Cornwall LivingIssue #126
Sustainable growth
With its 50th franchise launch in sight, the UK’s and Channel Islands’ leading sustainable resin bound driveway specialist, Oltco, is laying the foundations for an exciting year ahead.
Sustainability is something very much at the forefront of Oltco’s business ethos. Founded in 2004, Oltco has over 18 years’ experience as a leading flooring specialist for the domestic and commercial markets. With a passion for innovation and a desire to offer superior products, it is a Cornish business with national reach, dedicated to delivering solutions tailored to each client’s specific requirements. The creation of two unique outdoor flooring solutions, Recycle Bound and Recycle Base, has transformed driveways, patios, footpaths and balconies, terraces, courtyards and beer gardens across Cornwall, the wider UK and Channel Islands.
If you’ve not heard of these ground-breaking products, we urge you to read on as they really are leading the way when it comes to putting sustainable flooring under your feet. Recycle Bound was developed in-house by Oltco’s team of technical experts and is a world first with the waste plastic used being obtained from a dedicated plastic recycling point and including plastic drink bottles, food packaging and straws. Combining this recycled waste plastic with a mixture of stone and aggregates creates a product which is low maintenance, has both longevity and durability, and also looks beautiful.
Low-grade plastic is difficult to recycle and is often incinerated, releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Oltco, however, has managed to create a ground reinforcement system which utilises stone mixed with this low-grade plastic, with the added benefit of also including waste ocean plastic. Recycle Base, as it is known, uses a grid made from 100% recycled plastic and has a load bearing capability of up to 800 tonnes per square metre. An average 70m2 driveway using Recycle Base could offset as much as a tonne of CO2, or the equivalent of planting six trees! Recycle Bound is then laid over the top resulting in a surface fit for both purpose and the planet.
Such is the popularity of Oltco products, the business has now recycled the equivalent of over 200 million plastic straws in Recycle Bound transformations across the UK and Channel Islands, and has this year alone launched ten new franchises. The summer of 2022 has been an incredibly busy one for the team as they have installed some stunning outdoor transformations, and the versatility of the product means that it’s not just patios and driveways that have received the Oltco treatment. A glorious raised seating area at a property in Port Isaac benefitted from the smooth surface and marvellous anti-slip properties of Recycle Bound. What’s more, as the surface is permeable it means there are no annoying or unsightly puddles to deal with.
With a 20-year guarantee and a choice of colour blends and patterns, it’s no wonder that so many home and business owners are opting for this versatile product. If you’re unsure if this could be the flooring for you, the Oltco team is always on-hand to listen to your requirements in order to recommend the best option for your property. From the initial planning stage through to installation they will guide you through each stage of the project, ensuring that the finished product exceeds expectations.
Such growth this year has seen two new members of the team join Oltco’s head office in Newquay; Tegen Mitchelmore as Franchise Account Manager, and Jess Pollard as Social Media Content Manager. Tegen will be on-hand to support Oltco’s growing franchise network, while Jess will be capturing engaging content on-site, sharing it across Oltco’s social media platforms. Jess will also be liaising with each of Oltco’s franchisees to ensure that all of their platforms are kept up to date. As a skilled photographer and videographer, she will be perfectly placed to offer Oltco’s network the visual content they need to showcase their exciting work. Oltco Directors Tom Stringer and Johnny Pearce are immensely proud to continue to be growing both their team and their franchise network ahead of a busy 2023.
Oltco Ltd
