The AO Recycling arm of online electricals retail group, AO World, has announced today that a type of plastic extracted from old fridges it collects from customers’ homes can now be recycled into new products.
The company said the high impact polystyrene (HIPS) material will be used to create “brand new sustainable ventilation products for the first time” – specifically the ducting components in energy saving systems produced by domestic ventilation fan manufacturer, Volution Group.
AO Recycling operates as its own division of the wider consumer electricals business, and it has a sophisticated recycling facility in Telford, Shropshire, which opened in 2017. Fridges collected and taken to the site will supply recycled HIPS to Volution.
AO said HIPS will be extracted from approximately 63,000 fridges each year.
Volution’s ventilation systems are installed to recover heat from extracted air and they are used to reduce heat loss and save energy in properties where they are deployed.
Rob Sant, managing director of AO Recycling, said: “We’re so pleased that Volution will be using the plastic from our fridges to create fantastic eco products.
“As a retailer, AO wants to take responsibility for the entire recycling process, from start to finish, and we’re proud to be producing high quality plastic that can be easily used in new products. The circular economy is really at the forefront of our business ambitions and our investment in plastic is key to fulfilling our long-term goals.”
Lee Nurse, business development director at Volution, added: “With Volution Group having a target of 90% of the plastics we use in our facilities to come from recycled sources by 2025, this is a huge step towards us fulfilling our goal.
“The components made will also form part of our centralised heat recovery systems helping to provide energy saving ventilation solutions into new-build housing.”
The AO-Volution partnership also involves Ultrapolymers, a polymer distributor and technical consultation provider.
Read more about AO Recycling on Green Retail World
[Image credit: AO World]
