ReFactory™ Closed-loop waste transformation
Worth from waste, whatever form it takes
Seeking the end of waste as we know it
Nearly 200 million tons of waste are generated in the UK each year across all sectors. Less than half on average is recycled and, adjusted for harder-to-recycle materials – including plastic and textiles – rates are far lower.
Waste that is left ends up in landfill or put to no better use than incineration for energy recovery. Millions upon millions of tons of material with potential, lost to the ground or into the atmosphere forever.
Introducing ReFactory
MYGroup’s ReFactory exists to challenge this lazy, unimaginative status quo, changing the conversation on what waste unfit for conventional recycling schemes is worth – and what can be done with it.
ReFactory is a core function of MYGroup, dedicated to discovering new ways to reuse, repurpose and remanufacture waste, giving lasting and varied value and purpose to materials once considered ‘unrecyclable’.
The function straddles the broad, unrivalled spectrum of MYGroup’s waste collection and recycling service areas as the final piece in the puzzle, ready to transform, give new life and close the loop on processed waste material, in whatever form it takes. Waste materials ReFactory works with include:
Healthcare & clinical waste packaging & devices, inc. blister packs
Beauty & cosmetics packaging
Ocean plastic waste, from bags & bottles to fishing 'ghost gear'
Surplus stock
Pre- & post-consumer textiles material & products
Pallets, crates & other packaging
Wood chips & sawdust
Waste timber, including treated & laminated
Metal cuttings from household and industry - aluminium to steel
WEEE waste electrical items, from televisions to hairdryers
Recovered gypsum & glass
Where the material meets the method: ReFactory in action
Plastic: MYBoard
‘Unrecyclable’ plastic no longer has a place to hide with ReFactory’s transformative MYboard, a durable material, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, with applications as broad as wood, manufactured entirely from plastic waste in any form it comes. MYboard is a core output of the ReFactory team, used for a growing range of products and purposes, from the joinery and fittings of a home or retail space, to chairs and tables for an office or school.
CNC & 3D Printing Equipment
Harnessing a range of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery, including plasma and laser cutters, lathes and drills, along with state-of-the-art 3D printers and remanufactured filaments, allows ReFactory to work and finish MYboard and other products with greater precision.
Injection- & roto-moulding
Separated and segregated polypropylene and polyethylene is used to create a wide variety of refined, moulded plastic products – from combs and personal care items to Christmas decorations.
Textiles: End-to-end design & manufacture
ReFactory has a full team of designers, pattern cutters and industry trained machinists to take pre- and post-consumer textiles from waste to worth – from full deconstruction of products back to their bare constituent materials, to repurposing and reworking existing items, to the creation of entirely new garments and accessories.
Fibre-to-fibre innovation
ReFactory is at the forefront of circular fibre-to-fibre recycling, working in collaboration with the University of Leeds to develop a process that produces new yarn and thread from waste material.
Supporting regeneration in raw material and skills across the world
ReFactory has established an initiative in Sri Lanka to revive cotton growing using regenerative agriculture, as well as to preserve heritage, planet-friendly manufacturing techniques such as natural dyeing and handloom weaving. This initiative is empowering local communities while contributing to a more environmentally responsible supply chain.
Joinery, carpentry and metalwork
ReFactory retains a team of skilled craftspeople, experienced from a wide range of industries, in the creation of furniture and fittings from waste wood and metal. The team also combines these materials with plastic and textiles to broaden the output still further.
Jesmonite production
The ReFactory team blends recovered gypsum with textiles, plastic, glass and other materials to form jesmonite, a composite material similar in consistency to plaster or resin, which can be used for a wide variety of homeware and decorative items.
ReSure guarantee
The ReFactory team’s commitment to sustainability and circularity extends beyond its products’ initial usage. Through the team’s ReSure guarantee, all products can be recycled at the end of their life cycle, with a free collection service ensuring the materials are reintegrated back into the recycling process.
SchoolCycled: Driving real-world impact out of every classroom
ReFactory’s SchoolCycled scheme educates the next generation on sustainability and reducing their environmental footprint, while supporting schools and trusts to meet their sustainability objectives.
The scheme is live in hundreds of schools across the UK, has reached over 40,000 pupils and has seen 21 tons of plastic waste saved from landfill to date.
Bespoke closed-loop recovery projects for businesses
From office and event fittings to marketing activations or employee engagement initiatives, ReFactory ideates and delivers projects working hand-in-hand with client teams.
Businesses and organisations can physically see and demonstrate, tangibly, their commitment to sustainability, with real, literal purpose derived from recovered material and invaluable insights and data for EPR, ESG and CSR objectives.
