TDP Ltd is based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire and as a family-based SME has been pioneering sustainable products for more than 30 years. In 2012 the company started to manufacture a range of outdoor furniture made from 100% recycled plastic waste so that it could have a positive impact on people and planet.

A £20,750 Business Growth Grant has helped the company to install a new Dust Extraction Unit. This new equipment has enabled them to keep up with demand, improve production efficiency and develop new products. TDP have invested heavily over the last 3 years and the new extractor was the final part of the jigsaw and has allowed them to free up more time on the machines, to allow for both organic and planned growth

By supporting the circular economy, TDP keeps resources in the value chain by using profiles made from recycled plastics to manufacture a wide range of products including seats and benches, planters, furniture for children and memorial benches.

Their products have good environmental credentials as well as being strong, durable and maintenance free. They don’t require harsh coatings and paints each year and can withstand wear and tear for a generation. This durability means that the furniture can be used longer, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and can be fully recycled at end of life. So far the business has diverted more than 4,500 tonnes of plastic waste from ending up in landfill or our rivers and oceans, prevented more than 24 million kg of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere and over 11,250 trees being felled.

.Rob Barlow (Managing Director) says...

The help provided by Derbyshire Dales District Councils’ Economic Development Department was invaluable to us in applying for the grant. This support for our manufacturing sector is very encouraging. We are now looking at further expansion including recruitment to add another member to our busy production team”. Rob added, “A big part of our positive impact falls in the realm of sustainability and our carbon emissions. Early indications show that this new dust extractor uses only a third of the energy of the older unit.

This grant scheme is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).

www.tdp.co.uk