Merseyside brand marketing specialist Wild Thang says it aims to step up its eco-friendly and net zero push in 2023. Tony McDonough reports

Brand marketing specialist Wild Thang says it will step up its efforts in 2023 to become a carbon neutral business.

Wild Thang operates from a 20,000 sq ft headquarters in Bootle. Despite a sharp downturn in business during the pandemic the business pushed on with an upgrade of its headquarters costing more than £2m.

Post-COVID the firm has seen business bounce back strongly. Wild Thang manufactures and supplies a full range of branded marketing materials for clients across multiple business sectors. It will put a business logo on just about anything.

Blue-chip clients include Vimto, SkyBet, McDonald’s, Princes Foods, LJMU and Paddy Power. The firm also does work for a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Everton.

Headcount has grown by 25% to 46 over the past year and the firm has expanded by opening a new base in the Republic of Ireland to service clients within the EU.

In November Wild Thang won the Business of the Year (over 30 employees) award at the Liverpool Chamber Innovation in Business Awards. Founder and managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse said “really special moment in Wild Thang’s 26-year journey”.

Now Andrew is keen to push on to continue growing Wild Thang in 2023 and create more jobs. And he and his team are ready to accelerate their efforts to make the business carbon neutral by 2030.

And, having sent out gift packs to clients containing sustainable products and in sustainable packaging. Andrew said: “This will hopefully mean that they will be kept for a long time, meaning the carbon footprint and eco impact will lessen over time.

“We have also included a charger cable that is made from eco-friendly materials including recycled PET plastic cable and the packaging is made of recycled paper and recycled plastic. Rubber, aluminum, recycled PET plastic.

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“We are committed to long term sustainability and will be continuing to promote high quality items and eco-friendly products that are kept for the life cycle of the product. And we believe all our products by 2030 will come from sustainable sources.

“There are also some exciting eco initiatives planned for 2023 that will all support our journey towards being carbon neutral by 2030.”

Andrew and his team have also raised £400 for the John Haynes Foundation this Christmas. John Haynes, who died in December 2020 was the founder of the Liverpool Coaching Academy.

He was an inspiration for Andrew and many of the Wild Thang team. A foundation was set up in John’s name to “transform 1m lives”. Wild Thang’s team raised the money via its annual Christmas Jumper Day.

Andrew added: “This was our opportunity to get into the festive spirit and say a big, big thank you to the whole Wild Thang team for their commitment and dedication in helping us achieve so much in 2022.

“Even with the financial challenges we have continued to make fantastic progress as a team and company. Our Liverpool Chamber of Commerce Business Of The Year Award really did top it off.

“This year Wild Thang has achieved so much and grown so much as a company which is down to the hard work from the team and all the support we get from our customers and clients.”