Oxford's Essentra testing alternatives to single use plastics

Oxford-based Essentra is accelerating its sustainability efforts, trialling alternatives to single use plastics for future ranges of protective caps and plugs following its acquisition last year of Italian manufacturer BMP TAPPI.

The FTSE 250 company, which makes and distributes essential components, said it was looking to ramp up production, taking advantage of the 115 injection moulding machines at the Milan company's facility to deliver more products, more quickly and more efficiently.

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Working at the Essentra Centre of Excellence in Kidlington, tests are being conducted to see how recycled content and biodegradable bioplastics can help make future manufacturing more sustainable, in line with customer demands in Italy and Southern Europe.

"The BMP TAPPI team is very excited about being part of the Essentra family and about what the future holds," said Nicolas Karoui, integration director at Essentra.

"We are building on very strong foundations with proven products and a management team committed to further strengthening our European presence and global manufacturing footprint.”

Essentra is integrating a further 1,500 products into its manufacturing lines and further new products and innovations are expected to be announced in the second quarter and throughout the remainder of the year.

A number of sustainably sourced products are already included in its current range, it said.

Before being acquired at the end of 2023, BMP TAPPI had been a trading partner to Essentra for over 20 years.

Essentra's network extends to 28 countries and includes over 3,000 employees, 14 manufacturing facilities, 24 distribution centres, serving around 69,000 customers supplying products for use in industries, such as equipment manufacturing, automotive, fabrication, electronics, medical and renewable energy.