PlastikCity Celebrates 13 Years of Innovation and Industry Leadership
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October 2025 marks the 13th anniversary of PlastikCity, the online plastic procurement platform that has revolutionised procurement and marketing for companies across the UK and Irish plastics sector. Founded in October 2012 by Carl Futcher, the company has grown from a one-person start-up to a trusted industry resource connecting over 260 suppliers with buyers across hundreds of product and service categories.
A Year of Recognition
This year, PlastikCity achieved a major milestone by winning two prestigious accolades at the Plastics Industry Awards 2024.
The company secured Best Business Initiative of the Year for its PlastikCity on Tour feature, which has highlighted the exceptional talent, technology, and collaboration within the PlastikCity Partner network. By visiting and showcasing businesses across the UK and Ireland, the initiative has strengthened industry connections and championed innovation in the plastics sector.
Founder and Director Carl Futcher also received the Plastics Industry Ambassador Award, recognising almost four decades of leadership, advocacy, and commitment to advancing the industry. His work has been instrumental in driving efficiency, supporting reshoring, and promoting excellence within UK manufacturing.
Carl said: “The Ambassador Award is a reflection of the incredible team at PlastikCity and our partners who share the same drive to push the industry forward. I’m proud of how far we’ve come and excited for what lies ahead.”
Jess Clarke, Managing Director, added: “To take home our first ever Plastics Industry Awards and win two in one night was a proud moment for the whole team. It recognises the value of what we’ve built, but more importantly, it pushes us to keep innovating.”
A Family Business with a New “Apprentice”
PlastikCity has always been a family-led business, with three generations connected to the plastics industry. Earlier this year, the Futcher-Clarke family welcomed a new addition.
In February 2025, Jess and Will Clarke celebrated the birth of their son, Luca. As the grandson of founder Carl and the child of two company directors, the team jokingly refers to Luca as PlastikCity’s newest “apprentice.” The team ever purchased a baby grow for Luca to formally onboard him!
Investing in the Next Generation
The company also marked a significant achievement within its marketing team. Dan Russell successfully completed his marketing apprenticeship with a distinction and has now joined PlastikCity full-time as a Marketing Executive. This milestone reflects the company’s commitment to developing young talent and supporting long-term career growth within the business.
PlastikCity has already supported multiple apprentices and student placements, helping to bring new skills and fresh perspectives into the team. Building on this success, the company intends to welcome another apprentice in the coming year as part of its ongoing investment in future talent.
Supporting the Community
In addition to business growth, PlastikCity continues to support wider community initiatives. Through PlastikCity Insurance, the company’s insurance initiative launched in 2024 for the plastics sector, over £700 has been raised for The Air Ambulance Service. This ongoing partnership reinforces PlastikCity’s commitment to giving back to essential services that support the wider community.
PlastikCity also maintained its support for local organisations through the continued sponsorship of Thompsons United, a local children’s football team, and Ullesthorpe Scout Group, reinforcing its commitment to supporting its local community as well as the wider industry.
Vision and Core Principles
The foundation of PlastikCity was built on a clear and practical idea: using digital tools to make the plastics industry more efficient, connected, and commercially resilient. This approach has guided the platform from its earliest days and continues to mould its development.
The concept was developed by Carl Futcher, whose decades of industry experience gave him a close understanding of the challenges faced by manufacturers and suppliers. At a time when digital tools were largely unfamiliar within the sector, he set out to create a single digital procurement platform where businesses could compare suppliers, access reliable information, and make better-informed purchasing decisions.
From its launch in 2012, PlastikCity has focused on practical benefits for both sides of the supply chain.
- For suppliers: consistent, qualified sales leads and a structured platform to increase visibility and reach.
- For buyers: an efficient way to source multiple quotes with minimal effort, improving purchasing speed and decision-making.
- For the wider industry: stronger support for reshoring, helping manufacturers move from overseas production to trusted UK and Irish partners.
A selective approach to partnerships has been central to PlastikCity’s success. Every supplier listed on the platform must demonstrate quality, service, and a strong UK or Irish presence. This ensures users can engage with trusted partners who meet high standards, protecting both their investment and reputation.
More than a decade later, those founding principles remain unchanged. What began as a single idea developed in a home office has become an established platform used by hundreds of companies, demonstrating how a digital solution can deliver measurable value in a traditionally hands-on industry.
Expanding Reach Through PlastikMedia
Alongside the procurement platform, PlastikCity continues to strengthen its sister brand, PlastikMedia. Established in 2016, PlastikMedia has become a leading digital news outlet dedicated to the UK and Irish plastics sector. The platform publishes partner updates, product launches, company news, and industry insights, providing a trusted channel for businesses to share developments with a targeted and relevant audience.
In addition to its role as a news platform, PlastikMedia delivers specialist marketing services designed specifically for the plastics industry. This includes website design, content creation, digital advertising, and campaign management. Over the past year, the number of companies choosing PlastikMedia to manage their marketing activity has grown significantly and the agency works with many of the industry’s leading brands, reflecting the demand for industry-specific expertise and targeted digital support.
Thirteen Years of Growth
The company began in 2012 with just five service categories and a handful of partners. Today, it connects buyers to a wide network of vetted UK and Irish suppliers across hundreds of categories, providing a fast, transparent way to compare quotes and source equipment, materials, and services.
Key milestones over the years include the launch of:
- Source a Moulder (2014), promoting reshoring by providing new projects to UK and Irish plastic moulders, supporting British and Irish manufacturing.
- PlastikCity Jobs and Candidates (2014), providing the plastics industry with a dedicated platform to fill their vacancies at low cost and supporting candidates to find new roles.
- Partner News (2014), which evolved into PlastikMedia News, a leading digital news platform for the industry.
- PlastikMedia Marketing (2016), specialised marketing services to the plastics industry, which has since grown significantly.
- PlastikCity’s first Pavilion at Interplas (2017), giving smaller companies the opportunity to exhibit. The Pavilion has continued at Interplas 2021, Interplas 2023, and is returning for Interplas 2026.
- PlastikCity Insurance (2024), offering tailored insurance solutions for the plastics sector.
Looking Ahead
Thirteen years on, PlastikCity remains focused on driving efficiency and collaboration across the plastics supply chain. The company continues to innovate and evolve while staying true to its founding principle: only partnering with high-quality suppliers that provide strong service within the UK and Ireland.
Want to become a part of PlastikCity’s successful journey? Find out more about becoming an approved PlastikCity Partner and apply here.
Read More on PlastikCity Here.
PlastikCity
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