Burnley company What More in top four for upcycled range

The Plastics Recycling Awards Europe is the premier award scheme in the continent recognising products made from recycled materials. The Awards are presented annually in Amsterdam at the Plastics Recycling Show Europe.

What More UK, based at Shuttleworth Mead Business Park in Padiham, was nominated for its Wham Upcycled range of housewares.

It's an extension of the firm's housewares brand Wham which sells in all the major UK supermarkets and is exported to 75 countries around the world. The Wham Upcycled range features many of the same products but made from 95% recycled single use plastics.

What More UK, which is already a zero to landfill company, was prompted to develop its Upcycled range as a response to the growing amount of plastics ending up in landfill or worse, in the ocean.

PRSE is a show that brings together the top businesses and materials scientists throughout Europe, to celebrate the developments in plastics recycling and look for opportunities to progress this vital area of research and development.

Judges at the show were impressed with the strength and durability of the Wham Upcycled range. The products have been put through load testing and proven to withstand up to 380kg with no visible signs of damage.

Company Director Andy Riley said: "Being in the finals and making the top four of an international award scheme is a massive achievement. We're determined to continue making more and better products from recycled materials."

"We've taken something that people used to throw away without a thought, and turned it into something new and better. The idea of a product lifecycle with a beginning a middle and an end is out of date, and wrong. These days we're all about recycling and reusing materials."