Pulp Friction began trading in November 1995, when founder Steve Oliphant took his already successful collection business to the next stage — taking on a yard and machinery to sort and bale collected waste paper and cardboard, and selling high-quality baled material directly to domestic and export paper mills.
Paper recycling in 1990s London was a competitive business, but Steve's hard work, industry knowledge and network of contacts drove a rapid rise to become one of London and the South East's leading paper recyclers.
Expansion into a second processing site, and a second business, SBS Ltd, more than doubled the group's size in a short space of time, including a large recycling contract with Finnish paper mill group UPM Kymmene.
Through the early 2000s the company kept growing, adding security shredding, bulk haulage and plastics recycling to its operations. Its size, profitability and reputation for service and innovation eventually caught the attention of several large waste management groups.
In 2012, both Pulp Friction and SBS Ltd were acquired by Viridor UK, forming the basis of a wider acquisition drive in paper recycling.
After seven years away from the industry, Steve found he missed both the work and his former team, and in 2019 set about starting again. Viridor UK had since shifted its focus to energy from waste and was no longer using the Pulp Friction name — clearing the way for Steve to buy back a name that meant a great deal to him.
Most of the original team rejoined without hesitation, and the business was reborn.
Today, Pulp Friction is synonymous with paper recycling and sustainable waste management — and with a professional way of doing business built on accuracy, integrity, best value and best practice.