World’s first mixed plastic recycling plant will turn waste into plywood

2K Manufacturing, based in Hampstead, London, is behind the plant, which uses a process that creates a super-strong recyclable plastic material, which will initially be made into an environmentally-friendly plywood substitute, called EcoSheet, for construction industry use.

2K is planning to open a further 11 plants across the country, giving it the capacity to produce four million EcoSheets a year and develop its plastic end product, so that it is suitable for many other uses, such as caravans, signage and for hospital cubicles.

2K was formed in January 2007 to manufacture industrial products from recovered waste plastics using its new technology, Powder Impression Moulding, which when combined with a rigorous process, allows it to take co-mingled polymer waste and re-manufacture it into high-performance, environmentally sustainable products.

Omer Kutluoglu, co-founder, 2K, says: “The UK has a worrying mountain of plastic waste. Five million tonnes goes to landfill each year and 93 per cent cannot currently be recycled. We can take a huge variety of mixed plastic waste, from hospital and supermarket waste to yoghurt pots or even biros and turn it into a durable, high performance product for the construction industry. The possibilities are endless as we can adapt the end product into any form, shape or product.”

2K secured launch funding from the Foresight Group, a leading investor in green and ethical investments and also the EEDA (East of England Development Agency). Kutluoglu said plans for the plant are progressing well and that the company is on schedule with its roll out plan. Initial trial production commences in June.