Fasty

FASTY is another great Swedish brand, based at Anderstorp next to the old Formula 1 circuit. They specialise in straps for the domestic and light industrial markets; their steel buckles are all made at Anderstorp, and are not only much stronger but much easier to use than cast alloy buckles – they can be opened much wider, even with gloves on, so threading the strap through them is incomparably easier. Using FASTY straps is always a pleasing thing to do!

Strap manufacture is their full time business and they always aim to be the best. They are also innovators, creating for example special cable management straps, just as suitable for hosepipes as electrical cable, or the Handy (a strap with a handle), or their quick and easy motorbike / quad bike tie down system.

Our research suggests that UK businesses are still using, annually, over 140,000 tonnes of pallet wrap, over twice the weight of plastic carrier bags that were being handed out, at peak use, by UK supermarkets.

Most of this is recycled, but the recycling opportunities are limited, and what does not end up in permanent structures (for example rubbish bins or plastic timber and furniture) will eventually be burned or buried.

There is therefore an eco-dimension to using buckle straps where appropriate; our experience is that they’re also quicker to use than hand-wrapping, and cheaper.