About James Teale

James Teale is a key member of the Chestnut Polymers Ltd leadership team, bringing over 8 years of experience in plastic recycling and sustainability. His deep technical knowledge and hands-on experience with cutting-edge recycling processes have made him an integral part of the company's success.

A Hands-On Leader in Plastic Recycling

James has been involved in every aspect of the recycling process, from waste input to finished product, mastering techniques such as:

  • Size reduction

  • Air separation

  • Float-sink separation

  • Extrusion and moulding

  • Blending and drying

This extensive experience has enabled James to manage all stages of production, ensuring efficiency and quality across Chestnut Polymers' operations.

Driving Innovation with Pro-TIG™ Technology

James has played a pivotal role in the development and evolution of the company’s flagship Pro-TIG™ extrusion technology. Working closely with the company’s founder, Chesney Orme, James was instrumental in the design, programming, and continuous improvement of this groundbreaking technology. Pro-TIG™ allows the transformation of mixed plastic waste into wood-like composite products, providing eco-friendly solutions for industries like construction, rail, and consumer goods.

James’s contributions to the design and optimization of Pro-TIG have significantly enhanced the system’s performance, enabling higher throughput, cost efficiency, and versatility in processing various materials.

Operational Excellence and Leadership

As the General Manager of Chestnut Polymers Ltd, James oversees the day-to-day operations of the factory, balancing his time between office work, logistics, and even manual labour when required. His ability to manage the entire facility—from fabrication and maintenance to supply chain logistics—has made him an invaluable asset to the company.

In addition to his operational duties, James is responsible for ensuring that the factory adheres to stringent environmental and regulatory standards. His expertise in the recycling industry allows him to identify areas for improvement and drive innovation in both technology and process management.

Expertise and Contributions

James’s unique blend of technical expertise and management skills has allowed him to rise through the ranks of the company, progressing from a hands-on operator to overall manager. His understanding of the plastic recycling industry and its complexities positions him as a rising expert in the field.

Some of his key responsibilities include:

  • Overseeing production processes and ensuring optimal output.

  • Coordinating logistics and managing supply chains.

  • Ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and best practices.

  • Contributing to research and development, especially in the design and optimization of Pro-TIG™ technology.

  • Managing a diverse team and ensuring smooth operational flow, from factory floor to office logistics.

A Leader Committed to Sustainability

James’s leadership at Chestnut Polymers goes beyond operations; he is deeply committed to the company’s mission of sustainability and the circular economy. His hands-on involvement in the recycling process and dedication to innovation align perfectly with the company’s vision of transforming plastic waste into valuable, eco-friendly products that help reduce deforestation and carbon emissions.

As Chestnut Polymers Ltd continues to grow and expand its global footprint, James remains a key driving force, ensuring the company maintains its leadership position in the plastic recycling and wood composite industries.

Chestnut Polymers Ltd was founded in 2019 by Chesney Orme, with the mission of providing innovative solutions for the recycling of plastic waste into high-performance Plastic/Wood composites.

Our goal is to support waste management companies by transforming hard-to-recycle plastic waste into sustainable, eco-friendly materials that help reduce deforestation and promote a circular economy.

With a highly experienced team boasting extensive expertise in both waste management and recycling technologies, Chestnut Polymers is at the forefront of industry innovation.

We operate an advanced testing facility in Winsford, Cheshire, where we assess client materials to create optimal composite profiles tailored to their specific waste streams. This allows us to offer customized, effective solutions for turning plastic waste into valuable products, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future.

About Chesney Orme

Chesney Orme is a leading innovator in plastic recycling, sustainability, and waste management with over 40 years of experience. As Founder and Director of Chestnut Polymers Ltd, Chesney has transformed the industry through technologies that turn difficult-to-recycle plastics into valuable, eco-friendly products. His expertise has established Chestnut Polymers as a pioneering company in sustainable solutions, consistently advancing recycling capabilities to benefit both industry and the environment.

Pioneering the Plastic Recycling Industry

Chesney’s journey began in the early 1980s when he launched the world’s first automated plastic bottle recycling facility in Cheshire, UK, in partnership with the European Vinyls Corporation (EVC). This facility processed up to 36,000 bottles per hour, a groundbreaking achievement that established new standards in plastic recycling. This initial success drove Chesney to develop further solutions, such as methods for recycling plastics like PVC and HDPE, laying the groundwork for the recycling industry we know today.

Pro-TIG™ Technology: A Breakthrough in Plastic Recycling

One of Chesney’s crowning achievements is Pro-TIG™ (Profile-Technology-Ingenuity-Genius), a patented extrusion technology that converts mixed plastic waste into durable, wood-like composites. Pro-TIG offers an eco-friendly substitute for traditional wood, aiding industries in construction, transportation, and consumer goods by providing sustainable alternatives. The technology’s compact machinery, remote monitoring, and flexible processing capabilities make it adaptable to various industry needs, reducing both production costs and environmental impact. By replacing virgin wood, Pro-TIG plays a vital role in curbing deforestation, and the technology also qualifies for carbon credits and meets Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) standards.

Collaborations and Sustainable Partnerships

Chesney’s innovations have attracted partnerships with industry leaders seeking tailored recycling solutions. Chestnut Polymers works closely with companies across different sectors to address unique recycling challenges, including multi-layer and composite material recycling, and complex waste stream management. Collaborating with entities such as Ace UK (Tetra Pak) and AO, Chestnut Polymers exemplifies Chesney’s ability to integrate sustainable recycling directly into corporate supply chains, helping businesses meet new regulatory requirements while creating value from waste materials.

Championing a Circular Economy

Chesney is an advocate for the circular economy, in which resources are continually reused to reduce waste. His work reflects this principle, transforming plastic waste into reusable, high-value products that make recycling an economically viable and environmentally sound option. Through advanced recycling processes and patented innovations, Chestnut Polymers not only supports businesses in complying with environmental regulations but also helps build sustainable, circular models that drive long-term value.

A Visionary Leader in Sustainability

Chesney’s vision extends to groundbreaking research and development initiatives, such as the Pyroforma project, in partnership with Aston University, which focuses on using continuous pyrolysis to convert plastic waste into usable materials. He is also involved in Plumbago, a recycling technology aimed at serving the steel industry, further diversifying the applications for recycled plastics and demonstrating his commitment to solving waste challenges across sectors.

The global interest in Chestnut Polymers’ technologies is growing, particularly in North America, where the wood composite market is projected to reach $10 billion by 2032. As the demand for sustainable materials continues to expand, Chesney and Chestnut Polymers are well-positioned to lead the industry in providing viable, eco-friendly alternatives that align with a global shift toward sustainable manufacturing.