Plastribution
Plastribution is a UK & Ireland-focused polymer distributor (founded 1979) supplying thermoplastic raw materials and sustainable grades from 30+ producers to manufacturers in automotive, packaging, electronics, and industrial sectors, augmented by an in-house technical services team and the Plastribution+ ordering platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersAshby De La Zouch, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Plastribution does
Plastribution is a privately held UK polymer distributor, founded in 1979 and headquartered in Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, that supplies thermoplastic raw materials to manufacturers across the UK and Ireland. The company distributes standard polymers, performance/engineering polymers, and sustainable materials spanning polyolefins, styrenics, engineering grades, specialities, and additives, drawing on 30+ supply partnerships that include Borealis, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, CHIMEI, Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics, Röhm, Radici, Lubrizol, Ducor Petrochemicals, Sumika Polymer Compounds, Polyram, Sabo, Kafrit, and Premix. Its operations are organised into two wholly-owned subsidiaries: Elastribution, which distributes speciality elastomers, and Plastribution Plus, the customer service platform for account management and order placement.
The company's commercial offering layers technical consulting on top of distribution. A Technical Services Team supports material selection, troubleshooting, regulatory compliance (REACh, RoHS, food contact), re-shoring, and customer training, while the Price Know-How service delivers polymer-pricing market intelligence. Plastribution serves manufacturers in injection moulding, extrusion, film production, and packaging, with primary verticals in automotive, packaging, electronics and electrical, and general manufacturing, and secondary exposure in construction and healthcare. Distribution is executed through regional field sales teams (South, West, East of England, Scotland & Ireland, UK-wide accounts), an internal sales desk, the Plastribution+ digital self-serve platform, and a Sustainability-dedicated contact channel.
The business model is sales-led B2B distribution: revenue is generated through transactional polymer sales at quote-based pricing tailored to material grade, order volume, and customer specification, with technical service embedded in the sale. End-markets are positioned around sustainability tailwinds, with a deliberate portfolio expansion into recycled, bio-based, and biodegradable materials (Waterhaul Traceable Marine Plastic, Notpla seaweed polymer, UBQ masterbatch, CHIMEI Ecologue, Sumika Thermofil Circle, Polymateria Lyfecycle) addressing UK Plastic Packaging Tax, Extended Producer Responsibility, and OEM recycled-content mandates. Leadership is founder/management-led under Executive Chairman Mike Boswell, Managing Director Katherine White, and Finance Director Simon Thompson, with no disclosed external PE or VC ownership.
Plastribution firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plastribution
- Legal name
- Plastribution Ltd
- Website
- https://plastribution.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Plastribution is a UK & Ireland-focused polymer distributor (founded 1979) supplying thermoplastic raw materials and sustainable grades from 30+ producers to manufacturers in automotive, packaging, electronics, and industrial sectors, augmented by an in-house technical services team and the Plastribution+ ordering platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plastribution industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Polymer Distribution
- NAICS
- Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes Merchant Wholesalers (424610)
- SIC
- Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Commodity Plastic Compounds (PE/PP/PS/PVC) (IMANABAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMAEAOAA), Bio-based & Biodegradable Polymer Resin Manufacturing (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) (IMANANAA)
Keywords
Where Plastribution is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ashby De La Zouch
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plastribution business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Polymer Distribution: Plastribution generates revenue through the distribution of plastics raw materials including standard polymers, performance polymers, and sustainable materials. The company acts as an intermediary between polymer producers and manufacturers, offering transaction-based sales with technical support services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Plastribution product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plastribution distributes standard polymers, performance polymers, and sustainable polymer materials to manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, serving injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, and packaging production. The company acts as an intermediary between major global polymer producers (including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Borealis, CHIMEI, Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics) and end manufacturers, offering thousands of material grades alongside technical support, regulatory compliance guidance, and market intelligence.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Plastribution Plus: Revolutionary customer service platform for managing accounts, placing and viewing orders
- Elastribution
- Price Know-How
Products and services
- Polyolefins
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 10% reduced cycle time with THERMOFILXP materials (Sumika)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Plastribution
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Plastribution technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Plastribution partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WaterhaulcorePlastribution has partnered with Waterhaul to distribute Traceable Marine Plastic™ materials in the UK. The partnership enables manufacturers to access high-quality recycled polypropylene (PP) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recovered from UK coastlines, including ghost fishing gear and end-of-life marine plastics. Waterhaul's unique traceability system ensures every batch can be traced back to its exact source locations.
- ElastributioncoreElastribution is Plastribution Group's distribution business for speciality elastomers and related products. It operates as a separate entity under the Plastribution Group umbrella.
- CHIMEIcorePlastribution has been the official distributor for CHIMEI in the UK and Ireland for over 30 years. The partnership provides direct access to CHIMEI's full portfolio including Polylac (ABS), Kibisan (SAN), Kibilac (ASA), Wonderlite (PC), Wonderloy (PC/ABS), and Kibiton (SMMA, SBC, Q-Resin), supplied in original CHIMEI packaging with full certification and traceability.
- Sumika Polymer CompoundscorePlastribution distributes Sumika Polymer Compounds' range of thermoplastic compounds including THERMOFIL brand PP compounds, Noblen talc-filled polypropylene, and sustainable materials. Sumika is part of the Japanese group Sumitomo Chemical.
- Blue Circle OlefinsminorDucor Petrochemicals (a supply partner of Plastribution) has partnered with Blue Circle Olefins to produce and comarket segregated bio-polypropylene and carbon recycled polypropylene. The partnership aims to serve demand for bio-based and carbon recycled polypropylene in healthcare, automotive, packaging, and other segments.
- NotplaminorPlastribution distributes Notpla's seaweed-based polymer solutions - sustainable alternatives for single-use plastic packaging that are 100% naturally biodegradable and entirely edible.
- AO RecyclingminorPlastribution collaborates with the UK's biggest recycler of fridges and Large Domestic Appliances to bring high-quality recycled polymers to market, supplying recycled PP and HDPE.
- BorealiscoreBorealis is one of the world's leading providers of advanced and circular polyolefin solutions. Plastribution distributes Borealis products including Queo™ low-density ethylene copolymers.
- ExxonMobilcoreExxonMobil is one of the world's largest publicly traded energy providers and chemical manufacturers. Plastribution distributes ExxonMobil's polymer products including LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, Exceed mPE, Enable mPE, Vistamaxx PP Plastomer, and Exxtral PP Compounds.
- TotalEnergiescoreTotalEnergies is a broad energy company producing and marketing fuels, natural gas, and electricity. Plastribution distributes TotalEnergies' polymer products including LD, LLD, MD, HDPE, EVA, and PP grades.
- Mitsubishi Engineering PlasticscoreMEP is a leading supplier of engineering plastics. Plastribution distributes MEP's products including POM (Iupital), polycarbonate (Iupilon, Xantar, Wonderlite), PC/ABS, PMMA (PLEXIGLAS®), PPS, TPV (Santoprene), TPU (Lubrizol TPU), and PP compounds.
- LubrizolcoreThe Lubrizol Corporation provides specialty chemicals for transportation, industrial, and consumer markets. Plastribution distributes Lubrizol TPU products.
- Radici GroupcoreRadiciGroup is a world-leading producer of chemical intermediates, polyamide polymers, engineering plastics, synthetic fibres, and nonwovens. Plastribution distributes Radici products including Radiflam (FR PA), Radilon (PA), and Raditer (PBT).
- RöhmcoreRöhm is a leading supplier of methacrylate chemicals worldwide with 15 production sites on four continents. Plastribution distributes Röhm's PLEXIGLAS® products used in applications such as automotive illuminated emblems.
- Ducor PetrochemicalscoreDucor Petrochemicals specializes in the production of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyolefin products for automotive, healthcare, electrical appliances, and packaging applications. Plastribution distributes Ducor products.
- KafritcoreKafrit Industries (established 1973) is a leading producer of masterbatches and compounds for the plastics industry. Plastribution distributes Kafrit's flame retardant masterbatches, process aids, UV stabilisers, slip agents, and anti-block additives.
- PremixcorePremix is a European market leader and global forerunner in electrically conductive plastics. Plastribution distributes Premix products for static control in automotive, electronics, diagnostics, and healthcare applications.
- PolyramcorePolyram is a leading international supplier of high-performance thermoplastic compounds for various markets. Plastribution distributes Polyram's flame retardant, impact modified, and UV stabilized compounds.
- SabocoreSabo (established 1937) is an international producer of polymer additives. Plastribution distributes Sabo's UV light stabilisers (SABOSTAB®), anti-static additives (SABOSTAT®), and anti-fog additives (SABOFOG®).
- AquapurgeminorAquapurge manufactures and develops purging compounds for the plastics industry used to change colour, change material, remove carbon, and aid in strip down maintenance.
- Colour Tone MasterbatchminorColour Tone is recognised as an innovative company focused on delivering responsive, high-quality service for bespoke colours in universal, commodity, and engineering polymers.
- GCR GroupminorGCR Group is a leading European company and worldwide benchmark in developing environmental solutions for the plastics industry.
- UBQ MaterialsminorUBQ Materials produces UBQ™, a bio-based thermoplastic made from 100% unsorted household waste. Plastribution distributes UBQ™ Masterbatch as a sustainable additive for various polymer applications.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Plastribution competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Distrupol: European polymer and additives distributor offering commodity and engineering thermoplastics with technical service across UK, Ireland and wider Europe — directly comparable business model, customer base, and product breadth to Plastribution.
- ALBIS Plastic: European-wide distributor of engineering polymers and compounds (now part of the Otto Krahn Group), serving injection moulding and extrusion customers with technical support and a multi-supplier portfolio — same value chain position as Plastribution with continental scale.
- Biesterfeld Plastic: Global specialty polymer distributor distributing commodity plastics, engineering plastics, and high-performance polymers with strong technical service — similar multi-supplier, multi-resin distribution model targeting industrial manufacturers.
- Nexeo Plastics: Global plastics raw material distributor (formerly part of Ashland, now owned by Inventure) serving injection moulders, extruders, and blow moulders across thermoplastics — direct competitor in the same merchant-wholesaler role for polymer materials.
- Ultrapolymers: European polymer distributor specialized in specialty thermoplastics, polyolefins and elastomers serving injection moulders and extruders — closely comparable niche distribution and technical-service model to Plastribution.
- Resinex: European distributor of polymers, elastomers and specialty materials serving plastics converters across multiple territories — directly comparable distribution-of-resins business model.
Broad incumbents
- Univar Solutions: Global chemical and ingredients distributor with a substantial plastics distribution portfolio across Europe — competes broadly in the polymer distribution space as part of a much wider specialty chemicals portfolio, not a plastic-only specialist.
- Brenntag Specialties / Polymers: Global chemicals and ingredients distributor with a dedicated plastics segment distributing polymers and polymer-related specialties — broader portfolio incumbent with overlapping capability in polymer distribution.
Emerging players
- Aqua&Co (formerly Aquapak Polymers): UK-based specialist in water-soluble and biodegradable polymer materials — listed as a Plastribution supply partner, intersects in the sustainable plastics materials niche that is a growing focus for Plastribution.
- Notpla: UK-based seaweed-based biopolymer producer — current Plastribution distribution partner; comparable as an emerging sustainable polymer business partnered through Plastribution's channel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plastribution social profiles
Digital presencePlastribution financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plastribution leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Plastribution subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Plastribution funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plastribution M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plastribution
What does Plastribution do?
Plastribution distributes standard polymers, performance polymers, and sustainable polymer materials to manufacturers in the UK and Ireland, serving injection moulding, extrusion, blow moulding, and packaging production. The company acts as an intermediary between major global polymer producers (including ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Borealis, CHIMEI, Mitsubishi Engineering Plastics) and end manufacturers, offering thousands of material grades alongside technical support, regulatory compliance guidance, and market intelligence.
Is Plastribution a public or private company?
Plastribution is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Plastribution founded?
Plastribution was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Plastribution based?
Plastribution is headquartered in Ashby De La Zouch, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Plastribution make money?
One revenue line is on record: polymer Distribution.
Who are Plastribution's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Distrupol, ALBIS Plastic, Biesterfeld Plastic, Nexeo Plastics, Ultrapolymers and Resinex. Broad incumbents are Univar Solutions and Brenntag Specialties / Polymers. Emerging players are Aqua&Co (formerly Aquapak Polymers) and Notpla.
Does Plastribution have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plastribution.
What industry is Plastribution in?
Plastribution's product category is Polymer Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMANABAA, Commodity Plastic Compounds (PE/PP/PS/PVC), with a secondary code of IMAEAOAA, Biodegradable Polymers & Resins (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT). Its NAICS code is 424610 and its SIC code is 2821.