspired by what you watch, get in touch to book your fully funded session with specialist advisors to map out your Green Ambition.

To find out how Business Wales can help you realise your Green Ambition, click here.

For more information about Pulse Plastics, visit the website.