RS installs ‘Phil the Phoenix’ at Corby site as sign of sustainable packaging efforts and pledge

RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a high-service global product and service solutions provider for industrial customers, has installed a large sculpture at its Corby site, as a symbol of RS’s journey towards reducing plastic, and improving packaging sustainability, as part of the group’s ESG 2030 goals.

Phil the Phoenix – a striking sculpture chosen by the teams at RS Corby – is made from 100 per cent recycled cardboard. Since 2024, RS has increased recycled content at Corby from 40 per cent to 90 per cent. By eliminating the use of plastic air pillows and replacing them with cushioned paper, this has helped reduce plastic consumption by 10 tonnes.

Tom South, group supply chain packaging specialist at RS, said: “We’re delighted with the sculpture. The phoenix was voted for by staff members as the best representation of our sustainable packaging efforts. It is a legendary, immortal bird from ancient mythology, and is recognised as a symbol of resilience, renewal, transformation, and triumph over adversity. Corby has been praised for being ‘phoenix-like’ from post-industrial decay, following the closure of the steelworks in 1980, so it seemed fitting. Our packaging reduction achievements are testament to RS’s core values – we are one team, we deliver brilliantly, and we do the right thing to make every day better.”

RS’s 2030 ESG action plan ambition is to reduce packaging intensity by 45 per cent, make all its packaging widely reusable or recyclable, and use packaging made with at least 50 per cent recycled content.

Phil the Phoenix has taken pride of place outside a break area for distribution staff, keeping the sustainability efforts front of mind for all to champion.