UK - Green Animal Bedding Product Developed By Staffordshire Company

A Staffordshire company is showing strong growth after developing an environmentally-friendly animal bedding product

Email this story to a friend

Description

Green Animal Bedding Product Developed By Staffordshire Company

by Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post
Aug 3 2009

A Staffordshire company is showing strong growth after developing an environmentally-friendly animal bedding product.

The Green Mile Company, based at Seighford, saw a gap in the market to develop a new form of bedding to replace the traditional wood shavings.

Owner Joe Kinnersley said shavings are in shorter supply, so the company shreds corrugated cardboard made from uncontaminated waste board from box and cardboard sheet manufacturers for its bedding.

The bedding has a unique appearance giving it better absorbency and is much easier to handle when mucking out or removing from contaminated areas.

It is also biodegradable and will break down within eight to 12 weeks. It is even safe enough to spread on the fields or can be used as a weed repelling compost in the garden.

Mr Kinnersley began operating from a small unit in May last year and now employs five people and is hopeful of generating turnover of around 213,000 in its first year. He decided to invest in new machinery that would be able to shred and bale the cardboard in the quantities his customers needed and approached Business Link West Midlands (BLWM) for help accessing the finance.

The company has recently expanded into the horse racing industry with high profile clients that include Nicky Vaughan and well-known Uttoxeter trainer, John Mackie.

Mr Kinnersley, aged 29, said: We had to look to diversify when the domestic market turned their horses out in the nicer weather and we have had great success branching out into the racing industry and the professional market is fast becoming our main clientele.

In addition, the British Horse Society has been impressed enough by our product to put us on its list of approved suppliers and in the next three or four weeks we will start distribution into Ireland.

Mr Kinnersley had initially contacted BLWM when he was setting up his company and was pleased with the help he received from the organisation.

I was like many people starting their own business and they made me realise that I had to invest more if I was to make the company successful.

They put me in touch with Advantage West Midlands, who in turn arranged for me to get financial help and now the business is on a much firmer footing.

As well as branching out further with distribution, The Green Mile Company is also about to launch a new budget version of their product which they believe will fill a huge gap in the domestic market as an extremely affordable option.

David Terry, head of Environment for BLWM, said: Green Mile has come up with an environmentally-friendly product that will be of benefit to the whole equine sector. We felt the company was worthy of investment and directed it towards the appropriate channels.

Additional Information

Web Site: http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/birmingham-business-news/business-entrepreneurship/2009/08/04/green-animal-bedding-product-developed-by-staffordshire-company-65233-24307077/

Category: Forestry>Value-Added Products

Region: UK

Ad Running: 8/4/2009-8/4/2011

Ad Posted: 8/4/2009 5:00:40 PM

Ad Viewed: 407 times

Create your
Buy & Sell Ad