HotSeat: Mike Boswell, Managing Director at Plastribution

Plastribution, established in 1979, is a leading UK polymer distributor, renowned for its innovative approach and commitment to sustainability. Over the years, the company has evolved into a large-scale distribution platform, offering a comprehensive range of materials, including recycled and bio-based polymers. With a strong focus on adding value across the supply chain, Plastribution has built lasting partnerships with global suppliers and UK manufacturers.

Now, as the company prepares for an exciting new chapter, Mike Boswell, Plastribution’s Managing Director, takes on the PlastikMedia HotSeat!

What trends do you think will shape the future of UK plastics?  How will Plastribution respond?

I would like to think that much of the negative sentiment surrounding plastics is diminished and that society starts to recognise the outstanding contribution that plastics make to sustaining modern life. In order to do this the issue of waste plastic in the environment and plastics recycling need to be addressed further. Plastribution will respond by further enhancing our range of materials with more sustainable credentials including both mechanically and chemically recycled polymers.

The tendency to longer and more complex supply chains will enable the team at Plastribution to further enhance the value that we add to both our global suppliers and our UK customers. Whilst AI will have some role to play, we will continue place people at the centre of our business, and we will maintain a skilled and dedicated workforce serving the needs of our industry.

How has Plastribution developed during your tenure?

Going back to 2000, Plastribution was a small distributor with marginal levels of profitability. Over the last 24 years the business has evolved to become a large-scale distribution platform with a market leading position in the UK. Along the way we have grown to understand the role of distribution in the supply chain and how to add value both to our suppliers and customers. The number of people employed has grown from 15 to almost 100, including the acquisition of Eagle Plastics sheet distribution business back in 2023.

What do you credit as the key to your success?

All of our stakeholders including customers and suppliers and most vitally a very talented team of employees who are dedicated to ‘doing best what matters most’. Since 1992 our journey of success has been supported by Itochu Corporation who have consistently been supportive, whilst also affording Plastribution’s management team the autonomy to develop the business.

Receiving the BPF Gold Medal in 2024 is testimony to the amazing support that I receive, most especially from my colleagues.

What has been the greatest challenge in your career?

My philosophy is always to be forward looking and so I always believe my biggest challenge is yet to come. Putting that in context I will be handing to position of managing director to Katherine White at the end of March and I will then take up the newly created role of executive chairman. After serving 25 years as Plastribution’s CEO the time is right to hand over my daily responsibilities to a very worthy successor, which will then provide me with the opportunity to concentrate on the strategic development of the business, whilst still being able to share the knowledge from being part of Plastribution since 1988. I am really excited about entering this next phase in my journey of work.

What advice do you wish you’d had on entering the industry and does that differ from the advice you would give to an apprentice joining now?

I think that that the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling offers some of the very best advice available, and I often wish that I had considered this more in earlier in my career. This would also be the advice that I would offer to an apprentice today, albeit with some more modern context.

What hidden talents do you have?

Whilst it is part of the human condition to look at the skills that others have that you don’t, I do enjoy problem solving. Outside of work I have rekindled my passion for the outdoors including hill walking, rock climbing and mountaineering and last year climbed Mt. Fuji and spent time enjoying via ferrata in the Dolomites and Spain.

Read more on Plastribution here.

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