Cornish recycled merchandise pioneer Andy Knight shortlisted for Inspiring Leader of the Year

The award recognises senior leaders in British manufacturing who have driven forward innovative initiatives and championed sustainable business across their sector. Andy was nominated by the CHX team, without his knowledge, in recognition of thirty years spent building a manufacturer that proves sustainability and commercial success can go hand in hand.

Under Andy’s leadership, CHX committed to manufacturing branded merchandise from recycled plastic long before it was an industry expectation. The business now uses recycled plastic sourced from UK end-of-life fridges and freezers, reuses 95% of its production waste internally and generates around 40% of its energy needs from on-site solar panels at its Cornwall facility. Andy also led the development of R+, CHX’s recycled and biodegradable material, offered at no extra cost to customers rather than as a premium option, and introduced Traceable Marine Plastic, sourced via Waterhaul, with 5% of profits from that range donated to Surfers Against Sewage.

Alongside this, Andy has built lasting, skilled, year-round employment in Bodmin, in a region that has historically struggled with underinvestment, and has embedded the company’s values across the whole team as he gradually hands on responsibility to the next generation of CHX’s leadership.

Charlotte Denman-Johnson, Marketing Manager at CHX Products, said: “Andy has never been one to seek recognition, which is exactly why we wanted to put him forward. He was making recycled products and investing in solar power when it was the harder choice commercially, simply because he believed it was right. Seeing him shortlisted alongside some of the best leaders in British manufacturing means a great deal to the whole team.”

The winners will be announced following the next stage of judging.