ctr-group

LDC Top 50 2025 - Mark Fitzgerald

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:06:47 GMT

A recycling industry veteran, Mark Fitzgerald takes the UK’s unwanted goods and finds new homes for them overseas, recycling the rest. “Zero to landfill, that’s our promise,” he says.

In 2014, Mark began wholesaling second-hand clothes. He now handles unwanted stock for retailers like Lidl too. “We create opportunities and wealth around the world,” he says. “In Zambia, we supply a cooperative of female traders who sell our products in their street market.” Uttoxeter-based CTR employs 440 people and will turn over £45 million this year. Mark says: “70 per cent of the world’s population wears second-hand clothes so the opportunity is immense.”

LDC Top 50 2025 - Mark Fitzgerald

q&a

"We create opportunities and wealth around the world.”

Mark Fitzgerald, Managing Director of CTR Group

What is your ultimate ambition?

I want to get more involved in government legislation and public awareness. We cannot keep using landfill. We are never going to stop producing waste in the UK and we need a proper waste strategy so that we don’t stick it in the ground or burn it. We provide UK and European corporates with a fully auditable and compliant reuse solution rather than landfill, We need to take these goods to the people who need it.

Where will growth come from?

We will double in size in the next two years. We have started to offer a proper circular economy service: we can take a bread crate, recycle it through granulation, then remake the crate. We have a lot of UK retailers asking us to help them in Europe, so within the next six months we’ll have a dedicated warehouse in Europe.

Tell me about a challenging time

I had two heart attacks in two months during the Covid-19 pandemic. When the world stopped, we had 100 vehicles on the road, a 150,000 sq. ft warehouse in the Midlands, and 280 staff. The government introduced furlough but there was no help on business rates, and we still had to pay the finance on the fleet. That was the most challenging time of my life.

Link to original blog post:

CTR Group awarded TRUST certification

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:23 GMT

We at CTR Group feel that it is important to be able to showcase to our partners, charities and the public that we are a reputable business and recycle in a lawful, ethical and sustainable manner.

Committed to Responsible Recycling

Therefore, we are very happy to announce that we are now Trader Recycling Universal Standard (TRUST) certified. TRUST is the outcome of a coalition dedicated to boost standards within the UK recycling sector for items traded for re-use.

Proud to Achieve TRUST Certification

The TRUST standard consists of a comprehensive series of tests across five categories:

Professional and Business: Checking that everything the business does is compliant with the law and transparent

Health and Safety: Ensuring that sound policies exist to prevent accidents and take appropriate action to protect staff when incidents occur
Working Conditions: Requiring that all workers are treated properly and in full accordance with their rights

Meeting Highest Industry Standards

Transport: Compliance with industry regulations with regard to: vehicle maintenance and drivers requirements, ensuring a safer transport environment

Environment: Promoting the best sustainability and environmental standards.

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

We’re celebrating becoming a Living Wage employer

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:22 GMT

We are delighted to announce that CTR Group is now an accredited Living Wage Employer! This means that every member of staff working for CTR Group will earn a real Living Wage.

Proud to Be a Living Wage Employer

The real Living Wage is higher than the government’s minimum, or National Living Wage, and is an independently calculated hourly rate of pay that is based on the actual cost of living. It is calculated each year and is announced by the Living Wage Foundation as part of Living Wage Week.

Going Beyond the Minimum

Over 9000 organisations, including CTR Group voluntarily choose to pay the real Living Wage because we believe that a hard day’s work deserves a fair day’s pay. You can find other organisations who pay the Living Wage here: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/living-wage-map

Joining Over 9,000 Fair-Pay Employers

We are really proud of this commitment and wanted to share the good news with our staff and partners.

Driving Sustainability Forward

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

Giving back has never been easier

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:19 GMT

Across the fashion and clothing industry, businesses are introducing ‘giveback’ schemes, where brands allow their customers to play their part in responsible clothes-buying, by offsetting their purchases through the return of unwanted clothing.

Giving back has never been easier

Growing numbers of environmentally-aware consumers are actively seeking out those businesses who have the insight and the capability to prioritise such programmes. Providing this opportunity allows businesses to engage with its customers on a sustainable level.

Engaging Customers by Sustainability

The EU has calculated that 5.8 million tonnes of textiles are currently discarded across the continent every year. How much is recycled or reused? Just over a quarter – 26%.

Wider global statistics suggest that more than 70% of the world’s population wear pre-owned clothes. How much of global clothing ends up in landfill? An enormous 73%.

Increasingly there is also a responsibility for manufacturers and retailers to offer EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) to give customers who want to recycle items they no longer want, a simple, sustainable route to do this.

Taking Responsibility for Textile Waste

"Textiles take-back schemes, where customers donate unwanted clothing to retailers to be re-used or recycled, are a key part of developing a more circular fashion industry. They provide an opportunity for clothing brands and retailers to engage with their customers on sustainable practices. They can increase brand loyalty, demonstrate corporate responsibility, and help transition your business towards circularity in clothing and textiles.”

WRAP 2030 say on their website:

We have developed an industry-leading giveback platform for you to white-label as your own, should you need that level of input, with a fully-integrated circular logistics process sitting behind it. It’s one that delivers a sustainable, simple solution for you and your customers, with total freedom to apply your own branding, identity and look and feel. We’ll work with you to create the right solution for your business and your customers.

There’s lots to think about when planning a giveback scheme, so much so that it can make it feel like running such a scheme is so far outside your businesses core competency that you don’t know where to start. But we can help with that. We are a trusted pair of hands that can handle as much of the process as you require.

Get in touch to learn more about how we can create a bespoke giveback scheme for your business.

What makes our giveback scheme different?

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

Konrad and our convoy – our drivers are making a difference

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:14 GMT

He joined us earlier this year as a Charity Partner Collector, and his role involves collecting clothes, shoes, books and much more from the many charity shops CTR partners with.

He does something else remarkable for us each fortnight too. Every two weeks Konrad drives a four-day, 2500 mile round trip to the German/Polish border, to hand over donations and supplies to the Polish Red Cross.

Meet Konrad Milewski.

We launched our ongoing appeal in March, asking for donations and supplies that we could send to the Polish Red Cross, in support of the people of Ukraine. The response has been so overwhelming we are able to send fully-loaded artic lorries, weekly.

These weekly deliveries give us the extra capacity to get more vital supplies safely to those who need them most at the border. Some donations will stay within Poland to help those who have already crossed the border, and the rest head into Ukraine.

Delivering Vital Aid to Ukraine

Since March Konrad has been one of our drivers making the demanding four-day round trip to the German/Polish border. Konrad travels in convoy (as much as the traffic allows) with three other colleagues making the same journey. He says it helps make the long journey less tiring to travel together, and it’s good to have work friends nearby for life’s little challenges along the way – such as getting a flat tyre in heavy traffic!

Like many of us at CTR, Konrad wanted to get involved and help in any way he could. Konrad is Polish and so has lots of friends and family there. By driving essential supplies over to the border he feels he is doing something really important. Konrad comments, ‘It means that people in need will have fresh clothes and food. The people at the Polish Red Cross are always very kind and very helpful. We try to arrange a time to meet with them to unload the donations. We always have a chat with them once the lorry is empty, then we drive back to the UK.’

Going the Distance for Those in Need

Konrad has seen how crucial these weekly deliveries are first-hand, and he is encouraging everyone to keep donating. The Polish Red Cross is asking for mainly new items, such as bedding, canned food, camping equipment, and underwear – the full list is below. Here at CTR we can accept bags of used clothes, as we take the clothes, weigh them and donate the money to help with the associated costs of the operation.

Whether you’re a big business or an individual looking to make a donation, then you can get in touch with us directly on 01283 820104 or email Renata .

Alternatively, you can bring your donations straight to our Uttoxeter site at 30 Marchington Industrial Estate, Marchington, Uttoxter, Staffordshire, ST14 8LP.

Supporting Communities Through Donations

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

Aswell as from the original list

– Bedding
– Canned food
– Medicines (painkillers, antiseptic creams etc.)
– Underwear
– Camping equipment
– Camping beds
– Rescue stretchers
– Tents
– Generators
– Sleeping bags
– Pillows and duvets
– Warm blankets

The polish red cross is asking for:

– Torches
– Batteries
– Lighters
– Bandages, plasters etc.
– Gloves
– Warm socks
– Warm shoes (size 10+)
– Sanitary pads
– Diapers
– Formula milk for children
– Wet wipes

Dun differently: how we’re helping Dunelm give textiles a second life

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:11 GMT

We are partnering with homewares retail giant Dunelm, which has launched a textile take back scheme in 165 of its 175 stores across the UK.

Nationwide Take-Back Scheme in Partnership with Dunelm

We’ve worked with Dunelm to create a scheme that gives their customers a chance to reduce their textile waste and play a part in the global circular economy. Dunelm shoppers can donate clean and undamaged home textiles for free, at any of the 166 participating stores around the country.

The take back scheme we have put in place for them is flexible and robust enough to handle everything from curtains to cushion covers, and bath mats to blankets. Dunelm customers simply bag up their donations at home, then bring them in store and drop them into the take back collection box.

Partnering with Dunelm to Cut Textile Waste

Dunelm’s scheme includes all home textiles, including duvets, pillows, bed linen, towels, curtains, cushion covers, cushion inners, bedding protection, and more. As long as the items are wrapped or bagged, they can be dropped into the collection box in store. Customers are also able to leave feedback by scanning a QR code, if they wish, to help Dunelm continue to improve the customer proposition.

Making Textile Recycling Easy for Customers

The next step is where we come in. We take the textiles collected from all 166 stores and bring them into our sorting sites in the Midlands, where every single item is inspected and sorted. Anything that can’t be reused and given a second life and recycled, with zero going to landfill, and Dunelm and its customers play a part in the global circular economy, doing what they can for the planet.

Find out more about how we could help your business plan and implement a take back scheme.

Giving Textiles a Second Life

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:10 GMT

Our state-of-the-art staff canteen opened earlier this month to rave reviews from its diners. And it’s not just the delicious food they’re raving about. The purpose-built canteen, costing over £40K, will be serving up a free hot lunch every day, to each member of staff at the Marchington site.

A Canteen That Gives Back to Staff

Newly-appointed chef, Paul Woodman, and his team of Ann-Marie and Natalia, have cooked up a delight of a menu offering two different options each day. Paul wants the food to be delicious, hearty and filling, ‘Many of the staff at CTR have physical jobs and I wanted to create a menu that works for them as well as for the members of staff who are more office-based. The menu will change weekly, offering everyone’s favourites from cottage pie to korma, hot pot to homemade soup, or sausage & mash to sweet chilli chicken. All our ingredients are sourced locally, and they’re all served with a smile.’

Cooking Up Sustainability for Our Team

Paul is no stranger to catering for large numbers, having spent 16 years as head chef at Foremarke Preparatory School where he and his team won the Tatler Best School Award in 2014 & 2015. Prior to that he was the catering manager at Adams Childrenswear head office in Nuneaton, as well as the same role at Imperial Tobacco in Nottingham.

Introducing Paul Woodman: From Catering to Sustainability

And don’t just take our word for it, here’s a few comments from the canteen’s first diners…

‘Haven’t missed it yet!’

‘Great food! Love Paul & Ann-Marie; so friendly. Great portions and excellent variety.’
‘Look forward to it each day.’
‘Beautiful, hearty food.’

See you there…

Staff Praise for Our Free Lunch Programme

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

CTR Group Managing Director, Mark Fitzgerald

"We really want our staff to feel they have somewhere to go, somewhere they can relax and refuel each day. There is no charge for the meals; we want our staff to enjoy the food without worrying about rising food costs – we hope this helps. We’ve had a great response so far, I’m particularly looking forward to digging in!"

From Uttoxeter to Ukraine: how we’re trying to help

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:02:08 GMT

The CTR Group’s relationship with Eastern Europe has grown over the years, not just as trading partners but in the growing workforce employed both here in the U.K and in mainland Europe. Many of our staff have family and friends caught up in the Ukrainian conflict currently taking place.

A Longstanding Connection with Eastern Europe

Wanting to help in some way, we have taken the initiative to utilise our workforce and logistics capability by collating much-needed donations from colleagues, working partners and the broader community. Our lorries are currently leaving for the German/Polish border.

We are undertaking a determined and sustained effort to get supplies safely to those who need it most. We are perfectly placed to fulfil weekly deliveries, so we are doing what we do best; collecting, sorting and delivering. And trying to make a difference, however small.

Turning Logistics into Lifelines

Taking Responsibility for Textile Waste

"We had to get involved, we felt like we just had to do something to help. Initially we got in touch with a Polish community club in Staffordshire as well as the local Rotary Club, as they already had donations coming into them but they didn’t have the knowledge or the infrastructure to organise and move the donations on."

Mark Fitzgerald, Managing Director of CTR Group

Some donations will stay within Poland to help those who have already crossed the border, and the rest will head into the Ukraine. Donations have been flooding in, from the local community and our charity partners and retailers. We will be taking lorries over each week for as long as they are needed.

To get the donations processed and onto the lorries as quickly as possible, many of our staff have been working out of hours and at weekends, with family members and friends joining them to keep on top of the donations.

Specifically we are looking to contribute brand new items that the Polish Red Cross have advised are in urgent need.

25+

DTC ECOM CHANNELS

Collected & processed through downstream channels

All stock ethically reused or recycled

10m+

UNIT PER ANNUM

landfill

Brand-safe resale across key platforms

The polish red cross is asking for:

Warm blankets
Torches
Batteries
Lighters
Warm socks
Warm shoes (size 10+)
Sanitary pads
Diapers
Formula milk for children
Wet wipes

Medicines (painkillers, antiseptic creams etc.)
Bandages, plasters etc.
Rescue stretchers
Gloves
Tents
Sleeping bags
Pillows and duvets
Camping beds
Generators
Canned food