Hemswell's ECO Plastics was recognised as one of the UK's most disruptive early-stage businesses at the Everline Future 50 awards, held in conjunction with Real Business at LSO St Luke's, London last night. Real Business created the Future 50 project in 2011 to shine a spotlight on early-stage companies that see the future in a new way.
Now in its third year these awards have evolved to recognise companies that challenge the norms and traditional thinking in their field. Nominations were whittled down to the final list by a panelist of expert judges including: professor Julian Beer, pro-vice chancellor (regional enterprise) at Plymouth University; serial technology entrepreneur Shakil Khan; Anthony Eskinazi, founder and chairman of Parkatmyhouse; Darren Westlake, CEO of CrowdCube; Cate Trotter, founder of Insider Trends; Matthew Rock, previous editor of Real Business and Russell Gould, managing director, Everline. The final 50 were unveiled at a packed event last night, hosted by comedian Seann Walsh and attended by over 200 guests including MPs, journalists and former winners. Russell Gould, managing director, Everline, said: "ECO Plastics has revolutionised the waste industry using technology and two-way thinking to create the world's leading recycling plant."We had hundreds of high-calibre entries to this year's Future 50, showing that small businesses are continuing to find innovative ways to drive the UK economy. We're really proud to support and celebrate the achievements of these businesses and wish them every success in the future.
"Amy Carroll, Group Editor, Real Business, commented: "Last year, the Future 50 shared some remarkable stories of early-stage business success, many of whom got huge encouragement and benefit from the recognition that the programme gave them. "This year, our mission to identify the UK's 50 most disruptive early-stage businesses has resulted in uncovering a host of companies that we're confident will feature strongly in the UK business landscape for years to come. Congratulations to all those who were shortlisted as well as those who made the final 50." ECO Plastics brings disruptive technology and collaborative thinking to the world of waste. Originally a scrap business, founder Jonathan Short spotted a gap in the market and began processing the large amounts of post-consumer plastics in the waste stream. Today the company operates the world's largest and most sophisticated recycling plant, capable of sorting 150,000 tonnes of mixed plastics per year, around 35% of the total collected annually in the UK.
Jonathan Short, ECO Plastics, said: "We're delighted to have been recognised as part of this year's Everline Future 50. It's great to receive credit for the innovative work we're doing and to be hailed as a positive disruptor in our field by the judges, Everline and Real Business."ECO Plastic is joined on the Everline Future 50 list by companies disrupting every business field from fashion and finance to funerals
