Tubex sets flat-rate pricing for tree shelter collection and recycling
Tree shelter specialist Tubex has created the UK’s first flat-rate service for its successful Collection and Recycling Programme for plastic tree shelters. By reducing costs and improving accessibility for end users, Tubex believes it will drive further take-up to the scheme.
Tubex, a brand of Berry Global, has set a Recommended Retail Price (RRP) of £39 per bag collection, anywhere on the UK mainland, including the dedicated dumpy bags, collection and recycling*. Each Tubex dumpy bag can hold 350-400 1.2m tree shelters.
The Programme collects shelters to be sorted, cleaned and reprocessed into recycled polymer, to be re-used in Tubex products. In 2021, Tubex confirmed the scheme’s potential by collecting more than 150,000 tree shelters, the equivalent to 21 tonnes of plastic – but has initiated the new flat-rate fee after heeding customer feedback that the previous variable pricing structure was complex and hard to understand.
“By working closely with our end users and distribution partners, we’ve set a flat-rate price that will save users of the scheme between 25 and 50% compared to 2021,” explained James Taylor, Marketing & Product Development Director at Tubex.
“It’s a move everybody has been happy to make, as we all understand the importance of increased recycling. Anything that makes the scheme more accessible, and encourages others to join, is a step forward.”
When asked why Tubex stands by recycling plastic tree shelters, James Taylor added: “Our experience and external research has proven to us that not only are they the best option available to protect saplings, which is fundamental, but they are also a sustainable and circular solution when recycled. Plastic tree shelters are very valuable assets that can be recycled multiple times, helping us move away from a linear economy that uses more resources than necessary.”
Tree shelters play a vital role in enhancing growth and development while protecting against browsing animals. Tubes made with recycled material, collected at their end of life, offer the lowest LCA impact on the planet according to independent research.
“The Tubex Collection and Recycling Programme facilitates a fully closed-loop solution, the only one the market, helping forestry professionals and landowners to benefit from the durability of our tree shelters in a sustainable manner,” added James Taylor.
* The minimum collection at the flat rate is six bags. Collection for fewer than six bags, or from UK islands, will be priced on a case-by-case basis.
About Tubex:
Tubex is a creator, innovator and industry pioneer in tree shelter solutions worldwide. Tubex’s shelters provide an improved micro-climate for growth, assisting with the establishment of stronger roots and leading to higher survival rates. Tubex was established in the 1970s as a specialist plastic extruder, with its first tree shelters produced in the early 1980s. Tubex quickly became the most popular on the market, selling well in both the UK and overseas.
Tubex is a brand owned by Berry Global, who creates innovative packaging and engineered products that make life better for people and the planet. Berry Global leverages its unmatched global capabilities, sustainability leadership, and deep innovation expertise to serve customers of all sizes around the world. It partners with customers to develop, design, and manufacture innovative products with an eye toward the circular economy.