Fast growing zero waste chemical manufacturer on track for £3m turnover

A fast growing sustainable manufacturing business is targeting revenues of £3m in its second year of trading, as consumers increasingly turn to natural zero waste alternatives and environmentally friendly cleaning products spend tops £680m.

Headquartered in Keighley, Yorkshire, The Friendly Chemical Co is a manufacturer and supplier of branded and private label products for the domestic household and personal care markets. It operates from a 10,000 sq ft warehouse and sells its award-winning Miniml cleaning products to over 1,500 natural food, zero waste and farm shops across the UK.

The business is one of only a few manufacturers to operate a closed loop system, meaning it reuses and refills every bottle it sells to create a completely zero waste supply chain. Customers can access refill stations up and down the country to top up their cleaning, laundry and personal care products, with empties collected by The Friendly Chemical Co to be cleaned and reused on the production line.

The Friendly Chemical Co was established by a young entrepreneurial team led by Scott Rudd and Emma Tapper in 2017. The pair met at the University of Liverpool where they came up with the concept and have transformed it into a thriving business employing 12 staff. The company achieved revenues of £710,000 in the year to 31 March 2021, growing 283 per cent on the previous year, and is now targeting £3m by FY22. 

The business is set to diversify into new markets after developing a range of ethical skincare products under its Good Human Skincare brand, and is looking to expand its team in London. The Friendly Chemical Co has also been recognised by the UK’s Ethical Consumer Guide for the positive impact it is having on the environment and is on track to becoming a pending B-Corp.

Scott Rudd, Co-Founder and Director of The Friendly Chemical Co, said: “We’re a proud British manufacturer making products that people love right in the heart of Yorkshire. We understand that manufacturing, transporting and using cleaning products can have a negative impact on the environment, which is why we work hard to ensure that every raw ingredient and component used is assessed and chosen carefully. We use plant-based formulas, purify our water from the Yorkshire Dales and stay well away from nasty chemicals and animal testing.

“Consumers are becoming increasingly conscious when it comes to the environment and so we develop products that leave a minimal impact on the planet. Demand for our zero-waste solutions has now led us to diversifying in new areas, and we’re looking forward to launching our Good Human Skincare range later this year.”

Emma Tapper, Co-Founder and Director of The Friendly Chemical Co, said: “The transformation of the business over the last few years has been phenomenal. We’ve gone from a start-up formulating and manufacturing the products from a garage in Leeds to selling over 100,000 litres to 1,500 independent retailers across the UK per month. Our focus for the next 12 months is to increase our production capabilities and expand our team across the UK, so we’re incredibly excited about the next chapter.”