Turning trash into treasure
THERE’S very little going to waste at a Remarkable shop.
Everything from tyres, to plastic cups, cooker parts to CD cases gets re-used and turned into stationery.
But this waste-not-want-not philosophy runs deeply into a company that was founded by an inventor of the plastic pencil.
And Ian Thorpe, from Remarkable, says it was the vision of Edward Douglas Miller that lead to the creation of the Worcester-based company.
He says: “He started the business after inventing a pencil from recycled plastic cups.
“He was innovative and thankfully the business has been successful as a result.”
Ian says the company uses materials that have already been re-processed which allows them to create a range of products.
But the real appeal of the business is the fact that customers agree with their ethos.
“It is very hard for people to disagree with what we are doing,” he says.
“Everyone we speak to likes what we do and how we do it and it seems it doesn’t matter if it is high-street retailers or corporate companies that want to put their names on something.
“We deal with everyone from world giants to smaller retailers.
“Our view is that we live on a tiny island and landfill is not an option anymore.
“We are only recycling a tiny amount and we need to be doing more.
“We are not going to change the world through what we do, but if we can turn everyday waste into something colourful and bright and good to use then it is good for everybody.”
Ian and the team specialise in bright stationery items including pencils made from CD cases, pens from cooker parts and car parts and notebook covers and mousemats made from car tyes.
* See www.remarkable.co.uk for further details.
