PULP FRICTION

The UK's fastest growing specialist buyer of waste paper, card and film. Pulp Friction is synonymous with paper recycling, sustainable waste management, and a professional way of doing business that always ensures accuracy, integrity, best value and best practice.

History

The “Original” Pulp Friction began trading in November 1995 when Founder Steve Oliphant decided to take his very successful collection business to the logical next level by taking on a yard and machinery to commence sorting and baling of the collected waste paper and cardboard in order to sell baled high quality raw materials directly to domestic and export paper mills.

Whilst paper recycling in London in the 90’s was extremely competitive, Steve’s hard work, personality, paper knowledge and network of connections saw Pulp Friction enjoy a meteoric rise to become one of London and the South East’s leading paper recyclers.

Expansion to a second processing site and another new business, SBS Ltd, more than doubled the size of the business in a very short space of time with the Group taking on a large recycling contract for Finnish paper mill group UPM Kymmene.

As Pulp Friction moved through the early years of the 21st Century, continued expansion, with a security shredding venture, bulk haulage and plastics recycling. At this stage, the company’s size, profitability and exceptional reputation for service and innovation, saw it appear on the radar of several large waste management groups.

Ultimately both Pulp Friction and SBS Ltd were purchased by Viridor UK in 2012 to form the basis for a large acquisition drive in paper recycling.

In 2019 after a 7-year period away from waste and recycling, Steve Oliphant found that he was missing the recycling industry and his former team of employees and decided to start again. Fortunately, Viridor UK had changed direction towards energy from waste and by this time, were no longer using the Pulp Friction name which enabled Steve to discuss, purchase and once again use the Pulp Friction name which is very dear to his heart and had brought him so much success.

Unsurprisingly, most of the old team agreed to re-join Pulp Friction and the business was reborn.

Pulp Friction - The Brand - is now synonymous with paper recycling, sustainable waste management, and a professional way of doing business that always ensures accuracy, integrity, best value and best practice.