Chronicle Champions Contender turns millions of empty milk cartons into furniture

A staggering 7 million milk containers have been saved from landfill and turned into furniture for schools and parks thanks to a North East business.

Now, the contribution Marmax Products is making to the region's environment has earned them a top award nomination.

The County Durham-based company has saved 10,000 tonnes of plastic from landfill, fully recycling the discarded items before constructing outdoor furniture for schools, councils, recreation areas and parks throughout the UK.

It even builds-to-order, creating bespoke items like a fishing platform and even an elelphant weighing platforms, specially made for Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire.

All the company's products are maintenance free, do not rot, corrode or splinter and have become a firm favourite with schools across the North East and the rest of the UK.

Jackie Robshaw, general manager at Marmax Products, said: "We use post consumer waste such as plastic milk containers to produce outdoor products made entirely from recycled plastic, which continue to be kind to the environment by requiring less cleaning and no maintenance

"As a Green World Ambassador, we strive to maintain and exceed our sustainability targets, producing attractive, educational, functional and durable recycled pplastic products for wide ranging industry sectors.

"We also strive to spread our Green Compant ethos across multiple industry sectors, ranging from the Digs Trust, Zoos and Parks and The Angling Trust to educational facilities, including schools, nurseries and colleges, by providing products manufactured entirely from plastic waste

"We continue to research new product ideas, meeting client demand and spreading the recycling message across increasingly broad industry sectors."

Now, the company has been nominated for a Green Award in our Chronicle Champions Awards 2014 for the contribution it has made to the area.