A Sustainable Solution

Surfaces that not only look good, they do good, as we found out in conversation with Oltco. 

Oltco, the UK and Channel Islands’ leading sustainable resin bound driveway specialist, has recycled the equivalent of 500 million plastic straws using its world-first sustainable resin bound solution, Recycle Bound. 

Originally founded as a family business in 2004, Oltco began selling non-slip resin solutions for homes and businesses from the corner of the UK, Cornwall. Since then, at the beginning of 2019, two entrepreneurs came up with a unique solution to help tackle the issue of plastic waste littering the globe. Now, over four years after the inception of this idea, Oltco’s Recycle Bound solution has recycled the equivalent of over 500 million plastic straws by offering eco-conscious clients an alternative to traditional resin bound solutions, in the form of Oltco’s very own, world-first, sustainable solution. 

Recycle Bound is made utilising waste plastic (straws, plastic drink bottles and plastic food packaging) from a plastic recycling point, with each square metre consisting of the equivalent of 3,000 plastic straws. Therefore, if Recycle Bound was laid on a standard 70 square metre drive, the equivalent of 210,000 plastic straws would be recycled in the process. Growing up in Cornwall, Tom Stringer and Johnny Pearce, co-directors of Oltco, saw first-hand the devastating effect plastic waste has on our coastline and they grew increasingly concerned about its effect on our planet as a whole, so they decided to set about doing something about it. 

Tom Stringer comments: “We launched Recycle Bound in 2019 and now, four years later, we have recycled the equivalent of 500 million plastic straws which is incredible. It is so exciting and rewarding to see so many of our customers, both domestic and commercial, opting for Recycle Bound.” 

Their work is not only sustainable, it’s also stylish, adding a touch of class to any surface. Tom, who trained at Camborne School of Mines and eventually specialised in non-slip floor solutions, used his technical background and expertise to develop effective, practical and aesthetic resin solutions. This is on top of their incredibly eco-friendly aspects and a passion and innovation that runs through the very heart of Oltco. It’s not only driveways they cover, they branch out to balconies and pathways and more. Quite simply, Oltco is not limited in what they do and what they can accomplish with their solutions. Despite their large success and wide range of work in the UK and the Channel Islands, they stay true to their roots, as their HQ can still be found in their hometown of Newquay, Cornwall.

Recycle Bound has achieved recognition from multiple awards including ‘Product of the Year’ award at the Cornwall Business Awards, runner up for ‘Recycled Product of the Year’ in the National Recycling Awards and ‘Sustainability Warrior’ at the British Franchise Association, an award category that was created specifically for Oltco to recognise its sustainability achievements. And it’s not just being used in residential driveways; in fact, it has, and continues to be used at some of the UK’s top hotels and attractions. Recycle Bound has been installed across the UK including the Eden Project, National Trust Sheffield Park & Garden, Bodmin Jail Hotel and the location of the G7 Summit, Carbis Bay Hotel, Blackpool Sea Life Centre and RHS Harlow Carr. To date, Oltco has recycled the equivalent of 1.7 million plastic straws in the resin pathways at the Eden Project. 

Johnny Pearce added: “Hitting 500 million plastic straws after four years is a huge milestone and one that we are incredibly proud of. We won’t be stopping here as the number of plastic straws that are recycled in our Recycle Bound installations increases every day. Here’s to the next 500 million.”

Oltco Ltd
01637 540039
info@oltco.co.uk
www.oltco.co.uk