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From Vision to Action: Leading the way in Sustainable Plastic Innovation

Our transformative journey began in March 2016, when we embarked on our partnership with Operation Clean Sweep (OCS). Through OCS, we have made significant strides in reducing plastic pellet loss and protecting our delicate ecosystems.  
 
Pioneering a Sustainable Journey 
Our partnership with OCS represents a strategic shift towards proactive sustainability. In line with the European Commission's efforts to combat microplastic pollution, this partnership is built on the belief that effective pellet containment requires a collective effort involving primary producers, converters, distributors, logistics partners, and recyclers. This collaborative approach lies at the heart of our commitment to making a difference in the battle against plastic pollution. 

Setting New Standards with OCS 
As a business, we have wholeheartedly embraced the Operation Clean Sweep Standard by implementing a comprehensive set of on-site measures meticulously designed to prevent and address pellet spills. This approach not only ensures compliance but also propels us beyond industry norms, solidifying our dedication to creating a cleaner and safer environment. 

Committing to OCS Principles 
Our commitment to OCS goes beyond mere corporate strategy—it is an ethos we share. By taking the OCS Member Pledge, we pledge to uphold the fundamental principles of the OCS Program. We extend this call to action to all our employees, recognising that everyone plays a pivotal role in achieving a collective goal of minimising pellet loss. 

A Global Movement 
Operation Clean Sweep goes beyond industry boundaries—it is a global movement that tackles the critical issue of plastic resin loss. 
We're proud to collaborate with OCS, joining more than 200 likeminded organisations in sharing success stories and best practices to reduce global plastic resin loss. 

Join Us in Pioneering Change 
Understanding the profound impact of preventing plastic resin loss on the well-being of our planet, we want to invite other businesses to join us in the Operation Clean Sweep mission. Be part of the movement towards zero pellet loss and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment. Together, let's shape the future of sustainable plastics. 
 
Older Updates
New Appointment Helps Luxus Drive Automotive Industry Growth
31st January 2019

Technical knowledge based compounder and recycler Luxus has appointed a new Business Development Manager to satisfy growing demand from the global automotive ‘A’ Class interior trim market for its high performance environmentally positive polymers.
 
Alistair Barber joined Luxus this month and is responsible for delivering new sales growth in Europe and managing the company’s major name automotive clients that include: - Jaguar Land Rover, Ford, BMW, Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi and Honda.
 
After having spent almost a decade in business development roles, Alistair Barber brings with him an excellent track record for sales performance. As a Key Account Manager for his previous employer, a Louth based lighting company, he was responsible for increasing revenue month on month for what had been an under-performing geographical region for the company.
 
Prior to this he worked in the finance sector initially with a major UK high street bank before progressing to a mortgage advisor role based in Dubai that provided an insight into global markets. It was in this position that he successfully increased business levels to the extent that he generated 30% of the company’s turnover for the year.
 
It was Alistair Barber’s understanding of the technical aspects of selling gained mostly in his finance sector years that will provide the transferable skills required for his new role in the polymer industry.
 
Luxus managing director, Peter Atterby comments: “We are pleased to appoint Alistair Barber to this strategic role with his proven business development expertise, at a time when the automotive industry’s demand for high performance recycled content polymers to replace virgin grades has never been greater.

“For over 20 years Luxus has been at the very forefront of sustainable polymer development that has contributed to lowering the environmental impact of vehicles, while still delivering outstanding mechanical properties as manufacturers make the transition from a linear to a circular economy.”
 
This latest appointment follows the announcement last month that Luxus made a £1.5m investment in a new compounding line to support future growth in its core markets including the automotive interior trim sector, increasing its annual polymer compound production capacity to 55,000 tonnes.
 
Commenting on his appointment, Alistair Barber, said: “Luxus is a major employer in Louth with a strong history and excellent reputation for sustainable polymer innovation. With plastics having been in the ‘spotlight’ for much of last year, it’s great to see recycled content materials helping to make positive change by becoming the preferred choice for global OEMs.”
 
For more information on Luxus visit: www.luxus.co.uk or twitter @LuxusLtd
 
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For further information please contact: Sasha Stewart, Straight Talk PR, tel: 07764 346 896 or email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk
Luxus Ltd (www.luxus.co.uk)

UK leading independent technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for over 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.

Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.
 
 

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Luxus Invests In A New £1.5m Compounding Line
 
7th December 2018

Technical knowledge-based compounder and recycler Luxus, has installed a new £1.5m compounding line at its manufacturing facility based in Louth, Lincolnshire.

As the UK’s largest independently owned producer of recycled and prime polymers, this latest investment supports its continued growth strategy, increasing its overall production capacity by 22 per cent.

Responsible for the manufacture of more than 45,000 tonnes of highly engineered thermoplastic compounds annually to both domestic and global markets, this new compounding line will enable Luxus to create an additional 10,000 tonnes.

This major strategic investment has been made in response to the ever-increasing demand from clients for faster processing time scales and greater output, while still delivering the very highest quality technical compounds.

Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus, comments: “We are committed to producing high performance, yet sustainable compounds able to meet the demanding service and long-life requirements of rapidly growing sectors including, returnable transit packaging and civil engineering.

“Orders have increased for some time so we required new equipment to enhance our infrastructure by supporting this demand, particularly for the development of polymer formulations for the progressively high-end colour specifications in these markets.”

Since Luxus works with materials from increasingly complex waste streams to help meet clients’ zero landfill goals, the compounding line will help satisfy these demands. It will deliver material process improvements that include, better devolitisation through increased surface renewal and filtration to produce innovative sustainable polymers that are now much closer to prime.

This latest investment will help to secure the manufacturer’s future growth and will continue its tradition of innovation in the development of sustainable plastics.

For more information visit www.luxus.co.uk

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Notes to editor

For further information please contact: Sasha Stewart, Straight Talk PR, tel: 07764 346 896 or email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk

Luxus Ltd (www.luxus.co.uk)

UK leading independent technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.

 Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.

 

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Plastic Is Fantastic For Peter Laking As He Celebrates 50 Years With Luxus
31st July 2018
Peter Laking is celebrating one of the longest careers with Louth based technical plastics recycler and compounder Luxus – an incredible 50 years’ service!

In 1968 the Beatles single ‘Hey Jude’ was topping the charts and the Ford Escort had just replaced the Anglia, Peter Laking started his career as a factory worker with Luxus. The firm had just seven employees when Peter joined, who were all on first name terms at the time.

This burgeoning plastics recycling business was recovering unwanted waste plastic and re-engineering material that would have otherwise been destined for landfill. Plastics recycling was a new industry in the late-1960s, the mantra ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ has only just gained in popularity, it was the start of a new sustainable ethos.

Peter Laking describes what it was like to work at Luxus in 1968, “The work was very hands on at the time, one of my very first jobs was working on a granulation machine grinding polystyrene shoe heels and then bagging the reground polystyrene from an auger.

“There were no forklift trucks then, so we took each polystyrene filled bag off the machine, weighed it, (around 56 lbs), then fitted a wire tie around it like you would a potato sack, so it could then be carried over your shoulder to be stacked in piles, five bags in a layer, eight bags high - a total of 40 weighing a tonne!

“In my generation, once you found employment you didn’t think the ‘grass was always greener’ somewhere else. If you liked the people, the job prospects and the money you just gone on with it. The opportunities for growth were great, as they still are today for young people wanting to join the industry.”

In the late 1970’s when Luxus purchased its first lorry, Peter became a HGV driver helping with deliveries, but his real passion was fixing things. So when Luxus’ new factory was built in 1982 he helped to install and maintain its new machinery. His career was also supported with practical training so he learnt how to weld, turn metal on a lathe and acquire other new engineering skills too.

He was later promoted to assistant factory manager in the firm’s plastics compounding division as well as running a small engineering team. Then in the early 1990’s Luxus purchased a new recycling factory also on Belvoir Way in the Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth where he became factory manager while still managing his now rapidly growing team.

Five decades later having ‘out-careered’ the Beatles he is still working for Luxus as a Maintenance and Project Engineering Manager. He not only manages his engineering team, but is constantly found re-engineering machinery to help provide bespoke solutions where needed to facilitate the smooth running of its technical recycling facility.

Even when he went on holiday some years ago, plastics were never far away in Peter’s thoughts, while eating dinner out with friends he got bored so he decided to burn the plastic knives and forks to entertain them by being able to recognise the exact plastic type simply from its smell and the way it bends. As it wasn’t the first time, his friends decided to reward him his very own ‘plastic is fantastic’ t-shirt.

Luxus managing director, Peter Atterby, comments: “Throughout his 50 year career, Peter’s support has been instrumental to our growth every step of the way, from a burgeoning plastics recycler to a UK leading technical innovator at the very forefront of numerous markets.

“Not only is Peter’s knowledge of plastics recycling second to none, he also has an energy that leaves younger men trailing behind breathless. As we move into a new era, with demand for sustainable polymers is an urgent priority for many producers, Peter is sharing his 50 years of expertise with the next generation of plastics pioneers – he is true asset!”

Luxus today is a £25m turnover business operating in global markets and is still fulfilling the same vision set in the 1960’s by its founder Ron Tonn, for a better, more sustainable future.

Interested in a career in sustainable plastics? Visit www.luxus.co.uk

Ends

Notes to editors
For further information please contact: Sasha Stewart, Straight Talk PR, tel: 07764 346 896 or email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk
Luxus Ltd (www.luxus.co.uk)

UK leading independent technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.

Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.
 

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Luxus Makes Moves To Help Manufacturers Reduce Their Environmental Impacts
18th June 2018

Technical compounder Luxus is showcasing its high performance polymer range including PP thermoplastics and how they contribute to reducing the environmental impacts of manufacturers’ products at the PDM exhibition (www.pdmevent.com), 19th-20th June 2018 (stand A009).

As one of the UK’s most advanced technical compounders Luxus has for over 50 years spearheaded the re-engineering of sustainable polymers into high quality, yet cost efficient technical compounds that deliver low carbon benefits and reduce landfill.

Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus, comments on the challenges ahead: “The perceived environmental hazard plastics can present has been widely reported recently. To help manufacturers reverse these negative perceptions, we can offer an immediate carbon-positive solution in most polymers to support numerous industries.

“Attention is now being focused on how to effectively reduce environmental impacts; improve resource efficiency and lower carbon, all without any compromise in performance. While there is recognition too of the need to support the circular economy, rather than current linear approaches by prioritising ‘end-of-life’ needs through product design.”

Luxus leads the market on this issue of sustainability by offering a broad range of post-consumer recycled content grades to deliver added value even in the most demanding applications, from ‘A’ surface visible automotive interiors and recently exteriors, to rigid packaging and civil engineering.

In the automotive sector, its high performance PP portfolio including mineral and glass filled compounds meets the sustainability, technical and cost goals sought by the industry and is on par with virgin alternatives.

Luxus has continually invested in the development of lightweight compounds with enhanced scratch resistance for ‘A’ surface materials. Its Hycolene™ range for example, offers manufacturers the option of using up to 60% recycled content to further the environmental and technical performance of finished components. This latest iteration of the Hycolene range has the potential to take the density down to 0.850 without adverse effect on key mechanical properties.

Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus, continues: “Currently, the ability to answer the call for materials with increased sustainability to help meet consumers’ eco-concerns is a business critical rather than an aspirational choice.”

For more information visit www.luxus.co.uk or stand A009 at the PDM 2018 show.

Ends

Notes to editors

For further information please contact: Sasha Stewart, Straight Talk PR, tel: 07764 346 896 or email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk

Image: Luxus manufacturing plant.

Luxus Ltd (www.luxus.co.uk)

UK leading independent technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.

Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.

 

Click here to read more
Luxus Polymer Analysis Service Tests For 'End-of-Life' Recyclability
15th February 2018
 
Technical compounder Luxus, has today launched a rapid coloured polymer analysis service that tests for ‘end-of-life’ recyclability. It enables producers to discover for the first time if the plastic packaging or products they make can be detected via near-infrared (NIR) sorting.

Each year in the UK 3.5m tonnes of plastics go to landfill because black and coloured plastic cannot be detected by recyclers. Since these plastics feature carbon black and other pigments which strongly absorb infrared radiation, offering little reflectance that renders them ‘invisible’ to sensors.

Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus, comments: “Design for recyclability is an urgent priority for producers right now. This unique service offers the ability to quickly assess if any coloured plastic item produced can be detected and if not, we will offer a colour matched infrared detectable alternative.”

From this month, brand owners, retailers and packaging producers will be able to ensure that anything from black shampoo bottles to yellow yogurt pots and brown coffee pods can be analysed to find out if they are ‘visible’ via optical sorting methods.

Supporting this innovative service is a new spectrophotometer capable of reading solar reflectance in the NIR spectrum. It enables therefore, the measurement of solar reflectance levels of colourants to ensure that specified polymers do not inhibit near-infrared sorting.

 Peter Atterby, explains: “Our service represents a real ‘game changer’ for brand owners and product designers. Since this is the first time that a spectrophotometer is being used to identify near-infrared reflectance levels to achieve the very best NIR sorting wavelengths for plastics that previously would have remained undetected.

“We are able to clearly identify pigment mixes given a near-infrared footprint and then expertly assess every possible colourant combination to meet the challenge of finding the closest and most economically viable colour match for designers, satisfying both aesthetic and plastics pollution concerns.”

The spectrophotometer is also pivotal to NIRSort, a new £1.29m (€1.47m) two year project, co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme that aims to tackle our wider plastics waste problem.

With partners Polykemi and One51 it will bring to market a new range of infra-red reflecting (IRR) colourants to be adopted beyond packaging itself. It will address a much broader range of applications including the plastics found in household electrical appliances to automotive components for the very first time.

The initial materials trials for the NIRSort project will be completed in the spring this year. For information on the new coloured polymer analysis service please visit: www.luxus.co.uk.

Ends

Notes to editors

For further information please contact: Sasha Stewart, Straight Talk PR, tel: 07764 346 896 or email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk

Luxus Ltd (www.luxus.co.uk)

UK leading independent technical plastics recycling and compounding company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.

Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.

About Polykemi (www.polykemi.se)

Polykemi AB (est. 1968) is Scandinavia´s leading developer and producer of tailor made thermoplastic compounds. With a factory in China and contract producer in US, it is a global supplier of world class compounds. Polykemi work closely together with customers guided by their principles: reliability, excellence, superior problem-solving skills and long-term relationships.

About One51 (www.one51.com)

One51 is a leading rigid plastics manufacturer for the packaging, environmental containers and industrial products sectors operating from multiple production facilities in Ireland, the UK, North America and China. One51 employs c.1,600 people and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Horizon 2020 (www.ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/what-horizon-2020)

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Research and Innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 



 
 

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Luxus To Promote Environmentally Positive Polymers At WRAP Cymru Event
13th November 2017

Technical plastics compounder Luxus will be promoting the benefits environmentally positive polymers can deliver to Welsh manufacturers at a WRAP Cymru event on the 17th November 2017 at the Swalec Stadium, Cardiff.

The event, ‘Forming the Link: A Resilient Supply Chain for Plastics Manufacturing in Wales’, will be chaired by WRAP director, Peter Maddox and will also feature presentations from its sector specialist, Bernard Chase along with Luxus managing director, Peter Atterby.
 
“Luxus is delighted to be invited to speak at this event, the Welsh auto component industry has enjoyed sustained growth in recent years. It will provide a great opportunity therefore, for Luxus and fellow industry experts to dispel the myth regarding the perceived quality of recycled content polymers compared to prime alternatives.

“We will focus on the critical role environmentally positive polymers now play in supporting global auto interior component design, to deliver greater fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions while also satisfying automakers’ need to reduce the carbon footprint of vehicles.

“The adoption of our advanced lightweight polymer range Hycolene™ with up to 60% recycled content for example, can lead to a 12g weight saving on a single component in one model. This would mean CO2 emissions reducing by more than a 1000 tonnes, over the course of the model’s life-time.

“But most importantly, its use will also increase the volume of recyclate that can be used by the automakers, which means a reduction in the amount of virgin polymer manufactured – therefore preserving limited natural resources.” Said Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus.

In March this year Luxus also announced it had acquired South Wales based additive and masterbatch specialist, Colour Tone. The company is known for its pioneering work with WRAP to address the problem of black food packaging waste.

Black plastic packaging contains carbon black pigments which absorb infra-red light and cannot therefore, be optically sorted by equipment with near infra-red (NIR) detection technology used by recycling depots. Colour Tone responded to this challenge by developing an alternative detectable infra-red detectable (IRR) colourant that enabled black plastics to be visible for NIR sorting.
 
Luxus has since as part of a new consortium with industry partners Polykemi and One51 gained a £1.29m investment from the EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme to advance further the development of this novel IRR colourant for both black and coloured plastics waste.

The commercialisation project known as NIRSort, will develop a range of IRR colourants that will be tested in numerous applications beyond black food packaging, these include automotive plastics components and consumer durables such as home appliances.

The aim is that the IRR colourants will be specified by manufacturers for new products, but at the ‘end of life’ these same products can be easily separated into individual plastic polymer streams via automatic NIR sorting for the first time.

Peter Atterby, managing director, Luxus continues: “This project is significant as we believe capturing these valuable plastics waste streams and diverting them into efficient recovery processing is now recognised as key to saving costs and reducing environmental impacts by manufacturers today.”
 
http://www.luxus.co.uk
 
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For further information please contact Sasha Stewart at Straight Talk PR – email: sasha@straighttalkpr.co.uk or tel: 07764 346 896.

Luxus Ltd        
UK leading independent technical plastics compounding and recycling company Luxus has been developing highly specified thermoplastics compounds based on prime and recycled feedstocks for over 50 years. Luxus is a key supplier to the major names in the global auto industry and it was the first and still is the only UK business to achieve approval for its recycled grades in car interior trims.
Luxus also offers specialist ‘closed loop’ and ‘open loop’ recycling services to manage ‘end of life’ post industrial and consumer waste for the retail transit packaging, construction and local authority wheel bin markets.

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