In 2022 WRAP Cymru commissioned three innovative supply chain trials with businesses in Wales to increase the use of recycled material in products and ensure these products could be recycled.
Funded by Welsh Government, WRAP Cymru and multiple supply chain project partners worked in collaboration to drive market confidence in using post-consumer recycled materials in products already on the market and demonstrating the economic and environmental benefits.
Here’s an overview at the start of the supply chain trials by Pauline Vella, WRAP Cymru’s Delivery manager.
The supply chain trials demonstrated how manufacturers can overcome challenges to increase the use of recycled materials in products made in Wales, while reducing reliance on virgin materials. WRAP Cymru appointed a lead partner for each trial and worked with these partners and their supply chains to overcome the barriers of using more sustainable materials to reduce the carbon footprint of products in Wales.
Our lead partners included:
Nextek
A consultancy who provide solutions to the challenges of plastics recycling. They led the trial on how waste plastic materials with no existing end-market could be used in high-performance building products.
Resilience Sustainable Solutions
Working with WRAP Cymru on a second project, the Wales-based consultancy helps organisations develop and embed sustainability solutions. As part of this trial, they investigated the feasibility of collecting aggregate waste bags and turning these into new packaging for materials for sand and gravel. The trial aimed to establish a closed-loop recycling model for waste aggregate bags.
BIC Innovation
A Welsh consultancy that specialise in innovation and growth and worked with WRAP Cymru on considering three different manufacturing types – blow moulding, extrusion moulding and injection moulding. The solution that was likely to deliver the greatest economic, environmental and social benefits was developed for market readiness.
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WRAP Cymru’s work to support businesses in Wales has global impact. A previous trial with Vernacare developed sharps containers made from up to 100% recycled content that are now used by the NHS and healthcare facilities around the globe.