Sustainable manufacturing firm on track for £3m turnover with "ambitious" expansion plans

A Yorkshire sustainable manufacturing business is targeting revenues of £3m in its second year after growing by 283 per cent.

Headquartered in Keighley, Yorkshire, The Friendly Chemical Co is a manufacturer and supplier of branded and private label products for the domestic household and personal care markets.

The business operates a closed loop system, meaning it reuses and refills every bottle it sells to create a completely zero waste supply chain.

It operates from a 10,000 sq ft warehouse and sells its cleaning products to over 1,500 natural food, zero waste and farm shops across the UK.

Founded by Liverpool University alumni, Scott Rudd and Emma Tapper in 2017, the duo now employ 12 staff.

Scott Rudd, co-founder and director of The Friendly Chemical Co, said: “We’re a proud British manufacturer making products that people love right in the heart of Yorkshire.

“We understand that manufacturing, transporting and using cleaning products can have a negative impact on the environment, which is why we work hard to ensure that every raw ingredient and component used is assessed and chosen carefully.

“We use plant-based formulas, purify our water from the Yorkshire Dales and stay well away from nasty chemicals and animal testing.

Emma Tapper, co-founder and director of The Friendly Chemical Co, said: “The transformation of the business over the last few years has been phenomenal.

“We’ve gone from a start-up formulating and manufacturing the products from a garage in Leeds to selling over 100,000 litres to 1,500 independent retailers across the UK per month.

“Our focus for the next 12 months is to increase our production capabilities and expand our team across the UK, so we’re incredibly excited about the next chapter.”

The business is set to diversify into new markets after developing a range of ethical skincare products and is looking to expand its team in London.

The Friendly Chemical Co has also been recognised by the UK’s Ethical Consumer Guide for the positive impact it is having on the environment and is on track to becoming a pending B-Corp.