Wild Thang kicks off net zero pledge with solar scheme
Merseyside brand marketing specialist Wild Thang reveals ‘net zero by 2030’ target and unveils plan to use solar energy. Tony McDonough reports
One of Liverpool city region’s best known SME manufacturers is pledging to transform into a net zero carbon business by the end of the decade.
Addressing an audience of suppliers and customers at a in-house two-day expo at its Bootle headquarters, Wild Thang founder and managing director Andrew Dwerryhouse said: “We are creating a long-term carbon offset plan.”
In 2019, Wild Thang embarked on a £2m physical expansion of its Derby Road headquarters. This was delayed by the COVID pandemic but was finally completed in summer 2022.
As part of its expansion the business has increased headcount, with more new jobs in the pipeline this year. It has also opened a 20,000 sq ft warehouse and admin centre based in the Republic of Ireland to serve its EU-based customers.
Wild Thang supplies a full range of branded marketing materials and work wear for clients across multiple business sectors. It will put a business logo on just about anything – big or small from pens, to t-shirts to large banners.
Blue-chip clients include Vimto, SkyBet, McDonald’s, Princes Foods, LJMU, Paddy Power and broadcasting giant ITV. The firm also does work for a number of Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Everton.
It invited dozens of clients and suppliers for a two-day expo. This included a tour of the Bootle factory and a showcase of the products the firm can offer.Andrew Dwerryhouse told LBN: “This expo is the first opportunity we have had to launch the transformation of the building to our client base. This is a moment we have been waiting for a long time.
“We have been through a big journey – COVID, Brexit – but we have come out the other side growing strongly.
“We wanted to bring customers and buyers together and explain to them where we are as a company and talk about sustainability and our commitment to that for the future.”
In December 2022, LBN reported how the firm was to step up its eco-friendly and net zero push in 2023. It is increasing the volume of sustainable products and packaging it sells and uses.
At the Good Small Business Awards in Liverpool a few weeks ago Andrew revealed the firm’s commitment to be net zero by 2030 and, speaking at the expo alongside Wild Thang sales executive Sarah Howarth, he offered more details.
“We are committed to sustainability and aim to be a net zero business by 2030,” he said. “At Wild Thang we have always had clean and green trading policies. We will now undertake a full carbon audit of the business.
“It is important we learn exactly where we are in terms of sustainability. And we are also encouraging you – our customers and supply chain – to join us on this journey and also commit to a more sustainable future.”
Andrew added that Wild Thang was working with an external consultancy to formulate its carbon offset plan. And in the next few weeks it will begin installing solar panels on the roof of its factory that will generate 120KW of carbon-free power.
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He also said that by the end of the year Wild Thang will be responsible for the planting of up to 50,000 trees. And he insists the whole Wild Thang team is 100% behind the sustainability push.
“We are making the pledge that from 2030 all of the products that we supply will come from sustainable sources,” he said. “And what we are finding is that customers are increasingly asking for sustainable products – it is interesting to see that shift.”