Phillips Brothers – over 130 years of circular thinking

Long before recycling became a recognised industry, Phillips Brothers (Wood Shavings) Ltd was already finding ways to reuse waste wood — a practice we’ve continued since our founding in 1894.

Our story began with Harry Phillips, a market porter in Victorian London whose entrepreneurial instincts sparked a recycling revolution.

At a time when Tower Bridge had just been completed and the first can of Coca-Cola was being produced, Harry saw opportunity in the overlooked by-products of East End furniture makers .

He collected sawdust and transported it to Billingsgate Fish Market, where it was used for smoking and curing fish & then on to Smithfield market for bacon and hams — a simple yet ingenious act of resourcefulness that laid the foundation for a business built on innovation, sustainability, and diversification.

Today, stewardship of the business rests with Paul, Jane, and Ian, with succession planning actively underway for Rhys, ensuring that the company’s values and vision continue into the fifth generation.

Fast forward 131 years, and Phillips Brothers continues to recycle waste wood into high-quality animal bedding, serving farms and agricultural businesses nationwide. Our commitment to quality, trust, and adaptation has earned us prestigious recognition, including:

• Family Business of the Year, awarded by Family Business United
• National Trade Supplier of the Year to the Poultry Industry, as voted for by the sector — still remain the only animal bedding company to receive this award.

According to the Institute for Family Business and the Office for National Statistics:

• Only 3% of the UK’s 5.7 million businesses are fifth-generation — just 171,000 companies
• Fewer than 200 businesses have survived 100+ years of consecutive trading — a mere 0.03%
• Among those rare survivors are household names like Rolls Royce, Burberry, and Cadbury — and Phillips Brothers is proud to stand alongside them

This remarkable longevity reflects more than just business success. It speaks to:

• Resilience through wars, recessions, and industry shifts
• Trust built across generations of customers and partners
• Adaptation to change, embracing new technologies and market demands
• Diversification in product and service offerings
• Leadership rooted in family values and strategic foresight
• Continuous learning and operational excellence
• Commitment to quality and long-term relationships
• Sustainability, long before it became mainstream

For over a century, Phillips Brothers has been recycling waste wood since 1894 — a legacy of circular thinking that began with sawdust and continues today with sustainable animal bedding used nationwide.