TUBEX, a major manufacturer of tree shelters, has celebrated 35 years at its Welsh home by inviting key stakeholders for a factory tour. 

A Forestry Commission official and Confor representative were among those last month treated to the behind-the-scenes look at the Aberdare plant, which is around an hour from Cardiff. The town’s mayor was also present on the day and planted a tree to mark the occasion. 

The anniversary comes at a time of significant growth for Tubex, a brand of Berry Global, given increased awareness of the need for widespread tree planting nationwide. Tubex has received investment (from Berry) to boost its ability to better support customers through increased stock, capacity, automation and sustainability.

In particular, the Aberdare site is leading the drive towards full circularity in tree shelter manufacture, by achieving up to 35 per cent recycled content in its core range – with a clear pathway towards 100 per cent within the coming years – and 100 per cent already on other products. This is supported by Tubex’s Collection and Recycling Scheme, which ensures responsible disposal of tree shelters, and closes the loop to increase the usage of recycled materials.

While tree shelters have been the mainstay of the business since opening in 1987, the Aberdare facility played a different role during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the state-of-the-art site switched its efforts to produce vital materials used in over 170 million FFP3 masks for NHS workers across the UK.

Dean Latten, site director at Tubex, said: “35 years of production is a massive achievement for any business – and to celebrate it at a time when demand for tree shelters is continuing to rise is a real source of pride to the Tubex team. 

Forestry Journal:

“It was fantastic to welcome so many influential figures to Aberdare to demonstrate the work we’re doing to support sustainability through the manufacture, collection and recycling of our products.”

A full report from the tour, including exclusive interviews, will feature in an upcoming edition of Forestry Journal. You can watch a sneak-peak video on our social feeds and YouTube channel now.