EAST LANCASHIRE based What More UK have unveiled a new contract to export their range of storage and houseware products to the Central American nation of Costa Rica.

The environmentally conscious firm is hoping that they will be able to help the Central American state achieve its target to become totally carbon neutral by 2021 by exporting its “upcycled” range, made entirely from recycled plastics.

Costa Rica was named the world’s greenest country in 2009 and is one of the strongest economies in Latin America with a GDP of over $95 billion.

Company director Tony Grimshaw OBE said: “People perceive made in Britain as made of top quality, and they’re right about that.

“As a country we have high standards.

“Export is a great way for companies to increase their customer base and in the current market conditions it could provide a lifeline for many organisations.”

What More, headquartered in Padiham, hopes that deals like this will help to illuminate the continuing importance of the UK manufacturing sector, which still makes up around 20% of the economy at places the UK in the top 10 manufacturing nations in the world.

Good produced at the company’s facility in Altham include storage boxes, kitchen and cookware, garden ware and products for the home laundry and utility room.

All of these are made from single use plastics diverted from landfill.

The new deal with Costa Rica comes less than a year after the What More added Senegal, in West Africa, to its list of export destinations bringing the current total up to 74 countries around the world.

The firm is particularly gratified to have been able to continue expanding its global operations despite the ongoing worldwide coronavirus crisis and hope to be able to drive a local recovery from the economic impact of the pandemic.