46 | Sector Focus: Wood Plastic Composites
SUMMARY
■2023 presented a mixture picture, with overall WPC sector sales down, but with some bright spots in the higher segment
■Light colours are trending for WPC decking
■Suppliers are noticing a trend away from grooved/ribbed boards to woodgrain effect
■Suppliers and consumers are seeing advantages in capped products
■WPC cladding and fencing are predicted to increase their share of the market
SEEING THE LIGHT WPC BUYERS
Overall, UK wood plastic composite decking sales faced challenges in 2023 but suppliers, backed by new product developments, are more optimistic for 2024. Stephen Powney reports
Wood-plastic composite (WPC) decking has made incredible strides in the UK outdoor garden products market in the last 10 years. The product has successfully carved a niche for itself among decking options which also include pressure-treated softwood, hardwoods and non-wood options (PVC & mineral fibres). The fact that most WPC boards are at least 50% woodfibre (sometimes up to 75%) definitely qualifies the product for coverage in TTJ and indeed, most UK merchants and distributors now have a WPC option in the decking range.
Back in early 2023, TTJ had asked some of the leading WPC decking suppliers what their expectations had been for the market that year. At that stage they had been optimistic by early market signs following a 2022 which had seen market decline for the first time in many years.
So how did the year turn out in actuality? The answer was mixed, depending on the
market segment. The historic high level of outdoor garden product spend seen during Covid obviously dropped back in 2022-2023 but product innovation and a resilient higher- end market meant opportunities and projects were still there.
Above: Ecodek’s capped Evolution range in Cool Sand TTJ | March/April 2024 |
www.ttjonline.com
UK WPC decking manufacturer Ecodek, which focuses on production of solid decking profiles, had earlier reported 2022 to be a “shock to the system” in terms of a demand reduction.
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