SUSTAINABILITY
THE CHANGING FACE OF PLASTIC
The annual production of plastic worldwide has increased exponentially, rising from 1.5 million tonnes in 1950 to 359 million tonnes in 2018. This is predicted to double over time.
T
he adverse effects of plastic on our planet are commonly reported as having a devastating impact on wildlife in terrestrial and aquatic environments, driving many businesses and consumers to reduce their consumption and look for sustainable alternatives. Plastic production is increasing every year and is expected to double by 2050.
Europe’s construction industry is the second largest application for plastics after packaging and consumes approximately 10 million tonnes annually. The sector is extremely reliant on plastic with it being the prime choice for packaging fragile construction materials, as well as for a variety of building applications
specialize in this field by developing innovative methods to transform wastes that businesses are currently sending to landfill, converting them into sustainable products for many industrial sectors,” he says.
The company’s Durakerb is a road kerb made from ‘waste’ plastic and provides the construction industry with an environmentally friendly alternative to the traditional concrete kerb. Each unit is comprised of 88% recycled polymer, which is the equivalent of 182 plastic bottles. With over 400,000 units installed across the UK, the product has saved thousands of tonnes of plastic, the equivalent of 72 million bottles, from entering a landfill. Sutton says that the use of recycled plastic
products in construction such as pipes, seals, profiles, and insulation.
The growth in the use of plastic can be attributed to the durable and versatile nature of the material, in combination with its cost- efficiency. However, its use in the industry does not necessarily need to be problematic, as vast amounts of plastic waste are recyclable. Phil SUtton, managing director of Econpro, makers of the Durakerb recycled plastric kerb prodyct, says that, unfortunately, improper management is a frequent occurrence and leads to high levels of polluting waste. For example, manufacturers often use difficult to recycle plastics like polyurethane insulation boards or packaging film which is used for pallet wrapping. “The future of plastic in construction must incorporate its ability to be recycled and the industry must ensure it is transformed into a range of products to help drive a circular economy. Econpro are a group of companies that
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brings other environmental benefits, such as saving the atmosphere from greenhouse gas emissions due to their lightweight nature. “Durakerb has saved a total of 12,000,000 kgs of carbon, as for every 1000m installed it produces 30,676 kg less of emitted carbon - marking a 73% decrease in emissions per full load when compared to the concrete counterpart. This can be attributed to decreased output during production, as well as the removal of around 1,000 articulated vehicles in transport,” he adds.
“Furthermore, being made from plastic it is incredibly durable but when the end of its life does approach, it can be 100% recycled.
“The environmental advantages are clear, but the construction industry should work towards using more recycled plastics from a health
and safety perspective as well. Musculoskeletal problems in construction workers are commonly caused by regular lifting and carrying considerable loads. “The HSE reported an average of 2,310 workers per 100,000 in the UK building industry suffering work-related musculoskeletal disorders between 2015- 2018. Each unit of Durakerb weighs only 6kgs, a 90% reduction in weight in comparison to a concrete kerb, allowing it to be installed manually inline the Health and Safety Executive guidelines,” Sutton says.
He continues that plastic is an undeniably ideal material for infrastructure, with an array of impressive properties: lightweight, strong, require less skilled labour, and with the correct management it can drive the construction industry towards a more sustainable future. “It is an incredibly valuable resource that offers recycling opportunities into kerbstones, and drainage pipes. All of which have a lower carbon footprint than their traditional counterparts and can be fully recycled again at the end of their lifespan.
“Plastic does not need to be a problem when it is recycled and can be a beneficial material that contributes towards a circular economy for the building sector.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net January 2020
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